Numbness of the left hand – the most common causes and accompanying symptoms

Numbness in one hand or both hands is a fairly common reason for visits to the ER. In most cases, numbness of the left hand does not indicate a health or life-threatening condition. Although numbness or tingling in the left arm is the first symptom of a heart attack or stroke, it usually has a different cause.

Why does my left hand go numb? There are many conditions that can cause numbness in the limbs, including: neurological diseases, spinal diseases, neurotic disorders, as well as nutritional deficiencies. It happens that numbness of the limbs is related to sleeping on an incorrectly selected mattress and spending many hours in a forced, uncomfortable position, e.g. while doing work. Numbness of the left hand often occurs in people using the computer for a long time, as well as talking on the phone held in the left hand – keeping the hand in one position for a long time promotes circulatory disorders, which cause a characteristic feeling of numbness and tingling.

It is worth learning more about common causes of ailments in the form of numbness and tingling in one or both upper limbs, as well as alarm signals that may indicate serious health and life-threatening conditions, i.e. myocardial infarction and stroke. Always consult a doctor when you experience numbness in the left hand. The specialist will conduct a medical interview, order tests to detect the cause of the ailment, and will select an effective treatment that will get rid of the unpleasant feeling of numbness in the limb.

Why is the numbness of the left hand not to be underestimated?

Numbness of the left hand may accompany myocardial infarction and occur in the course of other diseases that require immediate treatment. If the numbness of the left hand appears suddenly, it is accompanied by pain, stinging or burning in the area of ​​the sternum, and there are also e.g. shortness of breath, feeling anxious, dizzy and cold sweats, these may be signs of a heart problem. Numbness of the left hand may indicate not only myocardial infarction, but also appears in the course of angina pectoris, which is a symptom of ischemic heart disease.

Numbness felt on one side of the body may indicate a stroke. In this case, other symptoms also appear, e.g. drooping of the corner of the mouth, slurred speech, severe headache, balance disorders, visual disturbances.

In the case of symptoms indicating heart disease or a stroke, you cannot delay calling an ambulance, because the time that elapses from the first symptoms to the moment professional help is provided affects the prognosis of patients.

Important! Myocardial infarction and stroke are increasingly affecting relatively young people. These are no longer diseases typical of old age, which is related to, among others, with a sedentary lifestyle and the use of an improperly composed diet.

What can cause numbness in the left arm?

Hand numbness is a symptom that occurs in the course of various diseases. These are not always somatic diseases. Feeling numbness, tingling, and even temporary sensory disturbances can cause harmless diseases and diseases that require specialized treatment.

Common causes of numbness in the left hand include:

• neurotic disorders that cause somatic symptoms typical of various diseases, e.g. heart diseases,

• keeping the upper limb in one position for a long time,

• Carpal tunnel syndrome,

• ulnar nerve canal syndrome,

• spine disease, e.g. degenerative changes in the cervical spine.

Disturbing ailments are often also the result of a deficiency of vitamins and minerals necessary for the proper functioning of the nervous system, which are favored by, among others, severe stress, the use of a diet poor in nutrients and the abuse of alcohol and caffeine.
Numbness in the hand or the entire arm can also indicate neurological diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS).

Left hand numbness and neurosis

Neurosis is a common cause of numbness in the left hand. Neurotic disorders can also cause numbness or tingling in both upper and lower limbs. Somatic symptoms of neurosis are often confused with the symptoms of a heart attack.

In the course of the disease, there are ailments of varying intensity, which include not only numbness of the limbs, but also unrelated to the disease of a given organ or system, pain, panic attacks (palpitations, feeling of shortness of breath, increasing anxiety, feeling of fainting, trembling hands abdominal pain, nausea, frequent urination, numbness of the face, tingling of the tongue, visual disturbances. Symptoms of neurosis make it difficult to function normally. They are associated with with trauma, chronic stress, difficult life experiences.

Left arm numbness when not in the correct position

Numbness in the left hand may be related to harmful habits affecting blood circulation, nerve conduction and the functioning of the spine. lack of e.g. Proper ergonomics of office work, work performed in a standing position, work requiring many hours of repetition of certain movements, as well as sleep ergonomics are common causes of numbness in the arms and legs. It is worth knowing that troublesome hand numbness can also be related to the use of a smartphone and a computer mouse.

Hand numbness during sleep, which interferes with a night’s rest, is most often related to sleeping with the hand under the head or under the body, e.g. when sleeping in the stomach position. In this case, the numbness subsides when we relieve the hand by placing it along the body. Numbness of the left hand during sleep may also be related to circulatory disorders, which are favored by sleeping on a too hard or too soft mattress, and cardiovascular diseases.

Numbness of the left hand due to vitamin and mineral deficiency

Hand numbness is one of the symptoms of deficiency of B vitamins, magnesium, potassium and calcium. Soreness in the left arm, right arm, or both arms may be related not only to a nutrient-poor diet, but also to dehydration. Sometimes it is a side effect of taking medications.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve syndrome cause hand numbness

Carpal tunnel syndrome causes pain in the wrist area, as well as numbness or tingling in the thumb, forefinger, and half of the ring finger. These ailments are associated with pressure on the median nerve, which runs in the carpal tunnel.
The ulnar nerve syndrome, on the other hand, causes numbness of the little finger and ring finger, as well as sensory disturbances and pain in the medial area of ​​the elbow joint, which worsens during movements and at night.

Both carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve syndrome may be related to, among others, with the work performed and practicing sports that require multiple movements that involve the elbow joint or wrist, e.g. working at the computer, working on the production line, playing tennis.
Left untreated, carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve syndrome cause, among others, muscle weakness and muscle wasting.

The influence of spinal diseases on the numbness of the left hand

The functioning of the upper limbs and the occurrence of unpleasant ailments within them, including feelings of tingling and numbness are also affected by diseases of the spine. They may be associated with with injuries, postural defects and degenerative changes.
Other symptoms of diseases that develop in the spine include: headache, dizziness, tinnitus and pain in the hands.

Sources:

• W. Kozubski, Paweł P. Liberski, Neurology, Volume 1-2. PZWL Medical Publishing House, Warsaw, 2016

• P. Pruszczyk, T. Hryniewiecki, Great internal medicine – cardiology with elements of angiology, Medical Tribune Polska Publishing House, Warsaw, 2018

• Szczeklik A., Internal diseases, Volume I, Medycyna Praktyczna Publishing House, Krakow 2005

• Szczeklik A., Internal diseases, Volume II, Wydawnictwo Medycyna Praktyczna, Krakow 2006