Do you also wake up with tingly numb fingers which may become really frustrating and annoying sometimes? Even though it isn’t necessarily painful, it’s alarming when your hands feel paralyzed and you experience a pins and needles sensation. So why is your hand numb after waking up?
Numbness in hands may be an indication of an underlying medical disorder, so knowledge of certain signs is important so that you don’t overlook them. Read more to find out the potential causes of numbness in hands after waking up.
7 Major Reasons for Numbing of Hands
Here are the major reasons which causes numbing of hands
1. Sleeping posture
Bad latent position is a basic and normal cause of hands going numb after waking up. People may have slept in a strange position on top of their hands, or with their hands. Sleeping in an unusual position can put temporary pressure on the nerves or slow down circulation, such as the hands, in a specific area. The pressure and lack of blood flow may quickly trigger symptoms like the feeling of numbness or a tingling sensation.
If your sleeping posture is responsible for numbness in hands-on waking up, try changing your sleep position to ease the pressure on your hands. Avoiding sleeping on your hands or with your arms above or below your head may also help to prevent the numbness in hands when you wake up.
2. Diabetes
High blood sugar can affect your nerves and can lead to a condition called diabetic neuropathy. You can get a numbness that normally begins with each of your feet. In some cases, your hands may also be affected. About half of all people with diabetes experience a type of nerve injury, like peripheral neuropathy and carpal tunnel syndrome, which may cause discomfort, numbness, and weakening in their hands. If you have diabetic neuropathy, you might even have:
- Tingling or burning down
- Sharp pain or cramping
- Sensitivity to touch enhanced
- Weakness in muscles
- Loss of reflexes, particularly in the ankle
- Trouble of balance and coordination
- Major foot problems, such as ulcers, infections, bone and joint pain
If you experience any of these symptoms, it is advised to consult your physician. There is no permanent cure for diabetic neuropathy, but physicians can prescribe drugs to alleviate symptoms. Better control of blood sugar can help slow the nerve damage.
Numbing of Hands3. Carpal tunnel syndrome
The carpal tunnel is a narrow corridor created by the connective tissue and the tiny bones on the palm-side of your wrist. Tendons and the median nerve are passing through it. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the inflammation or narrowing of the tunnel puts pressure on the nerve inside. Sometimes it’s because of hand and finger movements that you do over and over.
Problems often begin gradually. You may feel the numbness of your thumb and the two fingers next to it. it can cause discomfort too. Your hand might feel weak, so you might drop stuff off. If you think you have carpal tunnel syndrome, take a break during repetitive movements to rest your hands. Avoid activities that can worsen your symptoms: use cold packs to relieve pain and swelling.
4. Pinched nerve
When your cartilage, muscles, or tendons place so much strain on your nerves, you may not be able to do the correct thing. This could cause numbness. Injury or overuse may cause a pinched nerve. Sometimes it’s due to health problems such as arthritis, a narrowing of the space between the bones in your spine, or a spine tumor.
If a pinched nerve makes your arm numb, you might also have:
- Sharp pain or burning pain
- Tingling or “pins and needles”
- Muscle fatigue in the neck
- Frequent sensation that the side is asleep
Rest and over-the-counter pain relievers will help to ease the symptoms. If they don’t, and the effects continue more than a couple days, see the doctor. There are numerous ways to relieve a pinched nerve like a splint, brace, physical therapy, medication, or surgery.
5. Neurological conditions
Neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), may also induce numbness in the arm. If there is a neurological problem behind the numbness of your arm, you might also experience numbness of the legs, or problems in communicating or focusing.
See your doctor for treatment that can relieve symptoms and, in some neurological conditions, help slow the progression of the disease. Clinical checks may help identify any potential problems. Medical scans, such as an MRI scan, can show any damaged parts of the brain that can trigger symptoms.
6. Chemotherapy
Research suggests that peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy impacts 30 to 68 percent of patients being studied. Certain drugs believed to induce peripheral neuropathy include anticonvulsants, some medicines to lower heart and blood pressure, and some antibiotics, including metronidazole and fluoroquinolones.
Many types of cancer chemotherapy may cause nerve harm to your arms, legs, fingertips, toes, or other parts of the body that contributes to numbness, tingling, and discomfort. These symptoms, especially pain, maybe eased by medications. It is a common side effect to chemotherapy so if it stops you from performing your everyday tasks, you should speak to your doctor. It usually takes about 2-3 years for the full withdrawal from cancer symptoms and the beginning of normalcy.
7. Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy refers to several conditions involving damage to your peripheral nervous system, which receives and transmits signals between your central nervous system and the rest of your body. There are over 100 forms of peripheral neuropathy, and symptoms would depend on the damaged nerves. Might contain symptoms:
- Tingling and numbness
- Sharp, slashing sensations
- Painful sensations
Waking up with numbness in hands is nothing to be scared about. It can happen occasionally, and would naturally improve once you wake up. If you experience any symptoms or the numbness in hands persists, you should consult your doctor. Doctors may advise multiple tests to monitor the nerves and confirm a diagnosis.
Treatment varies, depending on the underlying problem or condition. Some conditions may require treatment in the long term to manage the symptoms.
Also Read; Possible Causes Of Tingling Sensation In Hands
