Common, Serious, Medical Causes of Tingling in Fingers

Tingling in the fingers is something which not many people often think about much. An individual can have tingling in the fingers as a result of overuse of the fingers like typing a lot on the computer on a day-to-day basis. Sleeping the wrong way at night can also result in tingling in the fingers as well as the entire hand on awakening in the morning.

However, Tingling in the Fingers may also be a sign of an underlying medical condition which may be quite serious and require medical attention at the earliest possible time. Tingling in the Fingers is also a sign that an individual may be diabetic.

Tingling in the Fingers may not be something to worry about but if it starts to occur frequently then it is recommended to seek medical attention to identify the cause and formulate a treatment plan.

Insect or Tick Bites: It is often the case that an individual has spent few days outdoors camping and may have been bitten by an insect which can be one of the reasons for Tingling in the Fingers.

Unchanged Hand Position for Prolonged Period of Time: This usually happens at night when sleeping you may put the hand in a position which may lead to irritation of the nerves in the hand and fingers. There may also be restricted flow of blood to the hands and fingers as a result of the abnormal positioning of the hands during sleep. This irritation results in numbness of the hands and tingling in the fingers when you get up in the morning. However, this condition resolves after shaking the hand several times after waking up.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: This is yet another cause for Tingling in the Fingers. If you have a vitamin B12 deficiency you will tend to have additional symptoms like pale skin, difficulty ambulating, loss of appetite with unintentional weight loss, fatigue and lethargy. In case if you have these symptoms along with Tingling in the Fingers then you need to get your B12 levels checked and consult with a physician for a confirmatory diagnosis and a detailed treatment and diet plan.

Prescription Medication: There are also certain prescription medications that tend to cause Tingling in the Fingers. If the condition is persistent then you need to consult with a physician and inform about the medications that you have been taking so that the offending medication can be identified and replaced.

Disc Herniation: A herniated disc may result in compression of the nerves which may cause numbness in the hands and tingling in the fingers. This is mostly seen in herniations of the cervical spine where the symptoms start from the neck and radiate towards the hands and fingers causing tingling in the fingers.

Nerve Damage Due to Chemical Exposure: At times, people who work in chemical factories and are exposed to various toxins and chemicals and tend to inhale some of these chemicals which may cause damage to the nerves. This damage to the nerves in turn results in a typical symptom of numbness of the hands and tingling of the fingers.

Trauma or Injury to the Nerves: In cases where an individual has received a gunshot wound or a stab wound which may have penetrated and damaged a nerve may result in tingling in the fingers.

Tumors: In some cases a tumor pressing on the nerve may result in nerve irritation and damage and cause tingling in the fingers. However, in such cases there will always be associated symptoms characteristic of a tumor along with tingling in the fingers.

Migraine Headaches: People who have a known diagnosis of migraine headache often complain of tingling in the fingers before the inset of a migraine attack.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition occurs when there is compression of the median nerve at the wrist. As a result of this compression there is nerve irritation which results in tingling in the fingers.

Diabetes: Diabetes is well known to cause damage to nerves and thus is a common cause for tingling in the fingers.

Constricted Blood Vessels: Sometimes there is narrowing of the blood vessels as a result of a medical condition which results in what is called as Raynaud’s phenomenon which can cause tingling in fingers.

A trip to the emergency room is recommended in cases where:

• Tingling in the fingers start after having a back or a neck surgery
• Tingling in the Fingers start after a syncopal event
• If there are ambulation difficulties associated with tingling in the fingers
• There are vision disturbances and loss of focus associated with tingling in the fingers
• There is loss of control bowel and bladder

At times, Tingling in the Fingers can happen for no apparent reason but again a consultation with a physician is recommended in cases where:

• There is dizziness and muscle spasms along with tingling in the fingers
• Pain
• Worsening of tingling in the fingers with any attempts at movement of the fingers or hand
• There is a rash on the skin
• Increased urinary frequency along with tingling in the fingers

In conclusion, it may not always be that there is a serious medical condition involved whenever you have tingling in the Fingers. However, in cases where this condition becomes an everyday occurrence then it is recommended to consult with a physician to identify a cause and formulate a treatment plan for Tingling in the Fingers.

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