Why Your Hands Feel Numb When You Sleep—and How To Find Relief
Johnce / Getty Images
Medically reviewed by Brigid Dwyer, MD
Waking up with a numb hand can be unsettling, especially if it happens frequently. A variety of factors can cause numbness in your hands or a "pins and needles" sensation when you wake up. Sometimes, a simple reason like your sleep position can cause numbness. But other times, hand numbness could be a sign of nerve damage, injury, nutritional deficiencies, or an underlying health condition.
Hand numbness isn't a cause for concern for most people. But, if symptoms interfere with your sleep, persist throughout the day, or occur more often than not, it may be time to see a healthcare provider to determine what's causing numb hands while you sleep and discuss possible treatments.
Causes of Hand Numbness
There are many possible causes of hand numbness while you sleep—which can range from minor to more serious.
Sleep Position
Certain sleep positions are the most common cause of hand numbness. Sleeping with your arm or hand tucked under your body or pillow, keeping your elbows or wrists bent, or having your arms above your head can compress a nerve. This can affect your blood circulation, which may lead to numbness, tingling, or an uncomfortable "pins and needles" sensation.
Changing your sleep position is usually enough to resolve the issue. Consider sleeping on your side or your back with your arms beside your body to prevent hand numbness.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when the median nerve, which runs through your wrist, becomes squeezed and compressed. Repetitive hand motions, pregnancy, and certain conditions that cause swelling in the wrist or hand (e.g., arthritis) can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Hand numbness in the morning is often the first sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. As the condition progresses, many people report waking up at night due to the numbness and pain associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. Along with numbness and tingling, symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
Shock-like or burning sensations in the hand
Pain or tingling that begins in the hand and radiates up the arm
Hand weakness that makes it difficult to perform daily activities, such as buttoning clothing or writing with a pen
Cervical Spondylosis
Cervical spondylosis, or arthritis of the neck, develops due to age-related degeneration (or, decline) of the discs and joints in the neck. Sometimes, normal wear and tear on the spine can narrow the spinal canal—where the spinal cord and nerve roots travel through to reach the rest of the body. If the nerve roots become pinched or compressed, you may experience hand and finger numbness, tingling, or weakness. Other symptoms of cervical spondylosis include:
Muscle spasms in the neck
Popping or grinding sounds when turning your neck
Weakness in the hands or legs
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a condition that occurs when the nerves that surround your brain and spinal cord become damaged. Some types of peripheral neuropathy cause occasional hand numbness and tingling, and others cause chronic (permanent) nerve damage. Depending on the nerves affected, peripheral neuropathy may also lead to:
Loss of sensation in the hands or fingers
Weakness or loss of fine motor skills (e.g., typing or grasping small items)
Sharp pains
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thoracic outlet syndrome occurs when nerves or blood vessels in the space between the collarbone and the first rib become compressed. As a result, numbness in the hands is a common symptom. But, you might also experience other symptoms like:
Changes in the color of your hands or fingers
Swelling in the hands and fingers
Vitamin B12 Deficiency
Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that your body uses to maintain your nerve health. A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause nerve problems in the hands and wrist, leading to hand numbness and other neurological symptoms, such as:
Weakness
Difficulty with coordination (e.g., walking)
Eating plenty of foods rich in vitamin B12, such as fish, meat, eggs, fortified cereals, and dairy products, may help restore vitamin B12 levels. More severe deficiencies may require dietary supplements or prescription B12 supplements to help boost your levels and improve symptoms.
Ganglion Cyst
A ganglion cyst is a benign (noncancerous) lump that can develop on a joint or tendon in your wrists or hands. Ganglion cysts can press on and compress nerves, which may cause symptoms like numbness, tingling, and discomfort in the hands and fingers.
Diabetes
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to nerve damage throughout the body—which is a condition known as diabetic neuropathy. People with diabetic neuropathy often develop nerve damage in the hands and feet, which can lead to numbness, tingling, and pain that usually worsens at night. Controlling your blood sugar levels with a healthy diet and medications (e.g., insulin) can help prevent diabetes-related nerve damage.
Medication Side Effects
Certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs, heart and blood pressure medicines, some antibiotics, and antiseizure drugs, can damage nerve cells and may cause hand numbness during sleep. Other symptoms may accompany numbness, such as:
Tingling or burning sensations
Loss of balance
Weakness
In most cases, stopping or reducing the medication can help reduce numbness and restore normal sensation in the hands. If you suspect that your medications may be causing side effects that affect your hands, talk to your provider about alternative treatment options or see if you can change your dosage.
When Should You Worry About Numb Hands?
