Assessment
Questionnaire
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a doctor would ask.
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques to assess the symptom: Finger numbness. These will include a physical examination and possibly diagnostic tests. (Note: A physical exam is always done, diagnostic tests may or may not be performed depending on the suspected condition) Your doctor will ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to openly share any pertinent information to help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis.
It is also very important to bring an up-to-date list of all of your all medical conditions, medications including dosages, and names of numbers of any specialist you see.
Create your printable checklist by answering questions that your doctor may ask below:
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Why: to establish if acute or chronic.
Why: e.g. hand, forearm, elbow, shoulder - can help determine which nerves are affected.
Why: can help determine the cause of arm numbness e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome is usually worse at night.
Why: helps determine the cause of arm numbness e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms may be relieved by dangling the arm over the side of the bed.
Why: may suggest Guillain-Barre syndrome (usually follows 1-3 weeks after a viral illness that is often trivial).
Why: e.g. whiplash injury, Brachial plexus injury, finger fracture may cause finger numbness.
Why: may suggest frostbite.
Why: diabetes and chronic renal failure can be a cause of peripheral neuropathy; Raynaud's phenomenon may be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, polyarteritis nodosa, Buerger's disease, polycythaemia, leukemia, polymyositis , dermatomyositis.
Why: e.g. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be a cause of peripheral neuropathy.
Why: some medications can cause peripheral neuropathy e.g. amiodarone , phenytoin, nitrofurantoin; beta-blocker blood pressure medications and ergotamine can cause Raynaud's phenomenon.
Why: certain occupations requiring repetitive motions are at risk of causing work-induced overuse disorders (e.g. process and meat workers are at risk of carpal tunnel syndrome due to rapid finger and wrist movement); vibrating machinery workers are at risk of Raynaud's phenomenon.
Why: Tabes dorsalis of syphilis may be the cause.
Why: aggravates Raynaud's phenomenon and peripheral vascular disease.
Why: can be a cause of peripheral neuropathy.
Why: if also pain in the involved extremity this usually suggests herniated cervical disc , spinal cord tumor or cervical spondylosis. Other conditions to consider are brachial plexus neuropathy, thoracic outlet syndrome, cervical rib, Pancoast's tumor, Raynaud's disease, sympathetic dystrophy or various entrapment syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow.
Why: may indicate cervical spondylosis, herniated cervical disc, spinal cord tumor.
Why: e.g. numbness of the face would suggest a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease, a mass in the brain, migraine or multiple sclerosis.
Why: e.g. impaired vision, limb weakness, limb numbness or tingling, tremor of hands, dizziness.
Why: e.g. sequential discoloration of the digits from pallor to blueness to redness upon exposure to cold. When fingers become red they are painful.
Why: e.g. sudden, unexpected, short-lived episodes of intense anxiety, shortness of breath, dizziness, palpitations, trembling, sweating, choking, nausea and fear of dying. Can get tingling or numbness, but usually associated with many other symptoms.
Why: e.g. weakness of distal limb muscles or distal numbness which ascends over several days or weeks.
The following list of conditions have 'Finger numbness' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.
Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Finger numbness or choose View All.
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Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 1 February, 2012 (3:08)
