Do you get pins and needles in your hand?

Cliff Russell is a registered osteopath in East Grinstead who has helped many people with neck pain and ‘pins and needles’ problems in their hands.

Osteopaths regularly treat patients complaining of pins and needles or numbness in their hands, often accompanied by neck pain. Although there are many potential causes, some of which may require further investigation, one of the most common causes is compression of the nerves in the neck. 

The cervical spine, or the neck region of the spine, consists of seven vertebrae which house and protect the spinal cord, which extends from the brain down through the neck and into the upper back. Nerves branch out from the spinal cord and travel down into the arms and hands, facilitating the communication between the brain and these extremities.

A bit like sciatica, where pressure on the sciatic nerve in the lower back can cause problems in the leg, pinched nerves in the neck can frequently be felt in the arm and hand.  

Some of the problems in the neck that produce pins and needles in the hand include;

Herniated Discs:  When a disc protrudes or herniates, it can press against nearby nerves, causing irritation or compression. This can disrupt the normal flow of nerve signals to the hand and result in paresthesia (pins and needles).

Spinal Stenosis: Another factor is spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal. This condition can put pressure on the spinal cord and adjacent nerves, leading to altered sensations in the hand.

Nerve Root Compression: Nerves in the neck region exit the spinal cord through small openings called foramina. Conditions such as foraminal stenosis or bone spurs can narrow these openings and compress the nerve roots as they exit the spine. This compression can affect the nerves' ability to transmit signals properly, resulting in pins and needles in the hand.

Cervical Radiculopathy: When a nerve root in the neck is pinched or irritated, it can cause cervical radiculopathy, a condition characterised by pain, numbness, and tingling that often radiates into the hand along the path of the affected nerve.

Muscle Spasms and Tension: Muscular tension or spasms in the neck can also contribute to nerve compression. Tight muscles can compress nerves or impede blood flow, leading to sensory disturbances in the hand.

Degenerative Disc Disease: Over time, wear and tear on the cervical discs can lead to degenerative disc disease, which can result in changes in the spine's alignment and contribute to nerve compression and associated symptoms.

How osteopathy can help

In situations where the pins and needles appear to be due to one of the problems above, osteopathy can help to reduce the pressure on the affected nerves. This is done by decompressing the structures in the neck, improving spinal joint movement and increasing the blood flow to the area. 

I’ve achieved good results for my patients with treatments that  include gentle traction of the neck, stretching and relaxing of neck and shoulder muscles and the mobilisation of the neck and upper back joints. 

Additionally, there are usually two other issues lurking the background, namely inflammation and postural strain. For inflammation I encourage patients to consider safe natural anti-inflammatories like turmeric if appropriate. As nerves are slow to heal, there are also some natural products that have been shown scientifically to enhance the nerve healing process, like Lion’s Mane Mushroom. For postural strain, rounded shoulders and a forward head position and frequently present, so I always provide targeted exercises to correct these problems.This is a link to my favourite exercises to relieve the forward head position.

If you have pins and needles or numbness in your hands which you think might be coming from your neck then don’t suffer, call to book an appointment for your problem at Osteostudio.

Cliff Russell, Registered Osteopath

Osteostudio serving the areas of East Grinstead, Forest Row, Lingfield and the wider West Sussex area.