Can Untreated Scoliosis Lead to Spinal Stenosis?
If your child has scoliosis, you’d better make sure it’s monitored and appropriately treated – even if you don’t have health insurance. (more…)
Can a Neck Problem Cause Pain in the Chest?
If you’ve been experiencing chest pain, it’s remotely possible that the cause could be coming from your neck.
However, it’s far more likely to be coming from either acid reflux, a musculoskeletal problem in the chest region, or a problem with your heart. (more…)
Can a Pinched Nerve in the Neck Cause Dizziness?
There are so many causes for dizziness – some very serious and some very harmless.
Do not get your hopes up that a pinched nerve in your neck is causing your dizziness if you keep fearing that another possible cause is a mini blood clot in your brain or a brain tumor. (more…)
Can Foot Numbness from a Herniated Disc Be Permanent?
Life is no picnic living with a numb foot that never gets well. A numb foot has many causes including a disc herniation.
Can this cause a permanent numbness? (more…)
How Much Strength Training a Week Lowers Heart Attack Risk?
Strength training will lower heart attack and stroke risk.
How Long Can You Have Lung Cancer Before the First Symptom?
How long can a cancer be growing inside your lung before it starts causing the first symptom?
Can a Lung Nodule with Spiculations Be Benign?
Finding out that a nodule in your lungs has spiculations is downright terrifying if you then learn that this is strongly suggestive of cancer.
Can Back Pain Even at Rest Be an Early Sign of Lung Cancer?
Back pain at rest CAN be caused by lung cancer.
But this comes with a “but.”
First off, do you have persistent back pain and are you a smoker? (more…)
How Well Does Cymbalta Work for Spinal Stenosis Back Pain?
Cymbalta may help blunt the pain of spinal stenosis – but not in the way most people would think.
Numb Tingling Finger the Only Symptom of a Herniated Disc?
Is one of your fingers numb and tingling with no explanation?
Are you wondering if a herniated disc (“pinched nerve”) in your neck can be causing this isolated symptom?
“Yes, it’s possible for a numb tingling finger to be the only symptom of a herniated disc,” says John D. Lipani, MD, FACS, neurosurgeon-in-chief for and founding director of Princeton Neurological Surgery in NJ.
“However, this presentation is relatively uncommon,” continues Dr. Lipani.
How is it possible that an irritated nerve in the neck, caused by a disc herniation, can then cause just the isolated symptom of a numb tingling finger?
After all, the nerve in the finger extends up the arm and to the neck.
“A pinched nerve root in the neck may travel down the arm to the tip of the fingers — and depending on which nerve fibers within the nerve root are affected, will determine the patient’s symptoms,” explains Dr. Lipani.
“Usually, pain extends distally [away from the center of the body] from the level where the nerve is pinched (i.e., in the neck).
“But again, sometimes the pain and/or numbness skips the arms and is only experienced in the finger or fingers.”
Likewise, a pinched nerve in the lower back can cause symptoms in a foot, while “skipping” past the length of the leg.
A sudden onset of tingling and numbness in a finger or two has many potential causes.
One common cause is trauma, which you might not even remember, such as lying on a finger while asleep.
Nerve irritation at the level of the elbow or wrist as well can cause a finger to tingle or feel numb.
Give the situation several days to resolve. If it doesn’t, see a doctor, as there are tests that can definitively determine the cause.
If you’ve already been diagnosed with a pinched nerve or herniated disc, this isn’t necessarily the cause of a new-onset, numb and tingling finger – but, it could be.
Dr. Lipani is a board certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeon. His specialties include minimally invasive spine surgery and non-invasive brain and spine radiosurgery. He’s the founding director of the JD Lipani Radiosurgery Institute™ for non-invasive neurosurgery.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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