Experiencing the occasional numb hand when sleeping is normal and is likely due to your sleeping position. But if it's happening more frequently or you have additional symptoms, it's time to see a healthcare provider for more support. It's a good idea to talk to your provider if your hand numbness is:
Sudden or unexplained
Severe or persistent
Spreads to other parts of your body
Accompanied by other symptoms, such as weakness or pain
See prompt medical attention if you have hand numbness with any of the following symptoms:
Paralysis in your hand or arm
Confusion or trouble speaking
Dizziness or loss of balance
Sudden, severe headache
Loss of consciousness
These symptoms could be signs of a serious medical condition that requires prompt treatment, such as a stroke.
The Diagnostic Process
When you visit a healthcare provider about hand numbness, they will help you identify the underlying cause of your symptoms. Your provider will begin by learning about any health conditions you have and asking about medications you are taking to determine if underlying factors are causing your hand numbness. Give your healthcare provider as much information as possible, as well as information about your symptoms, including:
When the numbness started
How often you experience hand numbness and how long symptoms last
Which part of your hand is affected
Whether you have other symptoms in addition to numbness (e.g., pain, difficulty grasping items, weakness)
Your healthcare provider will also perform a physical exam, which may include a neurological exam to test your muscle strength, reflexes, balance, and sense of touch (e.g., your reaction to temperature changes or different sensations).
If the underlying cause of your hand numbness is unclear, your healthcare provider may order additional tests to help determine the cause. These tests may include:
Blood tests to check for vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, thyroid problems, and other medical conditions
Nerve conduction studies to measure the speed and strength of nerve signals from the brain to the rest of the body
Electromyography (EMG) to see how your muscles respond to electrical stimuli
Imaging tests, such as X-rays, MRI, or CT scans, to look for structural problems or abnormalities in the nerves, spine, arm, wrist, or brain
Treatments for Numb Hands
Treatment for hand numbness focuses on addressing the underlying cause to help reduce symptoms. In some cases, your healthcare provider might refer you to a specialist who has more training in treating hand numbness. These specialists may include a rheumatologist (a doctor who has expertise in conditions that affect your bones, joints, and muscles) or a neurologist (a doctor who diagnoses and treats disorders that affect your brain and spinal cord).
Medical Treatments
When nerve compression is causing hand numbness, corticosteroid injections in the hand and wrist can help reduce inflammation and swelling to reduce symptoms. If the injections don't help your pain subside, your provider may suggest surgery.
Surgery may be an option for you if your hand numbness is significantly interfering with your daily activities or your quality of life. Surgical procedures for numb hands often involve fixing the surrounding ligaments or tendons to relieve pressure on the nerve and reduce symptoms.
Hand Therapy
Some people with hand numbness may benefit from occupational or physical therapy. Depending on your symptoms, this may include:
Exercises to strengthen the muscles, tendons, and ligaments and improve range of motion in the hands and fingers
Hand massages
Compression garments (like gloves or braces) to reduce swelling and inflammation
Medications
When nerve damage is permanent, and pain and discomfort occur alongside hand numbness, your healthcare provider may recommend over-the-counter or prescription medications such as:
Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen)
Prescription-strength nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as Aleve (naproxen)
Adjuvant pain relievers, which are drugs designed to treat other conditions, but can also relieve pain—such as antidepressants like Wellbutrin (bupropion) or Elavil (amitriptyline) or antiseizure medicines, such as Horizant (gabapentin) or Lyrica (pregabalin)
How To Prevent Numbness in Your Hands
Hand numbness is not always preventable, especially when an underlying condition is the culprit. However, certain lifestyle habits may help you reduce or avoid numbness in your hands while sleeping. These include:
Keeping your neck and spine aligned while you sleep
Avoiding sleep positions that put pressure on your hands or flex your wrists
Opting to sleep on your side
Ensuring your arms are not under your pillow or body
Wearing a wrist brace to stabilize and align your wrist while you sleep
Performing hand and wrist stretches before going to bed
Following your treatment plan for health conditions associated with hand numbness, including diabetes, arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome
Reducing the dosage of medications if your medicines are causing your hands to become numb
Getting regular checkups with your healthcare provider and letting them know immediately if your symptoms worsen or you develop new symptoms
A Quick Review
There are many possible causes of numbness in hands while sleeping. Sometimes, your sleeping position can lead to hand numbness if you lay on your arm or bend your wrist, which can compress a nerve or reduce blood flow. Other times, hand numbness during sleep is a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires diagnosis and treatment.
Treatment for hand numbness can vary depending on the underlying cause. Your healthcare provider can recommend treatments like wearing a brace while sleeping, medications, physical therapy, or surgery.
For more Health.com news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on Health.com.
