There are a few different conditions that can cause numbing, tingling, pain, or even weakness down into the hand, carpal tunnel being the most well known. Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is an entrapment or pinching of the median nerve that causes these symptoms in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and thumb side of the ring finger.
The median nerve starts as three nerve roots that stem from the neck at vertebral levels C5, C6, and C7, so if there is any pressure at these locations it can result in symptoms very similar to carpal tunnel syndrome. There are many different sites where the median nerve could be entrapped such as the wrist, forearm, shoulder, and even the neck. This is often coined “double crush” which describes the scenario when the median nerve is being impinged at 2 different locations.
There are many potential causes of carpal tunnel syndrome such as a lack of mobility, sustained poor posture, or neck/wrist injury could potentially irritate the nerve. Conditions that increase your risk of developing CTS include obesity, hypothyroidism, diabetes, pregnancy, or anything that increases water retention.