Hands Going Numb

hi, i'm having a really concerning problem with my hands, periodically when i'm sleeping my hands go numb, from the wrist down usually, either one or the other or sometimes both, now i havn't had any head trauma or serious falls... so let me explain, when i think about it... the symptoms started as such,. i'm a serious computer gamer, and i have never had any problems while playing games or sitting at the computer, i'm 24 and within the last maybe 5 months i have noticed that when i'm watching tv in a position where my head was braced against my arm/hand in an upright position, or even my hands were by themselves in an upright position for a period of about 15 minutes or more they would go numb, i thought of this as poor blood circulation and thought nothing of it, however more recently when i would keep them crossed they would go numb, again thinking poor circulation, once uncrossed they would come out of the pins/needles stage... now recently when i'm sleeping i get woken up by either one or both being numb, and i have to shake them or move them around to get some feeling back into them, i would also like to say that i have recently had a pilonidal cyst at the base of my back, but it had never got infected until about 1 month ago... and the problems with my hands have taken a sever turn in the last 3 weeks, not sure if one is related to the other... for more information, i do install hardwood flooring which is physically demanding on the hands and wrists, although i have been doing sanding and installations for the last 8 years, and no problems, pretty sure its not related to hard work... however i have used a hilti gun, (cement nailer) within the last 2 weeks which i believe may have caused some nerves to get pinched in both wrists as i was switching hands during the work.. i'm not exactly sure this is the cause but may have lead to an increase in the problem... i have read that it may be carpal tunnel, but i''m pretty sure its based along the joints of the hand and within the fingers, but my situation is such that sometimes i feel a pressure of squeezing around the forearms,, even as i type this post i'm feeling the sensation, i'd like to add that i was a delivery driver for about 1 and a half years from todays date, and have never had problems, but as i drove within the last week even in a position that would seem natural my hands would go numb, i'm not sure what this is from... lack of vitamins? i can't see this as a genetic disease, i have a twin brother(identical) he has also had a pilonidal cyst(sergicaly removed) but no problems with his hands... cant figure it out, its troubling to me... hope someone has some advice or guidance where i can look for some answers... thanks... ps i have noticed that the numbness gets really bad when i'm about to sleep or even dozing off in a car, either laying down or sitting up, doesn't change the fact that they go numb, i have tried lifting pillows high up, and not sleeping on any, the problem is from the elbow down.. .and severely from the wrist to fingers... i'm not sure what to do about this... every reply seems to point to a pinched nerve, but the pain should be constant, however when i'm working with my hands i have no problems at all.. just when i'm resting... i can't figure this out...