i woke up and my right thumb is numb. only my right thumb and it's not painful just numb. now it's nighttime and it's still numb. Im not an old guy. im a 14 year old boy and i don't play any sports. please help tell me what i should do or what is wrong with me?

Seth,

I'm no doctor. But, just based on living in this slightly crumpled body, here are some thoughts.

It could be a lot of different things. If you were an "antique" like me, you might have problems with the discs in your neck which can affect the nerves that go down to your hands.

But ... since you're not yet qualified for "antique" status, I'd take a shot that either: you use a computer a lot, you play a musical instrument a lot, you play video games a lot . Any one of these things could have stressed a nerve over time and the nerve is just refusing to let you do that anymore.

I'd think back to when this started and just generally scan your usual daily activities and see what you think might have caused this. Your inner sense about yourself and your body is usually right -- you probably have some idea if you slow down enough to pay attention to what your body is telling you.

I'd give it a couple of days. Baby it for the next two days. Try not to use your thumb at all. If it's still bothering you on Wednesday -- either at the same level of numbness or worse, then I'd make an appointment with my doctor to check it out. You can start with your family practice doctor and then if more specialized treatment is needed, go on from there.

I've had numb fingers and thumbs, burning fingers and thumbs, two thumbs that just snapped up or down whenever they felt like it (that really hurt ). Nerves are fine, sensitive, little beings that let you know when they're not getting the treatment they think they deserve.

Don't worry until you find out if you have something to worry about. In the meantime, for the next two days, you are going to become a couch potato and try not to use that hand and thumb.

Let us know how it goes. You don't have to just come here when something's wrong. You can come just to say "hi" or just to let us know what's up. Take care.

Barb

Hi seth,
I was wondering if you played xbox or computer games a lot or even text message/chat alot.

If so, then rest and some gentle neck, arm, hand stretches might be a good thing to try.

Here are a few sites that might help-
http://www.selfcare4rsi.com/index.html
http://ergonomics.ucla.edu/
http://www.upcspine.com/self.htm