Symptom: Finger numbness

Introduction: Finger numbness

Numbness usually arises from damage or disease of nerves. Numbness is often associated with or preceded by abnormal pain-like sensations often described as pins-and-needles, prickling or burning sensations called paresthesias; see finger paresthesias. Any numbness or abnormal sensations need prompt professional medical advice.

» Review Causes of Finger numbness: full list

Causes of Finger numbness:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Finger numbness. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Finger paresthesias
• Paresthesias
• Nerve injury
• Diabetic neuropathy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Cervical spondylosis
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Alcoholic neuropathy
• Guillaine-Barre syndrome
• SACD
• Frostbite
• Leprosy
• Panic attack - can get tingling or numbness in panic attacks, but usually with many other symptoms.
• See also causes of finger paresthesias, paresthesias, numbness
• Cervical disk syndrome (see Neck symptoms)

See full list of 29 causes of Finger numbness

» Review Causes of Finger numbness: full list

Finger numbness: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Finger numbness, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Finger numbness: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Finger numbness and Nerve symptoms (21 causes)
• Finger numbness and Pain (21 causes)
• Finger numbness and Sensations (21 causes)
• Finger numbness and Numbness (20 causes)
• Finger numbness and Tingling fingers (19 causes)
• Finger numbness and Arm symptoms (17 causes)
• Finger numbness and Hand symptoms (16 causes)
• Finger numbness and Arm numbness (15 causes)
• Finger numbness and Finger symptoms (15 causes)
• Finger numbness and Paresthesias (15 causes)
• Finger numbness and Hand numbness (14 causes)
• Finger numbness and Limb symptoms (13 causes)
• Finger numbness and Toe numbness (12 causes)
• Finger numbness and Arm paresthesia (12 causes)
• Finger numbness and Hand paresthesia (12 causes)
• Finger numbness and Weakness (12 causes)
• Finger numbness and Leg symptoms (12 causes)
• Finger numbness and Tingling toe (11 causes)
• Finger numbness and Finger paresthesia (11 causes)
• Finger numbness and Skin problems (10 causes)

See full list of 652 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Finger numbness

Home Diagnostic Testing and Finger numbness

Home medical tests possibly related to Finger numbness:

• Diabetes: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Tests
  • Home Blood Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Ketone Tests
  • Home Diabetes HbA1c Tests
  • Home Microalbumin Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Kidney Tests
  • Home Eye Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Finger symptoms (770 causes)
• Numbness (242 causes)
• Arm numbness (58 causes)
• Hand numbness (32 causes)
• Pain (3014 causes)
• Sensations (3186 causes)
• Nerve symptoms (3495 causes)
• Hand symptoms (861 causes)
• Arm symptoms (1076 causes)
• Common symptoms (4555 causes)
• Limb symptoms (1032 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Finger numbness

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Finger numbness:

• Finger paresthesia (22 causes)
• Finger burning
• Finger itch (14 causes)
• Tingling fingers (34 causes)
• Finger pain (39 causes)
• Finger spasm (9 causes)
• Finger weakness (18 causes)
• Numbness (242 causes)
• Hand numbness (32 causes)
• Wrist numbness
• Hand symptoms (861 causes)
• Wrist symptoms (29 causes)
• Knuckle symptoms

Diagnostic Guides for Finger numbness

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Finger numbness from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Finger numbness. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Finger numbness

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Finger numbness

Underactive thryoid may be misdiagnosed as depression: Hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid, is an endocrine gland disorder that is more common in women. It can mimic many diseases, including depression. The patient often has depressive type...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Finger numbness

Diagnostic tests for Finger numbness:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Finger numbness. Some of these are listed below :

• General appearance - abnormal posture, muscle wasting, abnormal arm movements.
• Physical examination
  • May be necessary to examine a variety of joints including the cervical spine, shoulder, elbow , wrists and the various joints of the hand
  • Test muscle tone, power, reflexes and co-ordination of upper limbs
  • Test sensation of upper limbs ( including pain , touch , temperature and vibration sensation)

