Numbness · Tingling · Weakness
Nerve Conditions
Nerves carry both feeling and the signal that makes muscles work. When one is compressed or injured, the first symptom is usually numbness or tingling — and if the pressure continues, it can progress to weakness and muscle loss.
(623) 264-3300Which Fingers Are Numb?
The pattern of numbness usually points to which nerve is involved.
Thumb, Index & Middle
Median nerve — the classic distribution of carpal tunnel syndrome
Ring & Small Fingers
Ulnar nerve — usually compressed at the elbow rather than the wrist
Back of the Hand & Thumb Side
Radial nerve — less common, and often related to pressure or trauma
Whole Hand or One Arm
Sometimes originates in the neck rather than the arm — an important distinction
Conditions
Nerve Conditions We Treat
Numbness, tingling and weakness have many possible causes. Naming the nerve and the point of compression is what makes treatment effective.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the median nerve at the wrist — the most common nerve compression condition in the upper extremity.
Learn moreUlnar NerveCubital Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow, causing numbness in the ring and small fingers and grip weakness.
Learn moreTraumaNerve Injuries of the Hand
Evaluation and treatment of traumatic and other peripheral nerve injuries affecting sensation and hand function.
Learn moreSymptomsNumbness in the Hand
Persistent numbness or tingling that wakes you at night or does not resolve — a pattern worth evaluating.
Learn moreTreatmentNerve Surgery
Decompression, repair, grafting and nerve transfer procedures used when nerve function is at risk.
Learn moreTreatmentInjections
Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation around a compressed nerve as a step before considering surgery.
Learn moreA Common Pattern
Why Does My Hand Go Numb at Night?
Waking with a numb or tingling hand is one of the most common reasons patients come in. Sleeping with the wrist or elbow bent increases pressure on the nerve, which is why symptoms often peak overnight and ease when you shake the hand out.
Nighttime Numbness
Nerve pressure rises when the wrist or elbow stays bent for hours during sleep.
Shaking the Hand Helps
A brief relief after shaking or hanging the arm is a recognizable nerve pattern.
Dropping Objects
Losing grip on things without warning often means the nerve has begun to affect strength.
Persistent Numbness
Constant — rather than intermittent — numbness suggests more sustained compression.
These symptoms can also have other causes, including problems in the neck. A focused evaluation is the reliable way to tell them apart.
Numbness Is Worth Taking Seriously
Numbness and tingling are easiest to treat early, before weakness develops. An evaluation establishes what is pressing on the nerve and what to do about it.