Do you ever get tingly or numb hands or arms when you’re driving? If so, you may be wondering if it’s a symptom of lupus.

As one MyLupusTeam member put it, “Anytime I reach above or at heart level, my arms go numb. Makes driving difficult. … Not sure if this is nerve damage or pressure from inflammation? Or just my carpal tunnel or lupus?”

This type of experience can be scary and make you wonder why your arms, hands, or fingers may go numb when you’re at the wheel of your car. Inflammation from lupus can have widespread effects on the body, including on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, which can show up as numbness in your hands and arms. Other factors unrelated to lupus might also be at play.

Find out three potential reasons your hands, arms, and fingers go numb when driving. You’ll also discover when you should talk to a healthcare provider so you can feel safe and comfortable behind the wheel.

1. Peripheral Neuropathy

Lupus can cause nerve damage due to inflammation of the nerves or tissues around the nerves. Peripheral nerves are those that branch out from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) and carry messages to the rest of the body, such as the arms and legs.

Peripheral neuropathy refers to when these nerves become damaged, such as from inflammation due to lupus. Damaged nerves may not transmit messages properly, which can lead to issues with parts of the body the damaged nerves connect to.

The main symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are:

• Numbness
• A tingling or pins-and-needles sensation
• Inability to move some parts of the body

A 2017 study showed that sensorimotor polyneuropathy — a bodily process that damages nerves — was the most common symptom of peripheral neuropathy in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), especially those who were diagnosed at an older age.

Sensorimotor polyneuropathy causes numbness, pain, tingling, or burning in any part of the body. It involves both sensory nerves and motor nerves. When motor nerves are damaged it results in the inability to move the part of the body that is supplied by that particular nerve.

Other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy include:

• Vision loss
• Facial pain
• Droopy-looking face and eyelids
• Changes in hearing, including ringing in your ears
• Dizziness
• Carpal tunnel syndrome, which can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and fingers

If you’re experiencing numbness or tingling in your hands or arms, it may be a sign of peripheral nerve damage. Talk to your doctor or a neurologist about peripheral neuropathy to see if it’s a possible cause of your arms going numb and learn about potential treatment options.

2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Widespread inflammation from lupus can affect your joints and their surrounding tissues, which can lead to joint pain and issues like arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when inflammation leads to too much pressure on the median nerve, which travels from the forearm into the hand through the carpal tunnel.

Too much pressure on the median nerve can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and fingers. Hand numbness, especially in the index finger, middle finger, and ring finger, may spread to your forearm and shoulder.

Besides lupus-related inflammation, other factors may increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. Among them is being on hemodialysis (a form of dialysis) to treat chronic kidney disease, which can result from untreated lupus nephritis (kidney inflammation due to lupus).

Taking certain medications that affect the immune system may also increase carpal tunnel syndrome risk. However, more research is needed on these potential medication side effects.

Other associated factors like hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus present as comorbidities can also result in carpal tunnel syndrome.

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, joint problems from lupus usually don’t cause long-term damage. However, research suggests that carpal tunnel syndrome may be more likely to become severe enough to require surgery in people with autoimmune diseases.

“I just recently had carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand,” one MyLupusTeam member said. “It had gotten bad enough to keep me awake at night due to the pain.”

Talk to your rheumatologist or another doctor to see if carpal tunnel syndrome may be an underlying cause of numbness in your arms and hands. They can also share solutions so you can manage these symptoms.

3. Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

Arm numbness may also be a result of cubital tunnel syndrome. Cubital tunnel syndrome occurs when the ulnar nerve, which goes from the hand to the shoulder, is squeezed too tightly at the elbow in the cubital tunnel (also known as the funny bone), wrist, collarbone, or neck.

Although researchers have studied carpal tunnel syndrome for its association with lupus, it’s unclear if cubital tunnel syndrome may also result from general inflammation from lupus. More research is needed. However, health experts do know that resting your elbow in a bent position, such as on the window or center console, could cause numb hands while driving from ulnar nerve compression.

If you notice that you experience numbness primarily when your elbow is bent, this may be a sign of a pinched nerve. Talk to your doctor about when the numbness occurs, such as with certain arm positions when driving, as this might help them determine if the tingling is due to temporary conditions or something more systemic related to lupus.

Meet With Your Doctor

Talk to your rheumatology team or another healthcare provider if you find that your hands, arms, or fingers go numb while driving. Your doctor might ask for additional tests like nerve conduction studies to identify a possible pattern of nerve involvement. They can help you pinpoint the root cause and find solutions to control symptoms and drive more comfortably.

Join the Conversation

On MyLupusTeam, people share their experiences with lupus, get advice, and find support from others who understand.

How has numbness in your hands or arms affected your daily life? Let others know in the comments below.