Differential Diagnosis for Bilateral Finger Numbness
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition is the most common cause of bilateral finger numbness, especially affecting the thumb, index, middle finger, and part of the ring finger. It occurs due to compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Cervical Radiculopathy: Numbness in the fingers can also be caused by nerve root compression in the cervical spine, which can affect multiple fingers depending on the level of compression.
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Conditions like diabetes can cause peripheral neuropathy, leading to numbness in the hands and feet, including the fingers.
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Compression of the nerves and/or blood vessels that pass into the thoracic outlet (the space between your collarbone and first rib) can cause numbness in the fingers.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Multiple Sclerosis: Although less common, multiple sclerosis (MS) can present with numbness in various parts of the body, including the fingers, due to demyelination of nerve fibers in the central nervous system.
- Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause neurological symptoms, including numbness or tingling in the hands and feet.
- Hypothyroidism: Severe, untreated hypothyroidism can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome and peripheral neuropathy, causing finger numbness.
Rare Diagnoses
- Syringomyelia: A rare condition where a fluid-filled cavity forms within the spinal cord, potentially causing numbness in the hands, among other symptoms.
- Guillain-Barré Syndrome: An autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of its peripheral nervous system, which can lead to numbness and tingling, among other symptoms.
- Amyloidosis: A group of diseases that result from the abnormal accumulation of amyloid (a particular type of protein) in various tissues of the body, which can cause peripheral neuropathy and numbness in the fingers.