Differential Diagnosis for Numbness and Shooting Pain in Both Hands with Smoking
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: This condition is a common cause of numbness and shooting pain in the hands, especially in individuals who engage in repetitive activities or have risk factors such as smoking, which can impair blood flow and nerve function.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Smoking is a risk factor for peripheral neuropathy, which can cause numbness, pain, and weakness in the hands and feet due to damage to the peripheral nerves.
- Raynaud's Phenomenon: This condition, which can be exacerbated by smoking, causes blood vessels to constrict in response to cold or stress, leading to numbness, pain, and discoloration in the fingers and toes.
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: Compression of the nerves and blood vessels that pass through the thoracic outlet can cause numbness, pain, and weakness in the hands, and smoking may contribute to the development of this condition.
- Do Not Miss (ddxs that may not be likely, but would be deadly if missed.)
- Lung Cancer with Brachial Plexus Involvement: Although less common, lung cancer can cause numbness and pain in the hands if it invades the brachial plexus, especially in smokers.
- Multiple Myeloma: This type of blood cancer can cause peripheral neuropathy, and smoking is a risk factor for its development.
- Vasculitis: Certain types of vasculitis, such as Buerger's disease, can cause numbness, pain, and weakness in the hands and are more common in smokers.
- Rare diagnoses
- Sjögren's Syndrome: This autoimmune disorder can cause peripheral neuropathy and is more common in smokers.
- Amyloidosis: This condition, which can cause peripheral neuropathy, is rare but can be associated with smoking.
- Tumor of the Spine or Brachial Plexus: Although rare, tumors in these areas can cause numbness and pain in the hands, and smoking may be a contributing factor.