Numbness in Hands and Fingers while sleeping

Have you ever woken up and your hands just went “Excuse me! I’m still sleeping — I’ll join you in a while”? If yes, you may have wondered “Why do I experience numbness in my hands and fingers while sleeping?”

Well, waking up with pins and needles in your hands is common. Most times, it is no cause for concern — maybe you slept in the wrong position. However, at other times, it could signal an undetected medical condition that needs diagnosis and treatment.

In this article, we will delve deeper into what causes numbness in hands and fingers, how you can prevent it, and when you should seek medical attention at Family Chiropractic Care.

Causes of Numbness in Hands and Fingers While Sleeping

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy affects the ends of the nerves in the feet and hands and disrupts signal transmission in your central nervous system. With peripheral neuropathy, you may or may not feel pain; however, the numbness is constant. Peripheral neuropathy symptoms include numbness and tingling, buzzing sensation, or sharp, stabbing pains.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

If you are experiencing numbness or tingling in your hands, it may be due to carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the median nerve is pinched or compressed. It can be triggered by making the same motions repetitively, like typing on a keyboard.

Nerve Compression

Nerve compression occurs when your nerves get squeezed, pinched, or squashed. The radial, median and ulnar nerves are the three main nerves in your arm and hands that cause numbness when compressed.

Diabetes

In individuals with diabetes, the body has trouble transporting sugar into cells from the bloodstream. Having high blood sugar for a prolonged period can result in nerve damage known as diabetic neuropathy, which is a type of nerve damage that can cause numbness in your feet, arms, legs, and hands.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Your body uses vitamin B12 to make DNA and keep the nerve system and blood cells healthy. Without vitamin B12, repairing nerve damage and producing crucial blood cells becomes increasingly challenging.

Cervical Spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis is a kind of arthritis that damages the discs in your neck. Caused by prolonged periods of tear and wear on the spinal bones, the damaged spine can compress nearby nerves and cause numbness in the arms, hands, and fingers.

Compression Neuropathy

Compression neuropathy refers to pressure along the course of a nerve. This pressure can occur after an injury or due to an abnormally placed muscle. Types of nerve compressions include ulnar nerve compression at the wrist and ulnar nerve compression at the elbow.

Multiple Sclerosis

In individuals with multiple sclerosis, the immune system attacks the protective layer surrounding the nerve fibers, causing the nerves to become damaged over time. Symptoms include numbness, tingling, weakness, slurred speech, or double vision.

Guillain Barré Syndrome

Guillain Barré Syndrome causes the body’s immune system to attack the nerves outside the spinal cord and brain. Symptoms include weakness, numbness, and tingling that starts in the legs and spreads to the hands, arms, and face.

Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is spread by ticks when they bite the skin. It is a bacterial illness that affects the nervous system, causing numbness in the hands and feet.

Certain Medications and Medication Side Effects

Certain medications list nerve damage as a side effect. Additionally, certain medications can cause neuropathy and the associated numbness of hands and feet. These include heart or blood pressure drugs, antibiotics, and anticancer drugs. Other symptoms of drug-induced neuropathy include weakness, abnormal feeling in your hands, and tingling.

If you have been experiencing numbness while sleeping, it is time to try out chiropractic care. Our medically reviewed chiropractic treatments can help you achieve optimal health by relieving numbness, carpal tunnel, and chronic pain caused by muscle strain and injury. Contact our clinic today. We are ready to meet with you and design a program that best suits your medical needs.

What to Do About It

Take the Pressure Off

When you take the pressure off of the affected nerve, you allow it to regain normal function. Free up the limb that causes you to feel uncomfortable by ensuring that nothing is putting pressure on it. This could mean avoiding leaning on your arm.

Clench and Unclench Your Fist

When you experience numbness in the hands, clench and unclench your fists. Doing this gets your blood flowing and eases the nerves.

Wear Compression Gloves

Compression gloves trick your brain into interpreting the numbness as pressure and not pain.  You can find compression gloves in our clinic and most drug stores.

If these techniques do not work, feel free to contact our clinic. We will help you explore possible causes of your numbness and develop solutions that will restore you to your former health.

How to Prevent Numbness in Hands and Fingers while Sleeping

We know that it is almost impossible to control your body movements when you are sleeping; as such, here is how you can prevent numbness in the hands and fingers while sleeping:

•       Do not sleep in the fetal position. Sleeping with your elbows and arms bent can apply too much pressure on your nerves, causing them to become numb.
•       Do not fold your arm or arms under your pillow while you sleep. Your head’s weight can put pressure on your elbow or wrist and compress a nerve.
•       When you sleep on your stomach, ensure that you spread your arms out on your sides. Sleeping with your arms under your body can put a lot of pressure on them, causing them to become numb.

If you have tried avoiding certain sleeping positions and still wake up with numbness in your hands and fingers, you should see Dr. Still. Our clinic treats entire individuals to help reduce and remove pain and provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment to eliminate your pain.

Tips for People with this Condition

If you regularly experience hand numbness, we recommend trying out the following home remedies and medical treatments:

Over-the-Counter Pain Medications

Anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen can ease mild pain and help with inflammation affecting your neck or hands.

Wrist Guards or Splints

Wearing a splint or wrist guard will keep your wrist straight and relieve pressure on nerves. You can wear wrist guards when performing repetitive tasks.

Lighten Up

When tasks such as typing or writing become strenuous, reduce the force you are using or loosen your grip. Try tapping on your keyboard more lightly or gripping your pen more loosely.

If these tips do not improve your condition, we recommend visiting Dr. Still for further medical assessment. Our doctors can show you advanced exercises that can effectively combat hand numbness and relieve your symptoms.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment in Longview, WA

The latest Fact Sheet by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke shows that carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the commonest condition that causes weakness, tingling, and numbness in your hands. Fortunately, you can find long-term relief from CTS through our medically reviewed chiropractic treatment. Chiropractic treatment is a non-invasive alternative that deals with the underlying cause of CTS. Our chiropractors will evaluate your condition and develop a personalized treatment plan that will correct nerve damage and help you achieve optimal health. If you notice any signs of CTS, feel free to call our team at Family Chiropractic Care. Our medical team is always ready to help with recovery and lifestyle change. We look forward to helping you improve your quality of life.