Thumb Numbness Following Short Pressure
A 28-year-old female reports experiencing numbness in her thumb after applying brief pressure to the back of her wrist and hand for one to two minutes. Almost immediately, she felt intense pain that made her feel nauseous and dizzy, although these symptoms subsided quickly. However, she continues to experience numbness in her thumb along with pain in her hand and wrist, which has persisted for approximately three days. Could this issue be related to a pinched nerve or a tendon injury? Notably, she retains full strength and range of motion in her entire hand.
Answers (1)
7/14/2025, 12:40:31 AM
OpenHealth AI
It sounds like you're experiencing some concerning symptoms with your thumb, including enduring numbness and pain after pressure was applied to your wrist and hand. Let’s break this down and identify some possible causes along with the most important next steps.
Main Points:
- Your symptoms could be related to nerve compression or irritation, which is often seen in conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome or ulnar nerve compression.
- While the numbness and pain can be concerning, the fact that you still have full strength and range of motion is a positive sign.
Explanation:
The numbness you feel in your thumb, especially after applying pressure to your wrist, might suggest that a nerve in your arm was temporarily compressed. Commonly, the median nerve is involved if the thumb is affected, which might happen if there’s prolonged pressure on your wrist area. The subsequent pain, dizziness, and nausea could be responses to the sudden discomfort from the pressure.
Since your symptoms have lasted for three days, it’s important to monitor them closely. Moreover, maintaining functionality in your hand is a good sign, but ongoing pain and numbness warrant attention.
Next Steps:
-
Rest the Hand: Avoid activities that may aggravate the symptoms, particularly movements that require extended use of your wrist and hand.
-
Cold Compress: Apply a cold pack to the affected area for 15-20 minutes several times a day to help reduce pain and any swelling.
-
Gentle Stretching: If comfortable, gently stretch your fingers and wrists to keep the area mobile, but avoid any movements that trigger pain.
-
Monitor Symptoms: Keep track of your symptoms, noting if the numbness worsens, if you develop weakness, or if you experience additional symptoms.
-
Avoiding Pressure: Be cautious about applying pressure to your wrist and hand until you're certain what caused your symptoms.
-
Evaluate Positioning: Ensure your ergonomics are good during daily activities, especially if working at a computer, to avoid strain on your wrist.
If you notice your symptoms worsening, or if the numbness persists beyond a week without improvement, it may then be a good idea to seek medical advice for further evaluation. Monitoring what triggers your symptoms will also provide valuable information if you decide to speak with a healthcare professional. Let me know if you have any further questions or need clarification on any points!
Related Questions
Weekly Forum for Discussion and Inquiries - July 14, 2025
**Welcome to our weekly forum where members can engage in discussions and ask general questions related to health, medicine, and medical professions within the AskDocs community.** This space allows you to interact with both medical experts and fellow users, even if you don’t have a particular medical dilemma in mind! Feel free to utilize this thread for general feedback about the subreddit, new feature suggestions, and any other meta discussions. **What topics are suitable for this thread?** * Inquiries or discussions on health subjects that don’t pertain to specific medical symptoms or personal health issues * Insights or commentary on recent developments in the medical field * Queries regarding career paths in the medical sector * AMA-style questions directed at medical practitioners for their insights * Suggestions and thoughts regarding the [r/AskDocs](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/) community Please remember, you **CANNOT** submit questions about your personal health circumstances in this discussion thread. *If you see any comments that breach our* [*community guidelines*](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskDocs/about/rules/), *we encourage you to report them so our moderation team can address the issue.*
Unraveling My Health Concerns