See full list of 30 diagnostic tests for Finger numbness

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Finger numbness. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you noticed numbness in your finger? - to establish if acute or chronic.
• Which finger or fingers are affected?
• Are there other parts of the upper extremity that are affected by numbness? - e.g. hand, forearm, elbow, shoulder - can help determine which nerves are affected.
• Are both upper extremities affected and is it symmetrical?- helps determine which nerves are affected e.g. peripheral neuropathy is symmetrical compared with individual nerve or nerve root disease which should be suspected if sensory loss is asymmetrical or confined to one limb
• Is there a time of day when finger numbness is worse? - can help determine the cause of arm numbness e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome is usually worse at night.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Finger numbness (24 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Finger numbness) may include:

• Arm pain? - if also pain in the involved extremity this usually suggests herniated cervical disc , spinal cord tumor or cervical spondylosis. Other conditions to consider are brachial plexus neuropathy, thoracic outlet syndrome, cervical rib, Pancoast's tumor, Raynaud's disease, sympathetic dystrophy or various entrapment syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow.
• Arm weakness?
• Neck pain? - may indicate cervical spondylosis, herniated cervical disc, spinal cord tumor.
• Are there any other areas of the body which are numb? - e.g. numbness of the face would suggest a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, a mass in the brain, migraine or multiple sclerosis.
• Symptoms of multiple sclerosis? - e.g. impaired vision, limb weakness, limb numbness or tingling, tremor of hands, dizziness.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Finger numbness (24 listings)

Stories from Users for Finger numbness

Real-life user stories relating to Finger numbness:

• numb little fingers
• I feel hopeless, can't get help
• Can't bend fingers in the morning
• Constant Dizziness, Numbing of the Fingers, Legs and Feet
• Numbness in hands and fingers what is it?
• Numbness in thumb and pain in last two fingers in hand
• Rash but no ill-feeling
• White Fingers and Numbness
• Feeling strange - can't diagnose
• numb fingers
• finger numbness and elbow stiffness
• Armpit pain and numbness in fingers
• Numbness in pointer finger tip: carple tunnel?
• numb pinky finger
• numb fingers, pain for a while...
• Numbness in last 2 fingers left hand
• Frequent numbness of forehead???
• Numbness in fingers, toes
• Finger numbness
• strange sensations and no dx

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Finger numbness or relevant symptoms:

• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories
• Endocrine (Growth and Metabolism) (93)
  • Symptoms of Cushing's - Tests all negative
  • Has anyone been diagnosed with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and are being treated??
  • Pitutary tumor
  • I am at my wits end with these symptoms
  • I think I have Cushings, can you help?
  • More user stories
• Allergic/Immunologic (88)
  • Chronic hives
  • Spontaneous flushing and redness of face and body.
  • Non-stop itching, no rash
  • Swelling & itching
  • Problems with my scalp can anyone help me
  • More user stories

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Medications or substances causing Finger numbness:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Finger numbness as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Dihydroergotamine Mesylate
• D.H.E. 45
• Belladonna, Phenobarbital and Ergotamine Tartrate
• Bellergal-S
• Bel-Phen-Ergot S

See full list of 11 medications causing Finger numbness

Organs affected by Finger numbness:

The list of organs typically affected by Finger numbness may include, but is not limited to:

• Finger
• Finger nerves
• Skin

Detailed list of causes of Finger numbness

The list below shows some of the causes of Finger numbness mentioned in various sources:

• Alcoholic neuropathy
• Broken finger - finger numbness
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - numbness in fingers
• Cervical disk syndrome
• Cervical spondylosis

See full list of 29 causes of Finger numbness

How Common are these Causes of Finger numbness?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Finger numbness. Of the 29 causes of Finger numbness that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 1 causes are "very common" diseases
• 1 causes are "common" diseases
• 2 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 3 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 23 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 29 causes of Finger numbness

Conditions listing symptoms: Finger numbness:

The following list of conditions have 'Finger numbness' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

B

Causes of Finger numbness Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Finger numbness based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: