Sleep Disorders Forum - Numbness In Hands


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srg29

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy

Joined: 15 Sep 2003
Posts: 5
Location: Houston

Numbness In Hands Posted: 09-15-03 19:54pm


4 out of 7 mornings I wake up with my hands numb. At first I just thought it was because I was sleeping on my arm, however as time passed both hands were numb in the mornings. Sometimes the side of my hands are so numb I have no feeling at all. Just curious what this might be?

zhouwen

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Joined: 22 Sep 2003
Posts: 15

Reply Posted: 09-26-03 10:46am


How old are you ?You should go too see a doctor forthwith ,maybe you should take a ct or mri scan for your head and cervical vertebrae.

kidin123

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Joined: 28 Oct 2003
Posts: 3

Posted: 10-28-03 02:08am


Do your hands feel numb or do you have no feeling at all in them. Like you're wearing 16 pairs of mittens and you can't move them at all. I generally wake up with that feeling which goes away after 10 mins but in order to move around I have to pick up my arms and move them for me.

Whirl

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Joined: 18 Jul 2003
Posts: 2

Posted: 11-04-03 14:59pm


I too have this problem with numbing hands when I wake up...And I have to also move them around and sometimes hold them in the air???

clarca

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Joined: 04 Nov 2003
Posts: 1
Location: Kentucky

Posted: 11-04-03 18:36pm


Recently my hands have started going numb all through the night while I am sleeping. It is very uncomfortable.

michelle lynn

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Joined: 28 Apr 2004
Posts: 8
Location: pa

Numbness Posted: 04-28-04 15:02pm


Could be carpal tunnel. See your doc.

Denny B

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Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 2
Location: California

Re: Numbness In Hands
Posted: 09-14-04 23:21pm

srg29 wrote:

4 out of 7 mornings I wake up with my hands numb. At first I just thought it was because I was sleeping on my arm, however as time passed both hands were numb in the mornings. Sometimes the side of my hands are so numb I have no feeling at all. Just curious what this might be?

this has started happening to me recently. Several days a week, I will wake up and my hands will be numb, like they are asleep. It takes a few minutes to go away, but is very unnerving. It usually always happens when I am sleeping on my back and my arms are at my side. I agree with someone else here who said to check out carpel tunnel syndrome.

Wendypops

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Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Posts: 32
Location: Northampton

Posted: 10-05-04 08:38am


Wow this is so weird reading all these posts here! This has just started happening to me really frequently. Sometimes I wake up three or four times a night with a numb arm -- the feeling that the whole thing is missing, and I have to shake it and physically move it with the other arm, or it might just be starting to tingle. I've been assuming it is because I am falling asleep in a bad position. It really feels like the circulation has been cut off rather than crushed nerve though. I've been piling my pillows up really high under my head, and that seems to help. Just found this: the symptoms that you describe - numbness and/or tingling after waking from sleep which rapidly improves - are typically caused by pressure on a nerve which stretches it, or which temporarily cuts off the blood supply to the nerve. This is quite common in the arms. The nerves which are being damaged are a group of large nerves passing from the lower part of the cervical spine in the neck, across the shoulder and down the arm into the hand. While this group of nerves run together they are known as the brachial plexus. But as they go down the arm they divide into individual nerves which control different arm muscles and different areas of skin sensation. The brachial plexus is probably affected if all the muscles in your arm are affected, and numbness is widespread rather than limited to certain sides or areas of your arm, then it is likely that it is the brachial plexus which is giving you problems rather than just one nerve. Injuries to the brachial plexus are common, especially in falls when the shoulder is pushed downwards away from the neck or when there is a blow to the side of the neck which stretches the nerves as they pass through. In your case it is likely that when you are asleep, the position you lie in stretches the brachial plexus on that side. This could be aggravated by your weight which adds extra downward pressure on the shoulder. This may not happen on your right side because the nerves there may follow a slightly different course which makes them less vulnerable to being stretched. Cervical rib an alternative explanation is an unusual abnormality of the spine where there is a small extra rib on vertebrae above the normal first rib, often only on one side of the body. This abnormality is known as a cervical rib, and it can press on the lower part of the brachial plexus to cause the one-sided symptoms you describe. See your doctor this sort of nerve compression rarely leads to any permanent damage. Changing your sleeping position and losing weight may help stop the problem. But you should check it out with your gp, who can look for rarer causes of arm numbness and may arrange an x-ray for a cervical rib (these may be surgically removed if symptoms are severe). If you have any other symptoms such as loss of movement in your legs, dizziness, headache or blurred vision you should seek urgent medical attention.

craigsta

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Joined: 08 Dec 2004
Posts: 1
Location: birmingham

Thanks For the Information Posted: 12-08-04 14:23pm


Only just came across this post, i have exactley the same problem as you mention above, I have only been getting this problem since the last month or so. I was a little worried because I had never herd anything like this and I only started getting this problem after I had a fall and knocked my head quite bad. The info you posted is most helpfull. Thanks

babyhungry

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Joined: 14 Dec 2004
Posts: 6
Location: atlanta , ga

Numb Hands Posted: 12-20-04 14:59pm


This is jennifer, i'm 19. I used to have the same problem. Still constantly my hands were so numb. Finally I went to a nerve specialist because it was bothering. I am now married and husband persistantly told me to get it checked out. The doctor told me to try going to a chiropractor and get adjusted on the basis that some of my vertebrae were misaligned my mere millimeters causing pressure to be applied to nerves causing my hand to go numb during lack of activity with them. ( sleep) that was the answer. Although I had never been in any trauma such as car accidents, hard vigorous exercising etc. I still had problems. I followed the doc's advice and am now better . You should really think about it . For reassurance you can call a chiropractor and get some advice and explain the situation and they can tell you the exact same thing I just did. Sincerely babyhungy

libymed

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Joined: 22 Dec 2005
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Location: Palmdale

the Numbing Hands Posted: 12-22-05 18:24pm


Yes, im 15 years old and on some nights, right before I got to bed, sometimes my hands and arms go numb. It kind scares me and I try to move them, but nothing helps. It goes away gradually after a while. Once in a while I feel like there's spiders or something crawing on them. But when I look , theres nothing there. :(

gtimandan

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Joined: 18 Mar 2006
Posts: 2
Location: Crouse, NC

Glad I'm Not Alone :) Posted: 03-18-06 07:18am


I first awoke to this feeling on christmas day 2005, while laying on my back with my arms to my sides - a very natural & non-contorted position. This alarmed me, as one immediately thinks the worst [heart attack]. After standing, it went away. I'm a 39 y/o male who is in the prime of his sudden heart-attack years, and i'm about 20 lbs over my ideal weight. Three months later, i'm still plagued by this problem, mostly at night and mostly in my left arm but occasionally in both. From my research, it looks to be a common "pressure palsy" from a nerve either being pinched or the blood flow being reduced or stopped to the affected limb. Typically i'm a side sleeper, and surprisingly this occurs most when on my back. Approximately two years ago, I was rear-ended at an adjusted speed of about 40 mph. Since then, beginning about two months afterwards, i've had neck & shoulder pain, sciatica [numbness in my right leg (removing or relocating my wallet to my left-rear pocket usually resolves or avoids this)] and finally this arm numbness. Unfortunately for me, the statute of limitations has run out so I cannot pursue his insurance company to pay for any related procedures, and I fear that I will continue to have ongoing and increasing health issues because of that accident. Seeing the chiropractor usually brings lasting relief from this annoyance. Perhaps these links will be of help to you. I suggest that you see a doctor in any case, but especially soon if you're additionally experiencing chest and/or throat pain as this may be an indicator of heart disease or the onset of a heart attack. Good luck & take care of yourself

jaminunit

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Joined: 30 Mar 2006
Posts: 1

Posted: 03-30-06 19:33pm


I have been having the same problems, it's really scarry most nights I wake up 4-5 times with numbness in either one hand or the other or both! Its bad because I never get a good nights sleep and feel crap the next morning. When it started it was only in the little and ring fingers. But over the months it has moved to my whole hand and now my arms. Wich is scaring me. I have seen a doctor and he sent me to get a nerve induction test. Wich tests for capitunnel syndrome (probably spelled wrong.) but nothing there. So next he is sending me to another specialist I cant remember what type though. Ok this is what I have done and I noticed it helped alot! I was moving house and so had to lift a lot of heavy boxes, anyway that night I noticed that I would not wake up with numb arms. So I figured.... Hmmm mabey I should to some excersize( aaaa dir!) so I started to do push ups. I notice that when I do push ups I have a much better sleep and don't wake up with numb hands as much. This is only my third day of doing this but it is definitely helping. I'm also getting my partner to massage my back, shoulders and arms before bed. And I work with computers allot! So sitting with proper posture is really important. So check out how to sit at your box properly on the net. It's really hard to do at first.. What I did was just every time I noticed my posture I would sit up this would only last 5 minutes then I would find my self slouched again. So then woop back to siting straight. After a while it doesn't become hard any more. And you find yourself sitting straighter. Anyway hope this helps other people to. J

DirkRGently

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Joined: 22 Nov 2006
Posts: 1

Posted: 11-22-06 10:38am


Boy o boy. Didn't expect to see this as a popular subject. Just starting happening to me (i'm 34) a week ago. Happened every morning then since. Tell the truth it had me a bit scared. Awhile back, not so long back, I knew someone that had to have part of his feet removed. See he had diabetes. I been thinking the last couple days that that could be me. No one has diabetes in my family, guess it's a genetic thing, but it was all I could think of. I'm still worried though: as the forum suggest this could be related to the spine, but I haven't had any accidents. Wouldn't think that just the downward pressure could do it. Post if you all find out more you all.

