Herbie Murray
Waking up with a numb hand can be uncomfortable and concerning. The medical term for this is paresthesia, and it happens when pressure is placed on a nerve that supplies a limb. This is usually caused by sleeping in a position that puts pressure on your arm or hand, which can cause a temporary lack of blood flow to the nerve, resulting in numbness or a pins and needles sensation. In most cases, this is not something to be alarmed about, and changing your position is usually enough to relieve the symptoms. However, if the numbness persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions or sleep-related issues that may be causing the numbness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Frequency | About a third of adults experience numbness or tingling in their arms, wrists, or hands at least once a week. |
| Cause | Numbness is usually caused by nerve compression, nerve damage, or another problem that interferes with the nervous system. This can be due to sleeping with pressure on your arm or hand, sleeping on your stomach, or sleeping with your neck in a strange position. |
| Prevention | Sleep on your side with straight wrists, avoid sleeping on your stomach, avoid sleeping with pressure on your arm or hand, wear a wrist or elbow brace, or roll a towel and place it inside your elbow while you sleep. |
| Treatment | Shake your hands, stamp your foot, clench and unclench your fist, or change your position. |
| Persistence | If numbness persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, consult a doctor to check for nerve damage, underlying medical conditions, nutrient deficiencies, or sleep-related issues. |
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What You'll Learn
Relieving numbness by changing your sleeping position
Numbness in the hands while sleeping is usually caused by nerve compression or damage. Adjusting your sleeping position can help alleviate pressure on your hands and wrists. Side sleeping is considered the least likely to produce hand numbness, as long as your wrists are straight.
If you sleep on your stomach, you may be tempted to flex your elbows under you or put them under your head. This can cause your cervical spine to become limited in its ability to rotate. Sleeping on your back with your arms at your sides or on pillows can keep your elbows and wrists in an ideal position.
If you sleep on your side, place a pillow in front of you to support your entire arm, limit elbow flexion, and keep your wrist and fingers flat and in a neutral position. Avoid sleeping with your elbow bent more than 90 degrees. Your ulnar nerve controls the sensation in your little finger and half of your ring finger. When you flex your elbow for a sustained period, it takes on tremendous strain.
If you often sleep on your back with your arms overhead, try keeping them next to you to reduce nerve pinching. Avoid laying your head on your hand or forearm, as this can put too much pressure on your nerves.
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Wrist braces to prevent hand numbness
Waking up with numb hands can be uncomfortable and can compromise the quality of your sleep. This phenomenon is known as nocturnal paresthesias, and it affects about a third of adults at least once a week. The medical term for this condition is "paresthesia", and it occurs when pressure is placed on a nerve supplying a limb. The most common reason for this is sleeping with your hands in a flexed position, which cuts off blood flow to the nerve, resulting in numbness or tingling.
To prevent hand numbness, it is recommended to sleep on your side with your wrists straight, as this position is least likely to produce hand numbness. Additionally, you can try wearing a wrist brace to bed. Wrist braces help to keep your forearms straight, thereby relieving pressure on the median nerve, which runs through the carpal tunnel in the wrist. This can help prevent or relieve symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, a common condition that affects people in various types of work. Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome include tingling, numbness, or pain in parts of the hand, particularly the thumb and the first two fingers.
Wrist braces are available over the counter and can be purchased at pharmacies or online. When shopping for a wrist brace, it is important to pay attention to sizing information to ensure a proper fit. Additionally, some braces are designed specifically for the right or left hand or wrist, so be sure to select the correct option. It is also recommended to consult with a doctor or medical provider, as they can help diagnose your condition and recommend the best treatment options, including wrist braces or other alternatives such as pain-relief medications or gentle workouts.
If you are experiencing numbness in your pinky and ring finger, this could be due to your elbow being hyper-flexed during sleep, causing compression and decreased blood flow to the ulnar nerve. In this case, an elbow brace or a rolled-up towel placed inside your elbow while you sleep may help prevent numbness. Additionally, clenching and then unclenching your fist can help improve blood flow to your hands and ease the nerves.
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Elbow braces to prevent hand numbness
If you frequently wake up with a numb hand, you are not alone. About a third of adults wake up at least once a week with numbness or tingling in their arms, wrists, or hands. This phenomenon is known as nocturnal paresthesias. For most people, it is not a cause for concern, and the sensation usually returns to normal after releasing the pressure from the sleeping or couch-sitting position. However, if the numbness interferes with your sleep or persists, it may be time to consult a doctor.
