Why do I feel my fingers tingling when I stretch my arm? Peripheral neuropathy?

[AbeLinkedIn]

This has been freaking me out all morning and seems to have come along suddenly. The past few days I've been putting together a demonstration and panel for a local convention and this morning I was about to put the final touches on my presentation, when I noticed tingling in my right hand that gets more prominent when I stretch or reach out. I figured it was because I slept on it last night or the repetitive movements I've been doing recently. Of course my fear is diabetes but two things don't add up: I don't have any other symptoms and even if I did, I'm not old enough to have nerve damage as a symptom. I didn't notice until I did some stretching an hour after waking up

I'm not googling, but the urge is real. It doesn't feel numb and when my arm is relaxed I feel normal. Can anyone help me? I don't want to lose my arm.

 

[kammie72]

Are you sure you didn’t sleep on it? I’ve had that when I’ve slept on my arm and it didn’t go away until I started sleeping in a new position. I was getting tingling and coldness in my arm. Even my dr friend was like hmm you’ve had some weird symptoms lately - might want to see a neurologist. They have since gone away (now I have new ailments). But some years ago a neurologist told me I had peripheral neuropathy (I was in my 20s) and I joined a support group and everything. After he tested me (which he should have done before diagnosing me) he said I didn’t have it. Anyway, since it’s only been a few days and you don’t have any other symptoms, try (I know it’s hard) not to think about it and focus on your presentation. I found the more I focused on the tingling the more it persisted. You will not lose your arm!

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

Could carpal tunnel be a possibility? I think I did sleep on it I think but the sensation intensifies when I stretch it.

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

This is weird, when I'm not reaching out my arm my hand feels basically normal, but when I do, that's when the pins and needles occur. If this is carpal tunnel, am I too far gone? I just noticed this today but would my symptoms be worse? My muscles atrophy and my dominant arm is useless? I'm spiraling, I need help

EDIT: There's no numbness, just this tingling.

EDIT 2: I just remembered the other day I was using a soldering iron to carve some foam shapes and while I had my nose and mouth covered and I worked outside, I know the fumes can be toxic and lead to nerve damage, but would that be more localized or widespread? This is freaking me out and I'm doing my best not to go to the ER

 

[Ms.Honey]

I think it could be carpel tunnel or a pinched nerve somewhere in your elbow or shoulder

 

[AbeLinkedIn]

What an I do about carpal tunnel? This never happened to me in the 27 years I was alive.

EDIT: I ordered a splint and took a vitamin and Advil and while I won't have the splint until tomorrow, the tingling isn't as prominent as it once was. It's more in my index and middle finger than anything else and even while typing there's nothing really.

 

[Bearcat999]

Simple nerve compression.

 

[bin_tenn]

Definitely sounds like nerve compression, carpal tunnel syndrome, or ulnar nerve entrapment. Ulnar nerve entrapment is due to compression / entrapment of the ulnar nerve in the elbow. I experience this often. Sometimes my elbow aches, but other times I just get numbness / tingling in one or more (even all) of my fingers in that same hand (my left). Ulnar nerve entrapment is commonly referred to as "tennis elbow", and these days "texting elbow".

To relieve a compressed ulnar nerve, try to give that arm a rest. Try not to bend it for a while, unless you need to. This is what works every time I have issues with the nerve.