Numbness in FingertipThe questions below were raised by visitors to the STOMP (Straits Times Online Mobile Print) website in the AskST section of the website. eMenders doctors provided the answers to the questions raised as a public health education project. The information provided below is of a general nature and should not be treated as a replacement for medical advice. You should seek consultation from a medical or healthcare professional about your specific medical condition.
Question
My left index fingertip has been numb for more than 1 week. I'm presently taking Neuroxel but it has not much effect. There is no obvious trauma or infection on this finger and only one fingertip is affected while the rest are functioning normally. What could be the possible cause?
Answer A numbing sensation generally indicates a problem with the nerves, which supply the affected area of the body. Sensation to the index finger is supplied by two digital nerves arising from the median nerve.
There are many possible causes for your complaint. These include:
1 Carpal tunnel syndrome - compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel of the wrist.
2 direct injury to the digital nerves
3 peripheral neuropathies - medical conditions such as diabetes may give rise to nerve damage.
The median nerve supplies feeling to the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers. Involvement of just the tip of the index finger suggests either direct injury to the digital nerves, or early carpal tunnel syndrome. If the latter, numbness may spread to the thumb, middle and ring finger as the condition deteriorates. Nerve conduction studies may be necessary to better characterise your problem.
DR. LIM BENG HAI is a Consultant Hand Surgeon at the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre.