Arm Injuries: Check Your Symptoms

Content provided by Healthwise

When to See a Doctor

Do you have numbness or tingling in your hand or arm after an injury?

See significance of numbness or tingling if you need information to help you answer the questions below.

Review health risks that may increase the seriousness of your symptoms.

Call your health professional immediately if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Do you have new numbness or tingling and the skin on the injured arm looks more pale, white, or blue, or feels colder than your other arm?

Yes

Are you unable to move your arm normally (not because a splint is in the way or because of pain)?

Call your health professional today if you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions.

Yes

Have you had steady numbness or tingling in your arm or hand, without other symptoms, for 1 hour or longer?

Yes

Is numbness or tingling getting worse?

You may wait to see if the symptoms improve over the next 24 hours (or specified time period) if you answer "Yes" to the following question.

Yes

Have you had numbness or tingling that comes and goes for 24 hours or longer?

If you have answered "No" to the above questions, go back to Check Your Symptoms and continue to answer the questions to evaluate your symptoms.

Last updated:	July 28, 2008
Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS
Reviewed By:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine, H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer