Causes of Numbness in Your Fingers & What To Do About It

Numbness in the fingers often results from issues involving the nerves or blood vessels supplying the area.

Finger numbness can vary based on the cause, ranging from tingling or “pins and needles” to a complete loss of sensation.

Depending on the cause, it can happen intermittently or persistently and may be accompanied by weakness or difficulty gripping objects.

Numbness in the fingers isn’t a condition alone; it is a symptom of various medical conditions that involve nerves and blood vessels in your hand, such as diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, and others.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a chronic health condition that develops when your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin (type 1) or when your body becomes resistant to insulin (type 2).

Your body uses insulin to process glucose (sugar) in your blood. In diabetes, sugar builds up in your blood, leading to hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). A type of diabetes that involves high blood sugar levels during pregnancy is gestational diabetes.

Diabetes can damage your blood vessels over time, especially if your blood sugar levels are uncontrolled for a long time. Tingling and numbness in the hands and feet have been linked to diabetes.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome happens when your median nerve is compressed at the wrist. The median nerve travels from your forearm to your palm through a tight space called the carpal tunnel. The nerve is responsible for sensation in your thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger. It doesn’t affect the pinkie finger.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome typically begin gradually. Symptoms may include numbness or tingling in your thumb, index, and middle fingers. Symptoms usually appear at night and might improve during the day. Symptoms can become persistent, worsening with certain activities.

Additional symptoms may happen over time and include:

• Numbness or tingling during activities like talking on the phone, reading, or driving
• Weakness in the hand
• Fingers feel numb all the time
• Difficulty grasping small objects like buttons and zippers

Raynaud’s Syndrome

Raynaud’s syndrome occurs when blood flow to the fingers and toes is severely restricted due to cold conditions or emotional stress. When your body is cold, it naturally limits blood flow to your skin to conserve heat. This response is exaggerated in Raynaud’s syndrome. Raynaud’s syndrome can occur on its own or as part of another disease, like lupus.

During an attack, affected areas of the fingers and toes may turn white or blue and feel cold to the touch. These color changes, known as “white attacks” or “blue attacks,” usually last about 20 minutes. After the attack goes away, blood flow returns. This often causes the skin to turn red.

Additional Raynaud’s symptoms include:

• Color changes that spread from one finger to the other fingers
• Color changes in your face, ears, knees, or nipples
• Tingling, numbness, and pain in the affected areas

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune and inflammatory disease that causes painful swelling. It primarily affects parallel joints at the same time, especially your hands, wrists, and/or knees. The lining of affected joints becomes inflamed, leading to joint tissue damage over time. RA can also affect your lungs, heart, and eyes.

Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis can fluctuate, worsening during flare-ups and improving during remission. Signs and symptoms related to numbness in the fingers include:

• Pain, aching, or stiffness in hand joints
• Tenderness and swelling in hand joints
• Symptoms affecting the same joints on both sides of the body (like both hands)

Frostbite

Frostbite is tissue damage caused by exposure to temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (zero degrees Celsius). The risk and severity of frostbite increase with longer exposure times and colder temperatures.

Certain preexisting conditions, such as peripheral vascular disease, malnourishment, Raynaud’s syndrome, and diabetes, can increase your risk of damage from frostbite. Frostbite is also more likely to occur during the winter season.

Frostbite symptoms can include:

• Blanched, white skin 
• Heaviness in fingers and toes as numbness progresses 
• Dark or purplish color to affected areas (late-stage frostbite)

Alcohol Use Disorder

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) can make it difficult for someone to control their alcohol intake, even when it begins to affect their health, relationships, or daily life. It can range from mild to severe, affecting people in different ways.

For some with AUD, withdrawal from alcohol can lead to shakiness, numbness, and trembling in the hands. If you or a loved one is experiencing challenges with alcohol use, support and treatment options are available to help regain control and improve your well-being.

Treatment for numbness in the fingers depends on the underlying cause. Your healthcare provider may refer you to a specialist who can help with your case. For example, if the numbness is caused by rheumatoid arthritis, they will refer you to a rheumatologist.

Depending on the cause, possible treatments include:

• Medications: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or medications for neuropathy may be prescribed.
• Physical therapy: Exercises to improve flexibility, strength, and nerve function can help with conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Lifestyle modifications: Managing diabetes, reducing alcohol intake, or avoiding smoking can help prevent nerve damage.
• Splinting or bracing: Wearing a wrist splint at night can relieve pressure on the median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Surgical options: In severe cases, surgery may be required to relieve nerve compression or restore blood flow.

Questions To Ask Your Provider

When experiencing numbness in your fingers, it’s important to have a thorough discussion with a healthcare provider to determine the cause and appropriate treatment. Here are some key questions to ask:

1. What could be causing the numbness in my fingers?
2. Could this numbness be related to any of my existing health conditions or medications?
3. What are the treatment options available?
4. Is there anything I can do immediately to help with the numbness?
5. How should I monitor my symptoms, and when should I follow up with you?

Not all causes of finger numbness can be prevented, but certain lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk:

• Maintain good posture to avoid nerve compression in the neck and wrists
• Take breaks from repetitive hand movements, such as typing or using vibrating tools
• Manage chronic conditions like diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Raynaud’s syndrome
• Keep hands warm in cold environments to prevent symptoms of Raynaud’s syndrome and frostbite
• Limit alcohol consumption to reduce your risk of nerve damage associated with alcohol use disorder

Numbness in the fingers can be a symptom of various medical conditions, including diabetes, carpal tunnel syndrome, and alcohol use disorder.

It’s important to consult a healthcare provider to accurately diagnose the cause of numbness and provide appropriate treatment options.

Preparing questions to ask can help you better understand what may be causing this symptom and potential treatment options.