Hands Going Numb at Night? What to Track and When It’s More Than Positioning
Each week, we respond to questions our readers ask. Today, someone has emailed asking, “Why do their hands go numb at night?”
Hand numbness at night can be surprisingly common, but it depends on what is meant by “night.” For example, if the numbness occurs late in the day, before sleep, it’s potentially a different scenario than if the numbness happens during sleep.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, numbness in the hands is a symptom with many possible causes, and the time it happens matters, along with how often it happens, how long it lasts, and what shows up with it when symptoms arise.
First, split up what “at night” means
One version is numbness while you are still awake in the evening, maybe sitting on the couch, reading, or using your phone. The other is waking up from sleep with a numb hand or fingers.
The Mayo Clinic states that sleep, repetitive use, and staying in one position for a long time are all potential factors in when hand tingling or numbness shows up.
For example, if your hand goes numb after an hour of scrolling or after leaning on your elbow during a movie, the numbness is likely due to nerve compression from position or overuse.
In comparison, if you experience numbness only when you wake up, it can be related to your sleep position.
Evening numbness before bed
For numbness that starts before you fall asleep, identify what your hands, wrists, elbows, and neck were doing in the hour before it began.
Consider repetitive use as not just repeated actions, but also staying in one position for a long time. It can all relate to nerve compression in the hand, arm, or neck.
Medical News Today reported that underlying issues can also show up this way, including carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, cervical spondylosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, and alcohol-related neuropathy.
If you notice a pattern, get checked to rule out these other issues.
Waking up with numb hands
If you are waking up in the night, or in the morning, with numb hands, it might be due to pressure during sleep. This is a very common reason people wake up with numb hands.
Healthline states that sleeping on your hand or arm, or sleeping in a position that puts pressure on a nerve, can temporarily reduce blood flow and cause pins and needles or numbness that improves after you move.
Numbness while sleeping is often due to compression of blood vessels or nerves from sleep position. However, it can also be related to carpal tunnel syndrome or other nerve damage. That is why waking up numb once in a while is different from being woken up night after night, especially if the numbness starts lasting into the daytime.
If the latter sounds familiar, get checked by your doctor.
What symptoms should you watch for?
Both the Cleveland Clinic and Mayo Clinic flag the following as symptoms you should not ignore:
- Sudden onset numbness
- Weakness or paralysis
- Confusion
- Slurred speech or trouble speaking
- Severe headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
Other symptoms to watch out for include:
- Chest or arm pain
- Numbness that spreads to the shoulder or neck
- Numbness that continues during the day despite changing position
It’s also important to seek emergency care if numbness occurs after an injury or accident.
Always speak to your doctor about medical concerns.
More About:Reader Questions