What causes stiffness and numbness in both hands?
May 12, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Jun
Introduction
Stiffness and numbness in both hands may be caused by physiological factors, but could also be due to medical conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or cervical spondylosis. Besides these common causes, other diseases like osteoarthritis, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis might also be responsible. Patients should seek timely medical evaluation to determine the underlying cause and receive prompt treatment to prevent disease progression.
Stiffness and numbness in both hands may be caused by physiological factors, but could also result from medical conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or cervical spondylosis. A detailed analysis is as follows:
I. Physiological Factors
This commonly occurs in cold environments, where poor peripheral circulation in the limbs leads to insufficient local blood supply, causing numbness and stiffness. This is a normal phenomenon and symptoms typically improve with proper warmth.
II. Disease-Related Factors
1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually associated with local inflammation, trauma, or similar factors. It can cause stiffness and numbness in the hand, accompanied by pain, hand weakness, and difficulty extending the fingers. In such cases, patients should take medications such as ibuprofen sustained-release capsules or diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets under medical guidance.
2. Cervical Spondylosis
When cervical spondylosis occurs, it may irritate or compress nerves that control the upper limbs, leading to discomfort in the hands, along with neck pain, dizziness, and headaches. Patients should follow medical advice and take medications such as oryzanol tablets or horse chestnut seed extract tablets (e.g., Maitake) to relieve symptoms.
Besides the above common causes, other medical conditions such as osteoarthritis, gout, or rheumatoid arthritis may also be responsible. Patients should seek timely medical evaluation to identify the underlying cause and receive prompt treatment to prevent disease progression.
