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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Numbness In Fingers After Having A Nerve Block On Shoulder?

I had a nerve block done on my shoulder this morning and I was told it would take 24 to 30 hours to wear off my question is my fingers are very numb and very warm I do not recall this from two years ago when I had a similar surgery and Anesthia The same as I had today my fingers feel tingly and swollen along with them very warm is this normal
posted on Sun, 24 Apr 2016
Twitter Mon, 2 Mar 2020 Answered on
Twitter Thu, 5 Mar 2020 Last reviewed on
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hi,

Those symptoms you describe correspond most likely to a nerve compression. Nerve compression can occur at several sites such as the wrist, the elbow, the shoulder or the neck, so some more precise information on the localization of the tingling sensations might be more helpful (which fingers, palmar or dorsal surface of the hand, inclusion of the forearm or the arm as well, neck pain etc). A common cause which often includes both hands might be carpal tunnel syndrome, compression of the median nerve at the wrist, causing symptoms usually in first 3 fingers, the palm and may include the forearm. Symptoms often more pronounced at night. The next most common cause would be nerve compression in the neck, where symptoms generally are as far up as the neck.

In terms of diagnostic steps, they are the same independently from the affected nerve. A neurological exam is the first step, to identify distribution of symptoms, changes in reflexes, motor strength for individual muscles, information which help localizing the site of damage. Afterwards the next diagnostic step is ENMG (nerve conduction studies and electromyography). If exam suggests source to be in the neck a neck MRI might be needed as well. Management will depend on the affected nerve and the cause.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. Iven Romic Rommstein, General Surgeon
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What Causes Numbness In Fingers After Having A Nerve Block On Shoulder?

Hi, Those symptoms you describe correspond most likely to a nerve compression. Nerve compression can occur at several sites such as the wrist, the elbow, the shoulder or the neck, so some more precise information on the localization of the tingling sensations might be more helpful (which fingers, palmar or dorsal surface of the hand, inclusion of the forearm or the arm as well, neck pain etc). A common cause which often includes both hands might be carpal tunnel syndrome, compression of the median nerve at the wrist, causing symptoms usually in first 3 fingers, the palm and may include the forearm. Symptoms often more pronounced at night. The next most common cause would be nerve compression in the neck, where symptoms generally are as far up as the neck. In terms of diagnostic steps, they are the same independently from the affected nerve. A neurological exam is the first step, to identify distribution of symptoms, changes in reflexes, motor strength for individual muscles, information which help localizing the site of damage. Afterwards the next diagnostic step is ENMG (nerve conduction studies and electromyography). If exam suggests source to be in the neck a neck MRI might be needed as well. Management will depend on the affected nerve and the cause. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Iven Romic Rommstein, General Surgeon