Hello, I’m a 22-year-old female, and I’ve been dealing with various health problems for quite some time. I would appreciate any insights or advice from others who might have experienced similar issues. Gastrointestinal Problems - For the past five years, I’ve been experiencing nausea and vomiting. It was particularly intense initially but has diminished over time, though it remains frequent. My first doctor suspected it was acid reflux and prescribed omeprazole (20 mg) for a month, which did not improve my condition. I continued to visit my general practitioner, but finding a solution felt increasingly hopeless. Although my symptoms would occasionally improve, I’ve recently begun vomiting again. An endoscopy revealed gastritis in 2025, and I’m currently on lansoprazole (30 mg). Background - I have struggled with Raynaud’s phenomenon since childhood, which primarily affects my fingers and toes, causing them to swell. I have never brought this up with a doctor. Additionally, my family has a history of diabetes, and my grandfather suffered from kidney failure and blood cancer. Random Symptoms - I often have a persistent cough that flares up intermittently but intensified last year (2024). This worsening has led to breathing difficulties, vomiting, and feelings of lightheadedness. The symptoms were quite severe, prompting my doctor to prescribe a pink inhaler for what was suspected to be asthma. Despite my lung function tests returning normal results, my cough did improve with the inhaler. Late in December, I began experiencing throat irritation and excessive mucus production after meals, which required constant clearing. Although nausea occasionally follows, it hasn’t resulted in vomiting for several months. Recently, I’ve noticed bruising on my legs and once on my arm, alongside itchy skin, fatigue, a lack of appetite, and an overall feeling of weakness that drains my energy to the point where going out becomes a challenge. My doctor prescribed a nasal spray with steroids, but the blood tests came back largely normal except for a lymphocyte count of 4.0. Since the nasal spray wasn’t effective, it was discontinued, and I underwent an endoscopy. Currently - Over the past year, my weight has fluctuated; I was around 57 kg, briefly 60 kg, and now I’m down to 49 or 50 kg. I also experience random leg and muscle pain at night, which isn’t severe. Other issues include itching, persistent lightheadedness, constant fatigue, and an inexplicable sense of weakness, among other things I can’t quite recall.
Man with Serious Unattended Arm Injury Declining Medical Assistance - Understanding the Implications
I am currently assisting a 35-year-old male client weighing around 85 kilograms and measuring approximately 170 centimeters in height, who is dealing with a substantial arm injury. He claims it originated from a dog bite several months back; however, I have reasons to suspect it may actually be the result of a stabbing incident. He mentioned that he visited a physician once in the past, who prescribed antibiotics, yet he has not proceeded with any follow-up care since that initial consultation. Today, I examined the wound closely for the first time. It's evident that a large section of his arm is missing. The exposed tissue has an unusual coloration, exhibiting both black and pink tones. Although he attributes the black area to antiseptic spray, my assessment suggests it resembles necrotic tissue. The underlying muscle or tendon is visible, and there’s a noticeable ring of white and red surrounding the injury. The wound is dry, without any discharge, yet there is a slight odor present. His wrist is in a flexed position, severely restricting the mobility of his hand, and he reports significant pain when attempting to use it. Despite my efforts to persuade him to seek further medical evaluation, he has staunchly declined. Unfortunately, I was unable to take a photograph owing to privacy considerations, but I plan to create a sketch that illustrates the extent of the damage to his arm, which appears to be considerable. Has anyone experienced a similar situation? What are the potential consequences if he continues to avoid treatment? I am genuinely concerned about the existing harm and what risks he may face if this injury remains neglected.
Overdose Concerns with Acetaminophen
Hello, I'm a 16-year-old guy (nearing 17). Yesterday, I experienced a severe migraine that escalated to the point of me repeatedly taking Tylenol (500mg of Acetaminophen). In total, I consumed about six pills. Should I be worried about my health?
An Unexpected Drawstring Color Perception
It might sound silly, but bear with me. Just yesterday, I (19 AFAB) caught a glimpse of my pants and noticed my drawstring appeared to be pink. My initial thought was, "That's odd; I don't recall it being that hue, but no big deal. I've had mismatched drawstrings with my sweatpants in the past." I shrugged it off until later on, when I looked again and came to a startling realization—my drawstring was actually white or a very light grey, perfectly matching the color of my pants. There was nothing else I was wearing or holding that could have contributed to the illusion of a pink drawstring. Just to clarify, when I say pink, I'm referring to a shade similar to C25A7C, a deeper, muted reddish-pink, starkly contrasting with the pale grey/white I was actually sporting. What could possibly explain why my drawstring appeared in that color? I apologize if it seems like I'm making a mountain out of a molehill. To be honest, I'm at a loss regarding the cause of this peculiar perception. I have a history of anxiety, autism, and ADHD, and while I've experienced some minor hallucinations—typically auditory or tactile in nature—this sensation is different. Occasionally, I do notice a strange pink glow at the lower edge of my vision, but it's a rarity and doesn't manifest in the same way; it fills my entire peripheral view rather than just forming an odd shape in a limited area.