Numbness in the left forearm and little finger, worsening when tilting the head.
symptom
A woman in her 30s presented with numbness in her left forearm, extending from the inner side to her little finger, which had started two months prior. The numbness began in her finger and gradually spread to her forearm, with no apparent trigger. The numbness worsened with actions such as making a fist or tilting her head to the side, and was particularly noticeable in daily activities such as opening a cap or wringing out a towel. She also frequently experienced numbness while working on her computer, which reduced her work efficiency. She had consulted an orthopedic surgeon, but no abnormalities were found, and she did have neck stiffness. Upon initial examination, palpation revealed that lateral flexion of the neck to the left intensified the numbness in her forearm and little finger, and tension was observed on the left side of her neck.
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Visitors
Female
30's
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Period
February 2025 - March 2026
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Visit Frequency per week
1
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Number of Visits
7
Treatment and progress
During the first treatment, acupressure points on the hands were used to improve neck movement, and acupressure points near the spine were treated to address numbness. After the treatment, the numbness when tilting the neck and making a fist was alleviated, improving to a level that was only slightly bothersome. From the second session onward, attention was paid not only to the neck but also to tension around the collarbone, and acupressure points on the shoulder blades were used to address tension in the forearms. With each subsequent treatment, neck movement improved, and the numbness decreased along with the relaxation of tension. After seven treatments, the patient hardly felt any numbness during work, and no numbness appeared even when exerting force. There was no recurrence of symptoms or the appearance of new symptoms during the treatment period.
Acupressure points used
Summary
In a case where a patient complained of numbness from the inner side of the left forearm to the little finger, treatment was performed with the aim of improving neck movement and relieving tension. A reduction in numbness was observed from the first session, and from the second session onward, acupuncture points around the clavicle and scapula were added to address tension over a wider area. After 7 sessions, the numbness during daily life and work almost completely disappeared, showing significant improvement. Although no abnormalities were found in orthopedic examination, it was suggested that tension in the neck and surrounding tissues may have been the cause of the numbness. In this case, a comprehensive approach that addressed not only the local area but also related areas was considered effective.
Acupuncture clinic for the case:Hinata Acupuncture Clinic, Kiyosumi-Shirakawa