Numbness in the hand is generally caused by the position in which one sleeps. Sleeping on the stomach has been associated with nerve compression, while side sleeping is considered the least likely to produce hand numbness, as long as the wrists are straight. If you experience numbness in your thumb, index, and middle fingers, it is likely due to sleeping with your hand in a flexed position, causing blood flow to be cut off to the nerve. On the other hand, if you experience numbness in your pinky and/or ring fingers, it is typically due to your elbow being hyper-flexed while you sleep, resulting in compression and decreased blood flow to the ulnar nerve.
To prevent hand numbness, you can try wearing an elbow brace at night, specifically designed to treat cubital tunnel syndrome or ulnar nerve entrapment. Elbow braces can help prevent excessive bending of the elbow during sleep, keeping the arm straight and gently immobilizing the elbow. This can reduce symptoms such as numbness and tingling in the fingers. The open elbow area in some braces prevents constriction of the ulnar nerve. Additionally, the braces are adjustable, providing desired compression and support.
There are also alternative methods to prevent hand numbness. For example, if your thumb, index, and middle fingers are primarily affected, you can try wearing over-the-counter neutral wrist braces at night. Alternatively, you can roll a towel and place it inside your elbow while you sleep to prevent numbness in your pinky and ring finger.
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Shaking or clenching fists to improve blood flow
Shaking or clenching your fists is a great way to improve blood flow to your hands and can help to relieve the feeling of pins and needles. This occurs when pressure is placed on a nerve supplying a limb, which can happen when you lie on your hands while sleeping. By clenching and unclenching your fists, you can get the blood flowing to your hands again and ease the nerves. This method is simple and effective, although it may take a little time to work.
Clenching your fist is also a common practice during blood collection by venipuncture, as it makes veins more visible and accessible. However, some sources suggest that this may cause changes in certain analytes in the blood, which could lead to errors in laboratory analyses. The impact of fist clenching on blood composition is still a subject of debate, with some studies finding no significant differences in most analytes.
If you frequently experience hand numbness when you wake up, there are a few things you can do to prevent this. Firstly, try to avoid sleeping on your stomach, as this has been associated with nerve compression. Side sleeping is considered the best position to prevent hand numbness, as long as your wrists are straight. You can also try wearing a wrist or elbow brace to bed, depending on which fingers are affected. For example, if your thumb, index, and middle finger are mostly affected, a wrist brace may help. On the other hand, if your pinky and ring finger are primarily affected, an elbow brace or a rolled-up towel inside your elbow may be more effective.
If you continue to experience hand numbness or tingling that interferes with your sleep or persists throughout the day, it is recommended that you consult a doctor. While it is usually not a cause for concern, in some cases, it could indicate a more serious condition such as carpal tunnel syndrome or multiple sclerosis.
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When to see a doctor about hand numbness
Waking up with numb hands can be uncomfortable and concerning. Usually, this is caused by sleeping in a position that puts pressure on a nerve, such as lying on your hand or flexing your wrist while you sleep. This is known as paresthesia, and it can cause a loss of feeling or a tingling "pins and needles" sensation in the hands.
While this is usually nothing to worry about, and simply releasing the pressure on the nerve will typically allow sensation to return, there are some instances where waking up with numb hands can indicate a more serious underlying condition. If your hand numbness is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, you should seek prompt medical attention:
- Numbness in other parts of your body
- Slurred speech
- Loss of bowel and/or bladder control
Additionally, if your hand numbness lasts for more than a few hours or if it comes and goes, it's important to see a doctor to rule out any serious medical conditions. Numbness in the hands can be a symptom of several conditions, including:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome: Irritation in the carpal tunnel of the wrist causes swelling and pressure on the medial nerve.
- Cubital tunnel syndrome: Compression of the ulnar nerve in the elbow.
- Guyon's canal syndrome: Pressure on the ulnar nerve at the point where it enters the hand, causing numbness around the ring and pinky fingers.
- Amyloidosis: Amyloid protein builds up in the organs and tissues, putting pressure on the nerves.
- Brachial plexus injury: The brachial nerves that travel from the spinal cord through the neck to the armpit become stretched, torn, or compressed due to an injury.
- Reynaud's disease: Narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to the hands.
- Cervical spondylosis: Arthritis of the neck that compresses nerves where they exit the spinal cord.
If you are experiencing persistent or frequent hand numbness, your doctor can help determine the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment options. Treatment may include medication, surgery, or lifestyle changes, depending on the specific cause.
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Frequently asked questions
Waking up with a numb hand is usually caused by sleeping in a position that puts pressure on your hand or arm. Changing your sleeping position is typically enough to relieve your symptoms. You can also try clenching and then unclenching your fist to get the blood flowing to your hand again.
Waking up with a numb hand can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, vitamin B-12 deficiency, alcohol abuse, or chemotherapy and other medications that damage the peripheral nerves.
If the numbness in your hand persists or is accompanied by other symptoms, you should see a doctor. They can check for nerve damage and other underlying causes of numbness.
