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What Causes Hand Tingling?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Hand tingling is known by the more accurate term parasthesia, but parasthesia can refer to tingling, burning or numbness that occurs in other extremities too. There are numerous causes of hand parasthesia. Some of these are temporary and benign and others are very serious. If tingling is present a lot of the time or occurs on a regular basis, people experiencing it should see a physician to determine cause.

Some of the simpler causes can be the sensation of the hand waking up after it “falls asleep.” If there is pressure placed on a nerve that is connected to one or both hands, they may get numb. When the pressure is removed, the hand starts to wake up and can have a pins and needles sensation. Some people might note hand tingling all day if they wear shirts that restrict the arms. Once this restriction ends, the tingling usually goes away.

Certain medications can cause hand tingling.
Certain medications can cause hand tingling.

Other causes of hand tingling can result from more constant pressure on nerves. Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome may create numbness or pins and needles in the thumb, index and middle finger, and other repetitive motion injuries in the wrist may cause the pinky and the ring finger to feel numb or tingle.

Injuries or inflammation in the arm or spine may compress or damage nerves on a relatively permanent basis, or at least until the injury heals. This could result in tingling in one or both hands, depending on the location of the compressed or damaged nerve. A direct injury, like a fracture or broken bone in the hand or wrist, may also result in pins and needles feelings, though it usually causes pain too.

Typing on a keyboard can be hard on the wrists, possibly aggravating carpal tunnel problems and causing tingly hands.
Typing on a keyboard can be hard on the wrists, possibly aggravating carpal tunnel problems and causing tingly hands.

Hand parasthesia may result from conditions not due to injury. It can be caused by things like Vitamin B 12 deficiency, or by conditions like multiple sclerosis. People who are in the midst of a heart attack may notice tingling in one or both hands.

A host of other conditions may have hand tingling as a side effect. These include migraines, Guillain-Barre syndrome, all forms of diabetes, stroke, and Sjogren’s syndrome. Low thyroid levels (hypothyroidism) or very low calcium levels could be a potential cause too.

Damaged nerves due to injury may cause hand tingling.
Damaged nerves due to injury may cause hand tingling.

Some medications may result in tingling in the hands and these can include some over the counter antihistamines, and drugs that treat migraines. If parasthesia seems to occur when taking a medication, check it out to see if this is a listed side effect, or call a pharmacist or doctor for more information. Some substances cause tingling and one of the most concerning is exposure to lead. Lead poisoning easily leads to parasthesia and this symptom occurring in kids who may have had lead exposure shouldn’t be ignored.

Some people who suffer from migraine headaches experience hand tingling.
Some people who suffer from migraine headaches experience hand tingling.

In all, there can be over 50 causes of hand tingling, and over 100 drugs that may result in it. Since the causes are so varied, persistent parasthesia deserves medical attention. Its presence might be non-threatening, but it may also indicate life-threatening conditions like stroke or heart attack.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent TheHealthBoard contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon356292

I have been suffering from numbness with tingling and dull pain in my left hand fingers and thumb for 15 days. I have taken Iberis Amara Q 10 drops for 10 days and I feel no relief. Please advise me.

anon180145

I am having tingling in the hands and feet around 75 percent of the time. I've been to a neurologist who did blood work, nerve conduction tests, and MRIs. All have came back negative. He has no answer for me. Since then I have seen a DO for manual adjustments, a myofascial release specialist, and have had a series of B12 shots. None of which have helped. The current homeopathic dr that I started seeing is suggesting a round of iodine, tri-B oral, alpha lipoic acid, high dose fish oil treatments for the possibility of hypothyroidism and neuropathy. Do you have any additional suggestions?

BelugaWhale

@Pimiento - I have had hand tingling thanks to a migraine before. My migraines come with all sorts of symptoms and I've had them since I was a little child. I have to have complete silence and absolutely ZERO light in order to get rid of them.

The hand tingling that comes from migraines is a lot different from the hand tingling provided by Carpal Tunnel, though. Carpal Tunnel hand tingling can sometimes go up the entire and the tingling associated with migraines normally won't do that; it's pretty centralized.

Pimiento

@lmorales - Ergonomics plays a large part in preventing Carpal Tunnel, you should check it out. Hand tingling can be just plain annoying if you ask me, but I know what it's like because I get it all the time. I've never had them because of a migraine, though, but I don't think I would want to.

lmorales

Carpal Tunnel can most definitely cause hand tingling, but it also causes a burning shock of pain that can go all the way up your arm. The tingling of the hand is caused when the nerve going through the Carpal Tunnel gets pinched. People say there are ways to prevent Carpal Tunnel from developing, but I don't really know any of them.

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    • Certain medications can cause hand tingling.
      By: bhofack2
      Certain medications can cause hand tingling.
    • Typing on a keyboard can be hard on the wrists, possibly aggravating carpal tunnel problems and causing tingly hands.
      By: StockPhotosArt
      Typing on a keyboard can be hard on the wrists, possibly aggravating carpal tunnel problems and causing tingly hands.
    • Damaged nerves due to injury may cause hand tingling.
      By: corepics
      Damaged nerves due to injury may cause hand tingling.
    • Some people who suffer from migraine headaches experience hand tingling.
      By: MediablitzImages
      Some people who suffer from migraine headaches experience hand tingling.
    • Numbness and tingling in the hands may inhibit an individual's ability to perform basic tasks, such as teeth brushing.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Numbness and tingling in the hands may inhibit an individual's ability to perform basic tasks, such as teeth brushing.
    • An injured wrist may cause hand tingling.
      By: mady70
      An injured wrist may cause hand tingling.