Differential Diagnosis for Tingling and Numbness in Both Hands

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition is the most common cause of tingling and numbness in the hands, particularly affecting the thumb, index, and middle fingers. It occurs due to compression of the median nerve as it passes through the wrist.

Other Likely Diagnoses

• Peripheral Neuropathy: This condition involves damage to the peripheral nerves and can cause tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands and feet. It can be due to various factors such as diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or alcohol abuse.
• Cervical Radiculopathy: Compression or irritation of the nerve roots in the cervical spine can cause tingling and numbness in the hands, depending on which nerve root is affected.
• Ulnar Nerve Entrapment: Compression of the ulnar nerve at the elbow or wrist can cause tingling and numbness in the little and ring fingers.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

• Multiple Sclerosis: An autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, leading to a wide range of neurological symptoms, including tingling and numbness in the hands. Early diagnosis is crucial for effective management.
• Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA): Although less common, a stroke or TIA can cause sudden onset of tingling or numbness in one or both hands, and it is critical to recognize and treat promptly to prevent further brain damage.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A deficiency in vitamin B12 can cause neurological symptoms, including tingling and numbness in the hands and feet, and if left untreated, can lead to permanent nerve damage.

Rare Diagnoses

• Guillain-Barré Syndrome: A rare autoimmune disorder in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks part of its peripheral nervous system, leading to tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness that can ascend from the hands and feet.
• Syringomyelia: A condition characterized by the formation of a fluid-filled cavity or syrinx within the spinal cord, which can cause tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness in the hands.
• Hereditary Neuropathies: Such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, which can cause progressive tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness in the hands and feet due to genetic mutations affecting the peripheral nerves.