Numbness in your hands is not always serious although it can be if the numbness in your hands lasts longer than a short while or a few days.
If the numbness lasts longer or persists longer than a few days or more then it could be a sign of a serious medical condition that needs treatment.
If you experience numbness in other parts of your body as well then you should seek medical attention.
Seek medical treatment for the hand numbness if you experience intermittent numbness or tingling in one or both hands.
Get emergency medical care if the numbness: Began suddenly. Follows an injury or accident.
Hand numbness can be caused by damage, irritation, or compression of one of the nerves or a branch of one of the nerves in your arm and wrist.
Diseases affecting the peripheral nerves, such as diabetes, also can cause numbness, although with diabetes, similar symptoms usually occur first in your feet.
Nerve damage in hands is most always permanent although treatment is available and sometimes nerve damage can be treated with surgery.
Sometimes the nerve is bruised, and may heal on its own in time.
However, if a nerve is cut or crushed, it may need surgical treatment in order to help improve or restore function to the hand or arm.
Sometimes, certain illnesses can affect nerves and cause similar symptoms in the upper extremity.
If the nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks.
A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury.
Some people notice continued improvement over many months.
In order to find out, conclusively, if your nerves are damaged, you need to see a neurologist.
They will perform tests to determine the health of your muscles and nerves.
If there is a problem, the doctor will explain the reason for the damage and its extent.
They will follow up by devising a treatment plan.
Nerves recover slowly, and maximal recovery may take many months or several years.
You'll also need regular checkups to make sure your recovery stays on track.
If your injury is caused by a medical condition, your doctor will treat the underlying condition.
Some things you can do to fix nerve damage in your hands at home include.
Splinting: Wearing a special splint for your thumb or affected finger can help in certain cases.
Resting: Many nerve pain conditions resolve on their own.
Heat and cold: Alternating heating and icing of the affected area promotes blood flow and can help manage inflammation and other symptoms.
Treatment options for nerve damage typically focus on pain relief and treating the underlying cause.
However, studies show that exercise can effectively preserve nerve function and promote nerve regeneration.
At first, neuropathy may cause occasional numbness and pain, but as it progresses, your symptoms may become more persistent.
The pain may reach a high point before reaching a state of constant numbness.
Once your nerves become too damaged, they can't send signals to your brain.