1. Consider Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
When inflammation from an activity or overuse injury begins to press on the nerve in your wrist, you may develop carpal tunnel syndrome. Common in people who perform repetitive motions like typing, assembly-line work, racquetball or tennis, carpel tunnel syndrome can cause numbness in either hand or forearm, along with shooting pain and limb weakness. You may be able to identify this condition by pressing on the median nerve, located at the base of the palm where your hand meets the wrist. If you experience shooting pain from your wrist into your hand, also called Tinel's sign, you may have carpel tunnel issues. After diagnosing the disorder through a series of physical exams and electronic imaging, your physician can treat the condition with a splint, a series of steroidal injections or surgical repair of the carpel tunnel that houses the nerve.
2. Don't Rule Out Pinched Nerves
Your body has peripheral nerves that run from the spine to the limbs, and these nerves provide sensation and mobility to your fingers, hands and arms. When a nerve is pinched, the fluid that nourishes it stops flowing, and it can't transport signals effectively. If the pinched nerve doesn't heal, it can actually die completely. When your arm's nerve fibers aren't working, your skin becomes numb to the touch. Spinal arthritis, bulging or herniated discs and bone spurs may trigger the pinched nerve, and so can traumatic events like sports injuries or car accidents. Your doctor may recommend physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, anti-inflammatory medications or surgery, depending on the cause of the pinched nerve and the severity of your symptoms.
3. Recognize a Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
If you believe it's unlikely that you have a pinched nerve or a carpel tunnel disorder, you may be experiencing something more serious. TIAs--also called mini-strokes--frequently lead to one-sided numbness and tingling, which is termed paresthesia. TIAs are usually brought on by a small blood clot that blocks a cranial artery. Though this isn't usually life threatening, it puts you at greater risk for a full-blown stroke. See your doctor immediately for medication and lifestyle change recommendations that may help you stave off a future "brain attack" that could lead to permanent disability.
4. Undergo a Stroke Evaluation
A stroke that occurs in one side of your brain usually affects the opposite side of your body. If you lose sensation in your left arm, it could mean that you've experienced a lack of blood flow to the right side of your brain. Don't overlook your arm numbness, especially if it presents with other corroborating stroke symptoms like speech impairment, visual problems or cognitive difficulties. If you've had a stroke, your chances of survival and recovery are improved if you visit an emergency department within 3 to 5 hours of symptom onset.
