Your hands contain a network of bones, muscles, ligaments, blood vessels, tendons, and nerves. Nerves are critical for enabling touch and sensation, so damage significantly impairs hand function.
Trauma including cuts, burns, crushing injuries, or overstretching can damage nerves. Infections and illnesses may also cause nerve damage, affecting the entire upper extremity from fingertips to shoulders.
How to Know That You Have Nerve Damage
Signs of nerve damage include:
- Reduced sensation in hand and forearm
- Difficulty extending your wrist
- Reduced muscle tone in the arm, hand, or upper arm
- Changes in sweating patterns
- Loss of function in the hand, forearm, or upper arm
- Sensitivity to touch
- Weakness
- Jabbing or stabbing pain
Nerve Damage Risk Factors
Risk factors include vitamin deficiencies, infections (HIV/AIDS, Lyme disease, hepatitis C, shingles), bone marrow disorders, chemotherapy, toxin exposure, occupational stress, autoimmune diseases, alcohol abuse, hypothyroidism, and diabetes.
Treatment
A bruised nerve may heal independently, but crushed or cut nerves require surgical intervention. Treatment begins with diagnostic tests including X-rays, electrodiagnostic studies, MRI, CT scans, or ultrasound.
Primary treatment addresses underlying conditions causing nerve damage. Pain relievers manage symptoms during healing. Minimally invasive surgery may be necessary and can often be performed same-day. Early treatment improves recovery chances.
