Symptoms of Nerve Damage in the Thumb

Since nerve damage in the thumb can affect people in fairly different ways, the severity of the symptoms and nerves that are damaged will vary greatly, even though the damage is isolated to a rather small area of the body. Yet most people share some of the same indicators that nerve damage has occurred in the thumb, most of which are noticeable, especially because it is easy to compare a sensation in one thumb with the thumb on the opposite hand.

Numbness and Tingling

• Most people who suffer from nerve damage in the thumb experience a certain amount of numbness, tingling or even prickling to this digit.

Pain and Discomfort

• Although the significance of the damage varies from person to person, you'll most likely suffer from some level of pain or discomfort in the affected thumb. This pain may be either acute or chronic in nature, may manifest when the thumb is stationary or moved and may emanate into the fleshy part of the palm.

Weakness and Sensitivity

• When you suffer motor nerve damage, which affects those nerves responsible for motion, you may experience less strength and some increased sensitivity in your thumb.

Twitching and Spasms

• Motor nerve damage may also cause the muscles of your thumb to begin to twitch or even spasm. This may come and go or be a persistent condition.

Paralysis

• In severe cases of motor nerve damage, you may face paralysis of the thumb or a reduced range of motion.