Hand numbness may have many causes, from nerve damage to circulation problems. It can be mild and temporary, or be a symptom of a more serious medical condition. Show
OverviewWhat is numbness in hands?Numbness in the hands is an irregular feeling that can be the symptom of many different conditions. It is also called paresthesia. Possible CausesWhat are possible causes of numbness in hands?Numbness in the hands can have many causes, which run from mild and temporary to serious medical conditions. The most common cause is damage or compression of the nerves in the hand. Other causes of numbness in the hands include:
When to Call the DoctorWhen should you seek medical attention for numbness in hands?If numbness in your hands persists for more than a short while, you should seek prompt medical attention. It could be a sign of a serious medical condition. It is especially important to seek prompt attention if your symptoms are accompanied by any of the following:
What will your physician to do determine the cause of your hand numbness?Your healthcare provider will begin your examination by taking a medical history to determine the duration of your numbness and other possible symptoms. He or she may then perform several tests to determine the cause, including:
Several other tests may be done to rule out serious causes such as tumors and strokes. These include:
Once your healthcare provider has determined the cause of your hand numbness, he or she will determine the best way to treat the underlying condition of this symptom. Get useful, helpful and relevant health + wellness information
enews More health news + infoMany 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. 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. What does tingling hands at night mean?Your hands or arms might become numb — or “fall asleep” — because a nerve was compressed, your circulation was cut off by your sleeping position, or because of an underlying cause. Sometimes numbness is followed by a tingling or pins and needles sensation, called paresthesia3.
When should I worry about tingling in my hands?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.
How do I stop my hands from tingling at night?The following tips can help prevent or manage hand numbness while sleeping:. avoid sleeping with the arms, elbows, or wrists bent.. avoid sleeping on top of the arms or hands.. manage any underlying health condition that may contribute to hand numbness.. take frequent breaks from repetitive wrist activities.. What does tingling in hands indicate?Tingling in the hands may be caused by peripheral neuropathy or a pinched nerve. However, there are other causes that are less obvious, including a thiamine deficiency (such as from heavy drinking) and certain medications or a combination of them.
|