Do You Get Numb Hands Upon Waking?
Almost everybody experiences numb hands upon waking up at least once in a while. The occasional numbness is perfectly normal because it usually means you slept in a particular way to cause the numbness.
But if it happens more routinely, you need to correct how you sleep in order to eliminate the numbness. But if that doesn't work, you may actually have one of the mainsymptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
If you get numb hands upon waking up there are 4 possible factors causing it. It could mean you:
- Slept cradling your head.
- Slept with your wrist(s) bent.
- Slept on your back with your hands on your chest, elbow(s) pressed against the mattress.
- You have symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. (A more permanent problem.)
Factors1-3 are all temporary. The numbness will usually disappear after a minute of removing the pressure on your hand or elbow. But factor 4 (carpal tunnel syndrome) is not
a simple or temporary problem. The remedies for all of these situations are discussed below.
Why you get numb hands
The reason you get numb hands upon waking is because you've caused damage to one of the nerves of your hand or arm. Most times, this damage is temporary. It means you simply pressed on one of the nerves while you were sleeping.
However, more long-lasting nerve damage occurs if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. But it has nothing to do with the way you sleep.
All numbness is due to pressing on a nerve
The nerves responsible for numb hands upon waking up are the the median nerve andulnar nerve. As the diagram below shows, these nerves control sensation on different parts of the hand and fingers.
If you frequently wake up with a numb forefinger or thumb, for instance, it means your median nerve is causing the problem. Either you slept on it (and temporarily crushed it) or else you have carpal tunnel syndrome.
If your little finger frequently gives you trouble, then you likely crushed the ulnar nerve at your elbow while asleep.
Below are the 3 primary sleeping positions that result in numb hands upon waking. If none of these are the problem, then you must consider that you're seeing the beginning of carpal tunnel syndrome. (See "Cause 4" below.)
Sleeping positions causing numb hands
Cause #1 - Holding your head in your palm
Cause #2 - Bending your wrist
Cause #3 - Pressing on your elbow
Cause #4 - Carpal tunnel syndrome
Who's at risk for getting carpal tunnel syndrome?
If the problem is your sleeping position
Feeling numb hands upon waking up that's caused by your sleeping position is relatively simple to fix. All you need to do is eliminate what'scompressing your median or ulnar nerves. You can do this in one of three ways, as described below.
1. Adjust your sleeping position
2. Wear a night brace
3. Wear an elbow protector
If the problem is carpal tunnel syndrome
Guide to fixing carpal tunnel syndrome
There are several treatments for carpal tunnel syndromewhich don't involve surgery. The treatments most often recommended by therapists and doctors are abbreviated as B.R.E.M. It means Brace, Rest, Exercise, and Massage.
These are 4 distinct and separate components of B.R.E.M. They're performed simultaneously for best (and quickest) results.
- Brace (splint) your wrist joint when you sleep. Doing so relieves pressure on your median nerve at the wrist joint. But wearing thewrong brace can be harmful if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. The wrong brace can actually make your hand even more numb upon waking up. That's because most ordinary braces have apalmar spine.This structure pushes into your wrist joint, making your symptoms much worse. Onlycertified carpal tunnel night braces keep your hand in the neutral position withouta palmar spine. After wearing at night for several weeks the result is symptoms relief. Also, never wear a wrist braceduring the day. If you do, you only fight the brace, worsening the disorder.
- Rest your hand as often as possible. This means taking breaks from stressful hand activities. It also meansavoidingstressful activities as much as you can. Depending on yourcarpal tunnel severity, you should take short rest breaks (for about 1 minute) for every 1 hour that you work. During the rest breaks, do carpal tunnelstretching exercises(below).
- Exercise you hand and fingers often.Core carpal tunnel stretching exercises are designed to lubricate tendons for better function. They also ward off carpal tunnel symptoms. The stretching exercises should be performed as often as possible; during your rest breaks or even more often. Most carpal tunnel stretching exercises are simple to do and take only seconds to complete. If you have numb hands upon waking up, you owe it to yourself to learn these core exercises.
- Massage your wrist and forearm. Use myofascial release massage for carpal tunnel syndrome. Therapists use this technique to successfully heal damage within the wrist joint (where carpal tunnel is concentrated). About 4-6 weeks of daily massage is necessary to relieve symptoms and restore the hand to normal.
Learn more about B.R.E.M. here.
Conclusion
Having numb hands upon waking upon occasionis normal. It means you slept with your hand or elbow in a position that temporarily crushed the median or ulnar nerve. But if the numbness happens every day, it might be that your sleeping position needs changing so you no longer crush these nerves while you're unconscious. But if it's not your sleeping position that's causing the numbness, you must consider it a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel numbness only happens on the thumb side of the hand. And it's usually accompanied by other symptoms like pain or tingling. Treating carpal tunnel is not as simple as merely adjusting your sleeping position.