Weakness in the Wrist and Fingers Numb

Dear Ask The Doctor: I am a 44 year old african american male. Suddenly I have weakness in my left wrist and some numbness and tingling in my fingers. It is very difficult for me to hold my hand out with my palm facing down and impossible to hold anything in my hand without my wrist giving out. There is no pain. Is this a stroke symtom?

Dear Bill: To my understanding your symptoms look less likely to be related to stroke. In fact they are more likely to be due to a condition called the wrist drop or the saturday night palsy, which is caused by the injury to the radial nerve which stimulates the muscles in the forearm to raise the hand at the wrist. The most common cause is the injury or pressure on the radial nerve caused while falling asleep on a chair with the arm hanging on it and head resting on the arm causing pressure injury. The radial nerve may also be damaged by a direct injury to the nerve, or by injuries to the structures around the nerve. Movements will be restored gradually as healing of the damaged nerve occurs with time. You may want to visit your doctor for a better understanding of the situation and learn some flexing exercise or a splint to help in the recovery.