Many patients report that their hands go numb when they sleep. Should this be something that worries you, or is it no big deal? Here’s why you should be concerned about this problem and what may be causing it. Show When any body part goes numb, it means that the nerve supply to that area has been cut off. If your hands are going numb while you sleep, that indicates that some nerve that goes from your neck to the hand is being compressed. Nerves have their own blood supply, so pressure on a nerve cuts off that blood supply and the nerve becomes starved for oxygen and nutrients and shuts down. If this happens for a short period of time, the nerve wakes up again once the pressure is removed. Continued pressure on the nerve can mean that it gets a little damaged with each episode. Months or years of numb hands at night can be a symptom of damaged nerves. The most significant cause is neck (cervical) stenosis or a disc bulge, leaving little room for the nerves. You don’t have to experience constant neck pain with stenosis or a disc bulge; some patients just notice that their hands are numb. When the neck gets into a weird position at night and the muscles that protect it during the day relax, the nerves become crunched and the hands go numb. Many times a cervical collar worn only at night will reduce the numbness. You may need to experiment with different collars or varying amounts of tightness. If this helps your hands, you likely should have a cervical MRI to check out the cause of the problem. The second biggest cause is thoracic outlet syndrome. This means that the nerves are getting crunched in the shoulder area. This is a common problem for modern computer users, as the shoulder and head come forward leading to nerve compression. Specific stretching exercises can address this. Other causes can include carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrists. This is when the main nerve of the hand (median nerve) gets pinched in the tunnel that it traverses in the wrist. If this is the cause, simple wrist splints worn at night usually help. Both of these issues may require your doctor to take a closer look at the overarching cause of this problem. One of the reasons you should be vigilant about addressing hand numbness is that it can lead to other problems. These can appear in the upper extremities and include tennis and golfer’s elbow (lateral and medial epicondylitis) as well as osteoarthritis in the hands and shoulder. Some research indicates that bad nerves may end up dumping nasty arthritis-causing chemicals into the joints. Numbness in your hands at night is a big deal. Though it’s often ignored by physicians who aren’t experts in the area of musculoskeletal treatment, it should be taken seriously and its root cause identified. Otherwise, your nerves slowly may become less sensitive or your shoulders, elbows, or hands may begin to ache all the time. “Hands Numb While Sleeping” first appeared as a post on the Regenexx blog. Like all medical procedures, Regenexx procedures have a success and failure rate. Numbness is a loss of feeling or sensitivity in a part of your body. If you’ve noticed numbness in your fingers, there are a lot of possible causes. Injured or pinched nerves can lead to numb fingers. So can blood flow issues or a range of other medical conditions. The feeling can be harmless and go away on its own. But if it
comes back, it’s something you should talk about with your doctor. They can help you figure out what may be causing it. If you have diabetes, high blood sugar can, over time, damage your nerves, a condition
called “peripheral neuropathy.” Finger numbness or tingling is one of the symptoms, but others can include: Once high blood sugar has damaged your nerves, there’s no treatment that can reverse that damage. But some prescription medicines can help people handle the symptoms. These include
antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and skin creams. You should also keep your diabetes under control to prevent neuropathy from getting worse. Your
wrist has a small space known as the carpal tunnel. Many of the nerves that control your fingers and hands pass through this tunnel. If you spend a lot of time working on a computer or doing other activities that strain your wrists, you can irritate or cause swelling in the carpal tunnel. Arthritis also can cause swelling. It can pinch off nerves and cause numbness in your fingers.
It’s known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Other symptoms you may have are: Make some changes to
relieve pressure on your wrists. When you’re using a computer, smartphone, or other devices, take breaks often to give your hands and arms a rest. Keep your wrists straight, not bent up, when using a mouse and keyboard. This can ease your carpal tunnel symptoms. A doctor may also suggest wearing splints to keep your wrist in a position that won’t
hurt your nerves. If arthritis causes the swelling in your carpal tunnel, steroid shots may help. Apart from carpal tunnel syndrome, a number of other health issues can pinch off the nerves in your arms or wrists. These conditions include: All of these can cause numbness in one or more of your fingers. You might also feel pain or weakness. Treatment depends on the cause of your
pinched nerve. It helps to take time away from activities that make your symptoms worse. In some cases, you may need surgery to repair the nerve. Drinking heavy amounts of
alcohol over a long time can lead to a type of nerve damage called alcoholic polyneuropathy. It can cause finger numbness. Other symptoms can include: The main thing that will help is to quit drinking alcohol, which can stop the nerve damage from getting worse. Medical detox and rehab programs can help if you’re struggling with
alcohol use. After that, other options to treat polyneuropathy symptoms include: The main symptom of fibromyalgia is widespread pain that does not have a clear cause. But it can also cause numb fingers and other symptoms, such as: Doctors think fibromyalgia may come from a problem with the way the brain handles pain signals. There’s no cure, but treatments can help you manage the symptoms. Medications can ease pain and help you
sleep. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counseling can help you find ways to handle your symptoms in everyday life. It also helps to get regular
exercise and find ways to lower stress. Other CausesOther medical issues also can lead to finger numbness, including:
If your finger numbness is a new symptom, doesn’t go away, or becomes painful, tell your doctor. Get emergency medical help if numbness in your hand or arm is sudden or happens after you have a head injury. If you have any weakness, trouble thinking or talking, have a sudden, severe headache, or feel dizzy, you also need to get help right away. Why are the tips of my fingers numb when I wake up?Ulnar Nerve Compression
Pressure on your elbow or your wrist could compress the ulnar nerve, creating numb fingers when you wake up. Your ulnar nerve is likely involved if you wake up with numbness in your: Pinky finger, either front or back side. Ring finger, usually closer to your pinky.
When should I be worried about numbness in my fingers?See your doctor if you experience intermittent numbness or tingling in one or both hands. Get emergency medical care if the numbness: Began suddenly. Follows an injury or accident.
What does numbness of fingertips mean?The most likely cause of numbness in the fingertips is carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the wrist. Although the sensation may be uncomfortable, it's very treatable. Other conditions, like Raynaud's phenomenon, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia can also cause numb fingertips.
Is it normal to wake up with numb hands?The reason you get numb hands upon waking is because you've caused damage to one of the nerves of your hand or arm. Most times, this damage is temporary. It means you simply pressed on one of the nerves while you were sleeping. However, more long-lasting nerve damage occurs if you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
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Why are my fingertips numb when i wake up
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