Arms & hands numb

I've been putting up with this problem for over a year now. I first noticed it while driving to work holding a cup of coffee in one hand. It seemed at first that the left arm was a little more sensitive than my right, but now both arms become numb. I am able to usually lower or raise my arm to get them to unnumb. I mentioned this to my doctor and he said that it was nothing, all older people sometimes get it and is caused by nerves in your back. Well I started riding a Motorcycle to work everyday because of the high gas prices and now both arms numb while I'm riding! I have to bring one arm down at a time and dangle until I get the feeling back. What do you think I should do??
 
Roadkingpolice

I recently had this happen to me, although it only effects my right arm. I find that when I drive for more than 20 minutes, my hand will go numb. I have since found out that I have three rupture disks in my neck and one of the disks was sitting on my spinal cord. I was given some steriods to take for a couple of weeks and then I did some physical therapy. I was also prescribed a home traction device. These treatment really help, although it does not cure the problem. I am choosing to live with this because the last thing I really want is surgery on my neck. Like you, I just lower my arm and await for the feeling to return.

I was given an MRI to diagnose this problem and was referred to a neurosurgeon who recommended the physical therapy over immediate surgery.

By the way, my husband drives a Harley Road King and he experiences numbness in his right hand whenever he drives long distances and he often complains of his neck bothering him.

I hope this information helps.
 
Thanks for your reply. I plan on seeing a specialist and will see what they say. I'm like you, I do not want surgery, especially on my back again. It took me more than two years to recover after lower back surgery in 1999 when a plastic gage was installed for disk damage. Glad to hear year husband is a Road King rider too.
 
Back
Top