THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN HANDS TINGLE 
After 19 years of practicing as a therapist you might think, that the job gets boring. Yet, nothing could be farther from the truth. The reason being each person who comes in the door has a unique set of symptoms. It is a real challenge to “break it down” to its simplest parts to determine what is the true cause of each person’s problem. However, these are a few things that do not vary. First of all, tingling in the hands comes before actual weakness. It is very rare for the opposite to be true in actual nerve compressions. Why is tingling of the hands the first sign of nerve compression before weakness of grip or pinch? The reasons hold the key to understanding nerve compression and why it is important to deal with tingling hands and not ignore this warning sign. The sensory nerves densely innervate the hands. There are literally thousands of sensory nerve fibers per square inch in the fingertips, only the lips are more sensitive. Conversely, hundreds if not thousands of muscle fibers are innervated by just a few fibers. So, it stands to reason you feel numbness and tingling first, before you experience muscle weakness for grip or pinch. This, unfortunately for some people has some serious consequences. Many people ignore numbness and tingling figuring wrongly, that since they can still grip and pinch and use their hands all is well. What they fail to realize is that by ignoring the numbness they are allowing the nerve to slowly die. And once a nerve dies, nothing can bring it back. Not surgery. Not medicine. Not therapy. Period. Fortunately, with the new Pressured Specified Sensory Device (PSSD) we can measure the exact level of nerve loss before permanent nerve damage. Studies show this qualitative testing can better predict whether or not surgery or therapy will succeed in getting rid of the patients symptoms. If you look at page three you can see an illustration of how it works. The fewer nerve fibers functioning, the father apart the probes on the device must be for sensory detection. The more fibers functioning the two probes are closer together because they are more densely innervating the fingers. It is all painless, noninvasive and more sensitive than traditional testing. What is it that makes it important to detect these problems early. Well, if we can detect them early we can prevent permanent nerve damage. If a nerve is injured or compressed we get swelling within the nerve sheath. The nerves themselves have no lymph drainage system. The swelling becomes chronic. Chronic swelling becomes collegen (scar) formation with the nerve itself. We have found if you detect the problem early, stretching and nerve gliding can ease the pressure and help heal the nerve. Steroidal and nonsteroidals given simultaneously and initiation of therapy are often helpful. So don’t ignore tingling hands. They are a warning sign of early nerve problems. If you treat them early we have found you can avoid surgery or permanent nerve damage. If surgery is necessary you can be more confident the outcome will be positive. So give us a try if your patient or workers hands tingle. It keeps your patients and workers productive and doing the things they like to do. Call and schedule an appointment today if you have a problem. Our friendly staff can answer any of your questions. We look forward to meeting with your patients and workers to get them feeling better again. |
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© Tri State Hand and Occupational Therapy, Inc
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