Pain and numbness in the left hand

Dear Ask The Doctor: I am a 21 year old female whose already been tested for carpal tunnel, my test came back normal and im at a loss for whats causing my symptoms. For the past couple of years i have really painful pins and needles and numbness that comes in spasms every few monthes or so. For instance the last time i had this problem was in the fall, more than a few monthes ago. I wear an L-splint wrist brace at night because the pain keeps me up when im having the problem. My main concern is how bad it is when it comes, Excersizing, rubbing the hand, moving and trying to restore blood flow to the left hand and wrist does nothing to alleviate the pins and needles pain. The pain sometimes does not go away for hours. hanging my arm over the side of the bed sometimes provides releif. My hand feels heavy and the pins and needles can be extremely painful sometimes to the point of crying. My wrist clicks alot when moving it, I've consulted my primary care doctor and have been to a top neurologist in my area. What could be the cause of this if i am already tested and cleared for carpal tunnel? thankyou very much..

Dear Jill: In some persons at the beginning of the CTS, the EMG may have a negative or non conclusive results for CTS because the damage of the median nerve is very mild. On the other hand in your case would be important to rule our nerve compression at the level of the cervical spine which may resemble CTS, a possible circulation problem and vitamin deficiency, specifically B-Complex.