numbness in a finger

[LisaS]

it's not exactly a training injury - but it is weird and I thought I'd ask here to see if anyone has seen similar or thinks it is important to get checked out.

I've got numbness on my right index finger on the edge that faces the thumb. I noticed it about 2 weeks ago - it isn't absence of all sensation, but disordered sensation: sharp is dull or even cold. This is mostly along the tip of the finger and down along the 2nd bone. Then a few days ago I was testing it to see what was really going on and I found that if a applied a small amount of pressure to that edge of the bone closest to the hand I got a real bzzzz up the finger - and the odd sensation persisted for some time.

So I'm guessing I did something that I don't remember to piss off the nerve and make it over sensitive or disordered and I'll just have to wait it out. But it is getting more annoying. Yesterday, I had trouble unscrewing the gas cap on the car because I grab it between my thumb & index finger and then turn - and I couldn't apply sufficient pressure to grip it without the bzzz. It even does it now when I turn the key in the ignition if I hold it just right.

so - is the bzzz bad / damaging and I should avoid doing things that trigger it - or is it just annoying and I can ignore it?

any thoughts? or am I just over thinking this?

[bryanc]

Just keep an eye on it. You should pay attention to whether the symptoms become more frequent, less tolerant (i.e. less stimulus to produce the same effect), or if the area becomes larger. It sounds like you've somehow dinged the radial digital nerve in your index finger.

If it's preventing you from doing common every-day things (whatever those happen to be, not any kind of "standard" to "common every-day things"), then you should see a physician.

The other thing you might consider doing is rubbing the affected area with some firm pressure. If it's minor trauma, then this can help to "re-educate" the nerve to what is proper sensation.

[LisaS]

thanks Brian - I've been trying the firm pressure and also brisk rubbing (as when washing up or drying hands) - can't really tell if is improving, but it doesn't seem to be getting worse.

[LisaS]

so, just making a note (mostly for myself) that this is still hanging on. the finger isn't as numb as it was. If I had to describe it now, I'd say it was almost hypersensitive - light touch feels cool - that sort of thing. still tingly if stroked. harder to evoke the super-zing effect with the hard pressure but can still get a response for the same touch that on the left hand would be nothing.

[bryanc]

Yeah, keep re-training it with light stroking and fiddling. This is a long process. You're actually re-training your brain to interpret the incoming signals.