Samwise29

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Joined: 29 Nov 2006
Posts: 1

Posted: 11-29-06 20:12pm


I have had a similar problem since last night, both of my arms feel numb and the tingling sensation doesn't let me sleep. What's worse is that I have had an eye pressure problem for the last month or so that didn't let me sleep either, now it's solved and it doesn't bother me but this came fast to take its place! The tingling is lessened when i'm up and walking or doing something (like typing on the computer just now), but it doesn't go completely away, and as soon as I lay down in bed it comes full force.

debsauve

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Joined: 16 Dec 2006
Posts: 1
Location: Canada

Numbing In the Arms Posted: 12-16-06 03:54am


I have had this problem now for a week. During the night I wake up several times and both my arms and hands are numb, also, my hands get so painful and my arms ache. I cant even lift the juice pitcher in the morning. I have also had heartburn with no apparent reason. All of this happened at the same time.

therooster

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Joined: 01 Mar 2007
Posts: 4
Location: Canada

Posted: 03-02-07 16:54pm


Numbness signifies a decent chance that there could be some heavy metal toxicity. I'd suggest a hair analysis for metals. If you have metals, the safest way to detox is with clay baths that act as a body poultice and remove the metals directly out of the body. Internal cleansing with cillantro, chlorella, pectin or other ingestibles can be tricky because there is alwasy a good chance of redistribution.

san54

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Joined: 28 Dec 2003
Posts: 227
Location: Virginia

Re:numbness In Hands Posted: 03-02-07 17:16pm


Have you seen a doctor. Numbness in the hands is a symptoms of several problems and illnesses. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Thyroid problems, MS, and others. Or even try going to a Chiropractor. Good luck.

poetrygirl72

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Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 1
Location: Pennsylvania

Numbness In Hands Posted: 04-13-07 19:11pm


Hello everyone. I too experience numbness in my hands while sleeping and it is quite annoying to say the least. I do wake up several times throughout the night as well. I have carpel tunnel but have never experienced this before with it. My left side stays numb at times which is a bit scary for me.It feels like my hands are super tight and pins and needles are felt in both hands upon trying to get the feeling back upon waking. I am a homehealth aide and I need my hands, this condition is very frustarting as I know you all can relate. I plan on going to get an MRI done and talk to a neurologist. I really hope this helps. I will post again when I find a more definitive answer. Thank everyone.

citruss

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Joined: 02 May 2007
Posts: 2

Same Here Posted: 05-02-07 20:17pm


I can also relate to much of whats been posted. Unfortunately, no resolution yet. It started with a pain in my right wrist over two years ago from working more than 10 hours a day on the computer for a couple of weeks. I then started going back to a "normal" 8 hours but the pain never disappeared. I waited until 2 months ago to finally see an orthopedic doctor/surgeon figuring I had carpal tunnel. He diagnosed it as tendonitis and gave me a prescription for methylprednisolone (a corticosteroid) to "knock the swelling out". Nothing improved, I actually felt worse. Went back, but this time also complaining about mild stiffness in BOTH hands but still focused on the right wrist. Got a steroid shot in the wrist to see if that would knock it out but still no luck. A few days later, I started waking up in the middle of the night with the dreaded numbness/tingling in both hands. I have figured out that if I sleep sitting upright on a couch or recliner the numbness is minimal if not gone completely. But if I ever accidentally end up flat on my back with my hands on my stomach or by my side I do wake up every time with numbness. I went back to the doctor and this time I got a NCV nerve test from a neurologist just to confirm it wasn't carpal tunnel, the results were negative, which was a relief. I'm 31 years old, 5'9" tall and weigh 180 lbs. and still have no idea what is causing this, so the relief was short lived. I am a little overweight so I'm taking measures to lose weight, hoping that that is part of the problem. I changed my work habits, cutting back my computer time. My next step is to get a blood test(for diabetes) and a chest x-ray to check out my arms and shoulders. One doctor suggested that this might be something that will pass over time, but I'm not willing to wait. My advice for people who use a mouse for long periods of time, buy a tablet or use something else! and take lots of short breaks. Hopefully next week I'll have some answers and repost.