OK–Here’s the deal. I got married about 6 weeks ago (hurray Mr & Mrs Dang). I have never previously worn a ring. Now, my LITTLE finger is permanently numb. Sometimes it includes the ring finger and up the forearm (like when you hit your “funnybone”).
It is a 5mm standard “comfort fit” band, so it isn’t big and bulky or anything. It fits perfectly, easily sliding on and off. Before anyone says it, it’s not in my head, or a sub-conscience reaction to marriage. I had looked forward to wearing my ring and really want to. In fact, I continue to do so in spite of this. It seems to me that the ring is pressing on a nerve in my little finger, causing the numbness.
Is this common? Does anyone know of this happening to someone else and can anything be done about it? I took it off for 2 days and it didn’t go away, so I guess it would take a lot longer to go back to normal.
Oh don’t look at me like that; you knew someone was going to do it.
My friend had the same thing with his ring for about a week or so. Eventually it went away. It possible that it could be something you’re doing with the hand that causes the ring to press against a nerve. It wouldn’t be the ring causing the issue, but the fact that you have yet to adapt your activity to having a ring on. Best I can do.
I have never heard of a finger going numb because of a ring. (Of course there are a lot of things I haven’t heard of.)
I would be concerned that it wasn’t the ring since you took it off for two days and the problem didn’t go away. Perhaps a quick trip to your doctor to confirm that there isn’t a real problem is in order?
I see your point, Grey. It could be a matter of adjusting its position on the finger (i.e., more towards the knuckle).
IC, I should specify that it seemed to be a bit better after not wearing it, just not all the way better, and it went back to worse when I started wearing it again. As an aside, I thought it was maybe that I needed a wrist pad at work, but I dug it out and started using it and it didn’t make any difference.
It actually comes and goes in severity. It’s just driving me crazy, as well as seriously impeding my ability to play guitar. So far, no one has ever heard of this happening for this long. Here’s hoping it does just go away like Grey’s friend. I appreciate the input.
It probably has something to do with how you wear the ring, not just that you wear it. I got a fairly thick hematite band to wear when my hands swell (and at work, so my nice one wouldn’t get all banged up), and I had some similar issues with my fingers till I got used to it. It felt like it was always digging into my pinkie and middle finger, which caused cramps further up the hand. The further down the finger I shoved it, the worse it got.
Try adjusting the ring, as suggested, and try to pay attention to how it interacts with your other fingers. Does it hit against the pinkie? Or maybe it gets worse when you squeeze your fingers togheter or make a fist? If this is all it is, you’ll subconsciously adjust the way you hold your fingers to take care of the problem. It may take a while, but you’ll adjust.
If it persists, I’d see a doc just to make sure it’s nothing serious.