Hand Numbness among Patients with Musculoskeletal Pain: A link to Neck Pain and Vitamin D deficiency—A Case-control study

Pharmacy Practice

  • Mohammad A.Y. Alqudah1PharmD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates., 2Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan.
  • Khalid K. Abdul-Razzak3PhD, Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan.

Volume 24 Issue 2 Pages 1-15

DOI: 10.18549/PharmPract.2026.2.3408

Abstract

Objective: Peripheral neuropathy is common in the general population. A pinched nerve in the neck typically causes neck pain, a widespread musculoskeletal complaint worldwide. Preliminary observations revealed a high prevalence of neck pain and arm numbness in patients with musculoskeletal pain (MSP) and vitamin D deficiency. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of self-reported peripheral neuropathy in relation to neck pain among patients with MSP. Study Design: Case‐control study. Methods: A total of 232 patients with MSP and age- and sex-matched controls participated in this study. Serum plasma vitamin D (VitD), plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH), and serum calcium (S. Ca) levels were measured. Results: A significantly higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was observed in MSP patients (91.3%) compared to controls (51.7%) (p < 0.001). Elevated PTH levels were found in 50% of the cases, while most had normal S. Ca levels. Females comprised 85.3% (n = 198) of the participants. Weakness was reported by 74.1% of patients with MSP, compared to 0.0% in controls. Neck pain was present in 72.8% of the cases, while numbness in the hand, fingers, or palm was reported in 55.2%. Binary logistic regression identified neck pain as the only predictor of hand numbness (OR = 2.108, 95% CI: 1.130–3.93, p = 0.019). Several published studies strongly support the benefits of vitamin D and calcium supplementation in patients with MSP. Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency, neck pain and arm numbness are prevalent among patients with MSP. Arm numbness was associated with neck pain. These findings underscore the importance of assessing patients with neck pain and hand numbness for vitamin D deficiency and related symptoms. Additionally, the evidence highlights the potential benefits of vitamin D and calcium supplementation for patients with multi-site MSP including those with neck pain.

Keywords

  • vitamin D
  • neck pain
  • arm numbness
  • musculoskeletal pain
Pharmacy Practice

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