This all depends on where the problem originates. I had pain and numbness in my arm that turned out to be caused by a neck problem...specifically, a small bone spur in the 3rd cervical vertebrae which was pressing on the nerve that runs down the arm. The ultimate treatment was a shot of cortisone into the vertebrae to reduce the swelling, then careful control of how I sit, turn my head, bend my arm when sleeping...etc.

I seem to have as a result, a small permanent numbness in the tip of my left index finger...a nuisance, but seems to not be getting worse. Being careful how I sit and move to avoid inflaming my neck has now become 2nd nature....even though I almost never 'felt' the problem in my neck proper.

Do explore various reasons for the origin of the problem, and whenever you DO get to a doctor...hopefully an orthopedist... ask about this..(it took an MRI to pinpont my problem, and I still carry the films whenever I see a new doctor.)