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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Should I Be Concerned For The Numbness In Hands And Fingers With No Swelling Or Bruising And Addicted To Drugs?

I am an RN and I have a concern about my younger cousin. He woke up yesterday with a total lack of feeling in his left hand. He is able to hyperflex but not dorsiflex it, h e denies any pain has some numbness in the fingers, does not radiate past the wrist. He has suffered no trauma to his neck, back or hand. There is no swelling or bruising. He is 24, a smoker and he does take drugs at times. I'm going to check him out when I can but he denies any facial asymmetry, pupils are equal and no other part of his body is seemingly affected. After 2 days my red flag is up and I think he may need to go to the ER.
posted on Fri, 17 Jan 2014
Twitter Fri, 17 Jan 2014 Answered on
Twitter Fri, 17 Jan 2014 Last reviewed on
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Psychiatrist,  's  Response
Dear User,
Thanks for using healthcare magic.
Although without examining your cousin it is difficult to conclude but with available description it appears to me that while taking drugs in I.V. form he injured his nerves (If he takes iv drugs also).

Person who is using drugs may deny any pain because of obvious fear of being caught or other social factors. It is better to examine his all veins and areas near to all three nerves of upper limb.

If you do not find you can request for nerve conduction study of upper limb that will clear the location of lesion.
Thanks
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Should I Be Concerned For The Numbness In Hands And Fingers With No Swelling Or Bruising And Addicted To Drugs?

Dear User, Thanks for using healthcare magic. Although without examining your cousin it is difficult to conclude but with available description it appears to me that while taking drugs in I.V. form he injured his nerves (If he takes iv drugs also). Person who is using drugs may deny any pain because of obvious fear of being caught or other social factors. It is better to examine his all veins and areas near to all three nerves of upper limb. If you do not find you can request for nerve conduction study of upper limb that will clear the location of lesion. Thanks