Can You Get Neuropathy in Your Hands?

Neuropathy occurs when nerves are damaged and cannot send proper signals to the brain. You have nerves in every part of your body, so yes, you can get neuropathy in your hands.

• Symptoms of hand neuropathy may include difficulty holding onto objects.

Symptoms

• In addition to numbness, tingling and pain, other symptoms of hand neuropathy include difficulty holding onto objects, opening jars and turning doorknobs. You may just drop things.

Types

• According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, more than 100 types of peripheral neuropathy have been identified.

Mononeuropathy

• Mononeuropathy is damage to one nerve. Types that affect the hands include carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy (inflammation of the ulnar nerve in the arm) and radial (another arm nerve) neuropathy.

Polyneuropathy

• Polyneuropathy affects at least several nerves. Diabetic neuropathy, which is the result of poorly controlled blood sugar levels, is a form of polyneuropathy.

Causes

• According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, causes of neuropathy include physical injury to a nerve, tumors, toxins, nutritional deficiencies, alcoholism, and vascular and metabolic disorders such as diabetes.