What Causes Tingling, Numbness, or Burning in My Arms, Hands, or Fingers?

Have you ever experienced tingling in your fingers, numbness in your hands or a burning sensation traveling down your arm? These symptoms are common, but many people do not realize they are often related to the nerves that connect your brain to the rest of your body. Before we discuss what causes these sensations, it is important to understand the role that nerves play in our bodies.

How Do Nerves Affect Sensation in Our Arms and Hands?

Nerves act as the communication system of the body. They create the connection between your brain, spinal cord, muscles, organs and every area of your body. This connection allows you to move, feel sensations and control important functions throughout your body. Your nerves allow you to experience everything from touch and temperature to your major senses, including taste, hearing, smell and vision. They also allow your brain to communicate with your muscles so that your body can move properly. However, when nerves become irritated, compressed or damaged, that communication can become disrupted. When this happens, your body may send signals that you experience as pain, tingling, numbness or burning.

Why Do We Feel Pain, Tingling, Numbness, or Burning?

Pain, tingling, numbness and burning sensations are all signals from your nervous system. They are your body’s way of letting you know that something may be affecting the nerves in a specific area. When a nerve is irritated or compressed, it may not be able to communicate properly. This can cause abnormal sensations along the pathway of that nerve, including:

• Tingling or “pins and needles”

• Numbness or decreased sensation

• Burning sensations

• Shooting or electric-like pain

• Weakness or difficulty with coordination

It does not take a significant amount of pressure or irritation to affect nerve function. Even small changes around a nerve can interfere with how that nerve communicates with the brain. This is why it is important not to ignore persistent numbness, tingling or burning sensations. What may start as an occasional annoyance can sometimes progress into weakness, difficulty using the affected muscles or problems with coordination.

What Causes Tingling, Numbness, or Burning in the Arms, Hands, and Fingers?

There are many possible causes of nerve-related symptoms in the upper body, but one common source is irritation of the nerves that exit the cervical spine (the neck). The nerves in your neck travel from the spinal cord down through your shoulders, arms, hands and fingers. When one of these nerves becomes irritated, you may feel symptoms along the pathway that nerve controls.

Which Nerves Cause Symptoms in the Arms, Hands, and Fingers?

The exact location of your symptoms can provide clues about which nerve may be involved.

• C5 nerve irritation: Symptoms may be felt from the shoulder down the outside of the upper arm toward the elbow.

• C6 nerve irritation: Symptoms may travel from the outside of the elbow down the forearm and into the thumb.

• C7 nerve irritation: Symptoms may be felt in the middle and index fingers.

• C8 nerve irritation: Symptoms may travel from the inside of the elbow down the forearm and into the ring finger and pinky finger.

Because each nerve follows a specific pathway, the location of your tingling, numbness or burning can help determine where the irritation may be occurring.

How Gentle Family Chiropractic Can Help

At Gentle Family Chiropractic, we believe every person deserves care that is specific to their individual needs. We are not a high-volume clinic where every person receives the exact same adjustments during every visit. Instead, we take the time to understand your symptoms, your history and how your body is functioning so we can create a personalized approach.

We use an advanced instrument called an Arthrostim, which delivers gentle, precise adjustments using rapid pulses instead of a traditional hands-on adjustment. The Arthrostim is not computerized; adjustments are determined by our clinical evaluation, case history, and experience. This allows us to focus on specific areas of the spine that may need attention while providing a comfortable experience for our patients.

If you are experiencing tingling in your hands, numbness in your fingers, burning sensations in your arms, or other nerve-related symptoms, we would be happy to answer your questions and discuss whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are my fingers tingling or numb?

Tingling or numb fingers can occur when a nerve is irritated or compressed. Because the nerves that supply your hands originate in your neck, issues affecting the cervical spine can sometimes contribute to symptoms felt in the hands and fingers.

Can a pinched nerve cause burning in my arm or hand?

Yes, an irritated nerve can cause sensations such as burning, tingling, numbness, or shooting pain along the path of that nerve.

When should I be concerned about numbness or tingling?

Occasional tingling can happen for many reasons, but persistent or worsening numbness, weakness, loss of coordination, or changes that affect your daily activities should be evaluated by a healthcare professional.

Can chiropractic care help with nerve-related symptoms?

Yes, chiropractic care focuses on evaluating the spine and nervous system to identify areas that may be contributing to symptoms. At Gentle Family Chiropractic, we use a gentle, specific approach to care based on each individual’s needs.

To Learn More

If you would like to learn more about the way we adjust or have questions about your specific symptoms, please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can contact Gentle Family Chiropractic at 724-320-2003, and we would be happy to help!