# Perpetual tingling sensation at the ends of my fingertips **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 26, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008 "2005-10-26T15:51:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/1 "2005-10-26T15:51:19Z")
Disclaimer: Will not take any medical advice given here seriously. Will consult doctor if necessary. From times to times, I will experience a perpetual tingling sensation at the tips of my fingers, the type you get when you there’s not enough blood going to certain limbs of body (I guess the term is ‘asleep’). I typed a lot and wrote a lot for the past few hours, but still I get the sensation. It’s annoying, to say at least. Why am I experiencing this? What can I do about it? ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/2 "2005-10-26T15:53:58Z")
**I am not a doctor** , but it sounds like carpal tunnel. That’s what it feels like to me. It’s not the end of the world. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/3 "2005-10-26T16:01:04Z")
This has been happening to me for years. I have no idea what the cause is. I often wonder if it’s an indication that I might be diabetic. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/4 "2005-10-26T16:04:38Z")
Is it all the fingers, or just the index and middle or ring and little? Index/middle could be CTS, ring/little could be UTS (ulnar tunnel syndrome; same as CTS, except the nerves are gonig through a different bone). If you were diabetic, you’d more likely notice the symptoms of peeing frequently and probably getting sleepy after every meal. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/5 "2005-10-26T16:09:11Z")
I get the same thing, and also have no idea what it is or what causes it. Oh, and it’s any finger at any given time. ---
**Author:** ![aamco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@aamco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aamco)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/6 "2005-10-26T21:07:14Z")
High scientific medical advice to follow: :rolleyes: I get this once in a while. I don’t know what it is, but I popped a multivitamin once, and it went away. Now, every time it happens, I pop a multivitamin, and it always goes away. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Fridgemagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@Fridgemagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fridgemagnet)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/7 "2005-10-26T22:06:58Z")
I get this happening to various bits of my body all the time. In me, it’s due to muscles that have gone into permanent spasm, and need massaging to release. They pull bones and joints out of position, and this can press upon nerve bundles, leading to the symptoms described. Prod about hard and see if you can feel any muscles that feel lumpy under the surface. If in doubt, heat them up with a hot-as-you-can-stand shower or hot tub, as this should relax them temporarily for a few minutes, and if seized muscles are indeed the problem then the tingling fingertip symptoms should temporarily go away. If this is the case, go see your doctor armed with this information. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/8 "2005-10-27T01:48:44Z")
Oddly, a long term overdose of Vit B6 can cause this. See your Doc. ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/9 "2005-10-27T02:43:52Z")
When that happened to me, I was diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome. See a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Rikster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e9a140/32.png) [@Rikster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rikster)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/10 "2005-10-27T03:01:13Z")
This only happens to me when I go swimming in the ocean, its never happened while swimming in a pool or the river. It dosent happen if I’m fishing on the beach. Just some weird combination of being in the salt water or laying on the sand, it has perplexed me for years ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/11 "2005-10-27T03:02:40Z")
There are several things that could cause what you describe, however, you haven’t given enough information to narrow it down. It could be [carpal tunnel syndrome](http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/brochure/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=5&topcategory=Hand) as others have mentioned. It could be [Raynaud’s Disease](http://www.surgical-tutor.org.uk/default-home.htm?system/vascular/raynauds.htm~right) You didn’t say if you smoke or if it’s brought on by cold. It could be a small nerve pinched in your shoulder or your elbow, or your neck could be broken. Or you could have a habit of saving tiny rubber bands on your wrist. See? Just not enough information. ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/12 "2005-10-27T03:47:53Z")
I’ve had this in my left hand for around 10 years now. Was tested for diabetes, negative, so I just live with it. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 10:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/13 "2005-10-27T10:04:44Z")
See a doctor. If it worsens when you tap the inside of your wrist on the affected side it is more likely to be carpal tunnel syndrome, but it could be almost anything. See a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Fridgemagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@Fridgemagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fridgemagnet)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/14 "2005-10-27T11:43:55Z")
As well as the sound “see a doctor” advice, it may be a good idea to see several doctors if this is really getting to be a problem. Tingly fingers can be caused by some very odd things, and it wouldn’t hurt to have a number of doctors’ opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/15 "2005-10-27T17:12:40Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > Is it all the fingers, or just the index and middle or ring and little? Index/middle could be CTS, ring/little could be UTS (ulnar tunnel syndrome; same as CTS, except the nerves are gonig through a different bone). > > If you were diabetic, you’d more likely notice the symptoms of peeing frequently and probably getting sleepy after every meal. It’s all the fingers. Not sure about being diabetic…what are the other symptoms? ---
**Author:** ![Shirley\_Ujest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shirley\_Ujest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shirley_Ujest)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2005, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/16 "2005-10-27T19:37:55Z")
Does it follow a long session on the computer or is it seemingly random? ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/17 "2005-10-28T05:33:09Z")
> [@Shirley Ujest](#): > > Does it follow a long session on the computer or is it seemingly random? Can’t really find a pattern, but it was before the eve of a stressful day - got a programming test and a presentation on the next. ---
**Author:** ![Fridgemagnet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/22d042/32.png) [@Fridgemagnet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fridgemagnet)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2005, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/perpetual-tingling-sensation-at-the-ends-of-my-fingertips/328008/18 "2005-10-28T11:43:48Z")
> [@ExtraCun](#): > > Can’t really find a pattern, but it was before the eve of a stressful day - got a programming test and a presentation on the next. Sounds exactly like muscular tension to me. Nonetheless, see a doctor etc etc. As an experiment, the next time it happens, run a deep bath as hot as you can possibly bear, and soak yourself in it until you almost faint from heatstroke, have a bit of a gentle stretch, and then see how you feel. Any tense muscles will be temporarily relaxed by the heat, and should induce a change in symptoms. At least for a while. Muscles can go into spasms and remain locked up for years. They often go unnoticed, or just make their presence felt as a low ache in a general area, but if you start feeling around with firm fingers you can soon spot the culprit muscles. They’ll be really quite hard. If you’ve got any, go see a proper therapist for a course of deep muscle massages. Physical manipulation is the only way to unknot them. And then see a doctor again…