Numbness in hands

[chris4570]

Anyone else experience this??? While turkey hunting ths year I noticed that my hands would go numb from holding my shotgun. My left, I figured, was because my hand was on my knee with my shotgun on top(pinched). But my right hand would get a little numb as well. Just from grasping the gun for extended periods.


My guess is blacksmithing(hammering/vibrations) have started to take a toll.

[chris4570]

I just turned 35!!!! I was hoping these failings would come at least a little later in life.

My hands also go numb while sleeping. Sometimes while driving. Never while drinking! Maybe I should see a doctor.

[Normous]

Welcome to the second half of your life.

[Rage_A_Holic]

Could be 3 Reasons.

1) You are pinching off blood supply, leading to a pins/needles feeling. could be a widespread feeling throughout the hand, as most of the veins/arteries serve most of the flesh within the hand.

2) Pressure on a nerve leading to temporary loss of feeling. There are main 2 nerves within the hand, the Ulnar, and the Median. The median nerve serves the Thumb, First, Second, and half of the ring finger. The Ulnar Nerve serves the pinky, and the other half of the ring finger.

3) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
The "Carpal Tunnel" is a tunnel where tendons and the Median Nerve travel through. With repetitive motions, the tendons swell, putting pressure on the median nerve. A little extra pressure from maintaining the same position for a long time may aggravate it. I will post a carpal tunnel test (Phalen's Maneuver) at the bottom of the thread.

- If it is in the first 3.5 fingers, its the Median Nerve
- If It is in the last 1.5 fingers it's the Ulnar Nerve
- If it is all over, you are pinching off a blood supply. Most likely a vein.
- If you test positive for the Phalen's maneuver, It's Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

If you test negative for Carpal Tunnel, it sounds less serious. either excessive pressure on a nerve, or blood vessel. Either way the solution is simple. change positions more often, and try to alleviate pressure over the hand. If you test positive for carpal tunnel, get back to me, I'll send you some stuff you can try at home. if that doesn't work, contact a family physician.

Phalen's Maneuver-
- Press the backs of your hands together firmly. Try to get the angle between your hand, and forearm as close to 90 as you can. Hold for 2 minutes.


A Positive test is indicated by symptoms getting increasingly worse throughout the 2 minutes, symptoms can be tingling, numbness, or pain.

A Negative test is indicated by being able to complete all two minutes without pain, numbness, or tingling

[liaf]

It sounds like you have carpal tunnel syndrome. There is a band of "tissue" surrounding the wrist called the flexor retinaculum? and when it gets overused from certain movements(ie, blacksmithing) it starts to compress the nerves in the wrist which leads to numbness in the hands. I think its the median nerve and ulnar nerve that are involved in this process . Its basically a repetive motion disorder that many people get from certain types of work. you may want to try using wrist splints at night so your hands stay in a neutral or slightly extended position. At this point it sounds pretty mild i would consult a physician if it really start to bother you a lot. If it gets really bad I believe they can de-compress the nerves by surgery but IMHO that is probably the last resort for your condition. if you think you got problems now wait till you hit 50 then you are going to beg to be 35 again. The above info is correct but I type too slow in answering some questions.

[Rage_A_Holic]

It sounds like you have carpal tunnel syndrome. There is a band of "tissue" surrounding the wrist called the flexor retinaculum? and when it gets overused from certain movements(ie, blacksmithing) it starts to compress the nerves in the wrist which leads to numbness in the hands. I think its the median nerve and ulnar nerve that are involved in this process . Its basically a repetive motion disorder that many people get from certain types of work. you may want to try using wrist splints at night so your hands stay in a neutral or slightly extended position. At this point it sounds pretty mild i would consult a physician if it really start to bother you a lot. If it gets really bad I believe they can de-compress the nerves by surgery but IMHO that is probably the last resort for your condition. if you think you got problems now wait till you hit 50 then you are going to beg to be 35 again. The above info is correct but I type too slow in answering some questions.

Pretty dang close. Excellent info, but only the median nerve is effected by carpal tunnel syndrome.

The Flexor retinaculum covers the tendons of Flexor Digitorum Profundus, Flexor Digitorum Superficialis, Flexor Carpi Radialis, and Flexor Carpi Ulnaris. The Carpal tunnel is bordered superficially by the Flexor Retinaculum, and Deeply by the Radius/Ulna. Only the median Nerve travels within the Carpal tunnel, along with the tendons. Since it innervates the first 3.5 fingers, thats where the pain, burning, numbness, tingling will be felt.

Here is a nifty picture I found on Google.

[tuskntine]

Anticapation of a BIG gobbler coming out . Holding gun too tight.

[DrDan]

May be the 16oz can syndrome... Try going to a 12oz can and it may ease up a bit. I had to stop drinking out of quarts but the numbness does ease up a bit just before passing out!

[Grizzly Adam]

Chris, my advice would be to see a specialist.

Due to the extremely heavy repetitive labor I did in my youth, I have been bothered by carpal tunnel syndrome for many years, and have had release surgery on my left wrist. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is the reason I have a crossbow permit (so it can't be all bad, huh? ).

Don't rely on anything but a consultation with a specialist who commonly deals with such problems, and especially don't self-diagnose according to anyone's or any source's instructions on how to test for it. You need to find out what's going on so you can avoid permanent damage. Trust me ... I let it go, and now I have permanent numbness in my hand.

See a doctor for a referral. It won't hurt you and may help you.

[dutchhunter]

the combined group brain power on this fourm is very wide spread not much we cant figger out when people put there heads toghether. great advice

[dick195252]

Just hope thats all that goes Numb as you get Older

[chris4570]

I tried the Phalen Manouver/Test. Other than being uncomfortable I didn't notice any tingling, or numbness.

Thanks for the information. Thanks for everyones input. Really is a great forum!!!

Time to see a doctor.

[flightattendant100]

I just turned 35!!!! I was hoping these failings would come at least a little later in life.

My hands also go numb while sleeping. Sometimes while driving. Never while drinking! Maybe I should see a doctor.

Just drink more!

[papabear1]

I just turned 35!!!! I was hoping these failings would come at least a little later in life.

My hands also go numb while sleeping. Sometimes while driving. Never while drinking! Maybe I should see a doctor.

If drinking means , boose it thins your blood ,so I would think maybe you have poor circulation, I would defanatly see a dr.

Dave

[j.krug]

Sometimes while driving. Never while drinking! Maybe I should see a doctor.

Maybe you should drink more!?!?