Have you ever had a situation where your hand or arm goes numb before that surreal jolt that feels like electricity running through it — as the blood starts rushing to give back your sense of touch? Typically, it’s not a sign of an emergency, as most people experience numbness in different body parts from time to time. However, there is a chance that the numbness you’re experiencing could potentially be an underlying symptom. Hand numbness has many different causes, and some are a little more obscure than others. Typically, there’s nothing to worry about, but it’s good to research the correlation between hand numbness and other factors. Understanding the ins and outs of hand numbness could save a life in the right situation.
While hand numbness is generally not a cause for concern, there are some potentially disturbing implications of the symptom depending on the context and external factors. As such, it’s a good idea to stay informed, ensuring that you know how to react if you start feeling numbness shooting through your hand.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
While it is not necessarily the most common cause of hand numbness, your body can tell a lot if you know how to interpret your symptoms. For example, those who write for a living tend to use their hands quite a bit more than others, as many writers like to use their computers for work and play. As a result, they use their hands and fingers for most of the day as it rests on the laptop or desktop keyboards. Even if they place a comfortable rest on their hands, the constant pressure put on the wrist will eventually cause carpal tunnel, especially for those who don’t take breaks often. One of the symptoms is occasional hand numbness, so it’s a good idea to put things into perspective if your hand goes numb at odd times.
If you’re the type to use the computer often for work, you might have the beginnings of carpal tunnel. Fortunately, there are ways for people who frequently type for work to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome. A few hand exercises now and then can lower the odds significantly.