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My Pointer Finger & Thumb Tingles

Tingling of the pointer -- index finger -- and thumb are symptoms of two common conditions known as peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome. Knowing the causes of the symptoms helps you decide on appropriate treatment, whether it is a lifestyle change, prescription medicine or surgery. Early diagnosis is key in reducing the problems associated with these problems.

  1. Possible Causes

    • Tingling in your pointer finger and thumb may indicate the onset of peripheral neuropathy. It results from nerve damage from a traumatic injury, diabetes, exposure to toxins or metabolic problems. Symptoms usually start in your feet or hands and may travel up your arms and legs. Other symptoms include jabbing, electric-like pain, burning, sensitivity to touch and lack of coordination. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs due to injuries acquired by repetitive motions, such as typing, using a screwdriver or writing. It is often accompanied by wrist pain and worsens with activity.

    Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathy

    • Diagnosis of the symptoms by a physician is helpful in planning treatments. Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen are often helpful in the early stages. Prescriptions for stronger pain medicines may be necessary later on if the condition worsens. Antidepressants, such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline are often effective in treating the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Antiseizure drugs, such as gabapentin, carbamazepine and phenotoin also work well in decreasing the nerve pain in some individuals. For people who have difficulty or annoying side effects with prescriptions, lidocaine patches help with the symptoms. A transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation unit is another alternative for some patients. The treatment requires sending electrical impulses to the area and repeated treatment often decreases the symptoms.

    Carpal Tunnel Treatment

    • Carpal tunnel surgery removes the pressure on your median nerve. Typically it is an out-patient procedure. It takes years to develop severe symptoms from carpal tunnel syndrome; therefore, it is not urgent to have the surgery. You can wait until the time is convenient. Often, a local anesthetic in your arm is all that is necessary during the procedure. After the procedure, most or some of the tingling disappears unless you had a severe case or had carpal tunnel syndrome for many years.

    Helpful Tips

    • Making lifestyle changes generally helps the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy or prevents them from worsening as much over time. Avoid leaning on your elbows for prolonged periods as it may cause new nerve damage. Get a hand massage or do it yourself. This stimulates the nerves, improves circulation and may lessen the pain. Consuming a healthy diet ensures you receive proper nutrition. Getting plenty of exercise, stopping smoking and limiting alcohol consumption also helps with the discomfort by ensuring your body is healthy and active. Using your hands differently may help reduce carpal tunnel symptoms. Keep your wrists straight as much as possible when typing or performing other hand movements. This relieves pressure on the median nerve. Wearing wrist splints at night helps keep the wrists straight while sleeping.

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