For the past few months I have had numbness and tingling in my middle finger, ring finger, pinky finger, and the palm of my left hand. It is worst at the end of the fingertips and the little finger feels the worst.
I don’t have any pain or joint problems, but my fingers often feel cold. My right hand is fine. I have worked with computers my entire life and I am now over 60 years old.
Michael Albin, Blackburn, Lancs.
For nerve pain, I suggest avoiding prolonged elbow flexion; For example, always use your other hand to hold the phone and don’t lean on your elbow when sitting or driving, says Dr Martin Scurr.
You have provided a very clear description of a common condition called ulnar neuropathy: this is where the ulnar nerve, which runs down the arm from the shoulder to the outer two fingers, becomes compressed, causing abnormal sensations such as tingling and, in some cases. In some cases, weakness in the area supplied by the nerve.
The usual pinch point is around the elbow: the ulnar nerve travels in a groove near the medial epicondyle bone of the elbow, and when the elbow is bent, this stretches the nerve around this bone, which can irritate it.
(To find the medial epicondyle, stand with your arms at your sides, with the palm of each hand facing forward; it is the bony point on the elbow closest to the lower ribs.)
Ulnar neuropathy of the elbow can be caused by something as simple as leaning on your elbow for a prolonged period, or even sleeping on that side with your elbow bent. It usually causes numbness and tingling in the fourth and fifth fingers.
Another possible pinch point is Guyon’s canal, a canal in the wrist through which the nerve travels to the hand.
Pinched nerves in this case are usually the result of repetitive tool use or intense cycling (known as “handlebar paralysis”).
In addition to changes in sensation in the fourth and fifth fingers, this causes hand weakness, muscle atrophy, and loss of dexterity.
At night, wrap your elbow in a soft towel to limit bending. This should help resolve the issue within weeks.
While its symptoms may look like repetitive strain injury (RSI), where overuse of muscles and nerves causes pain, tingling, and swelling, they are just as characteristic of ulnar neuropathy, and the ulnar nerve is usually not involved in RSI. , which I think This explanation is unlikely (especially since you no longer spend hours in front of the keyboard).
I suggest avoiding prolonged elbow flexion; For example, always use your other hand to hold the phone and do not lean on your elbow when sitting or driving.
At night, wrap your elbow in a soft towel to limit bending. This should help resolve the issue within weeks.
For two years, I have been woken up in the early hours with a pounding heart that lasts 30 to 45 minutes. This is compounded by hearing my heart beat all the time. I have also had tinnitus for 18 months. My blood pressure is low during the day (128/62 mmHg) but higher (153/76) at night. I’m 70 years old and fit.
Name and address provided.
I understand, as these symptoms clearly concern you. But rest assured, nighttime palpitations, which are what they are, are usually not a sign of a medical problem.
The most common physical causes are dehydration (which reduces blood volume, so the heart has to work harder) and fever (as part of the body’s response to fighting infections).
But these explanations seem unlikely, since you have had symptoms for some time.
I would ask your GP about a 24 hour continuous blood pressure monitor that also records your heart rate. If there is evidence of sustained high blood pressure, you may need an echocardiogram (an ultrasound of the heart).
But most of the time, night palpitations are a manifestation of anxiety or depression. So, if the evidence is clear, I would suggest an appointment with a psychologist or therapist.
The most important thing I can tell you is that based on the information you have given me, the problem is unlikely to be a heart problem. And I don’t see any close link to your tinnitus.
Write to Dr Scurr at Good Health, Daily Mail, 9 Derry Street, London, W8 5HY or email drmartin@dailymail.co.uk. Dr. Scurr cannot correspond personally. Answers should be taken in a general context. Consult your GP if you have any health problems.
IN MY OPINION…Taking shortcuts can lead to tragedy
Last week it was reported that a young pregnant woman committed suicide after being warned that the medication she was taking for severe morning sickness could be harmful to her fetus.
The inquest emerged that the midwife she had contacted about a repeat prescription had sought advice from two medical colleagues before giving the patient incorrect information about the medication. Tragedy followed.
It’s a scary story, as a quick Google search would have shown that the drug in question, doxylamine, is not known to be harmful to a fetus.
Importantly, available information also indicates that anxiety is a potential side effect.
Severe morning sickness is a serious condition that requires considerable support from the professionals who care for the patient, a clear example that online or telephone consultations are not up to the demands of those who care for those who suffer from it and carry out an accurate evaluation. All of the subtleties that are so evident when sitting with a patient are lost when care is delivered remotely.
What an excruciating example this story has been of the truth that taking shortcuts is not free.