Having Numb Hands While Sleeping

From Dr. Z - Carpal tunnel syndrome specialist

Having Numb Hands While Sleeping

Table of Contents

  • Overview
  • Signs you have carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Carpal tunnel sign #1 - Numbness
  • Carpal tunnel sign #2 - Pain
  • Carpal tunnel sign #3 - Tingling
  • Carpal tunnel sign #4 - Itching or burning
  • Carpal tunnel sign #5 - Puffy or swollen feeling
  • Carpal tunnel sign #6 - Weakness
  • Carpal tunnel sign #7 - Clumsiness
  • Why do these symptoms happen?
  • Who gets carpal tunnel syndrome?
  • High risk conditions
  • High risk occupations
  • 4 Steps to eliminate symptoms without surgery
  • Remedy 1: Brace your hand at night
  • Remedy 2: Rest your hand frequently
  • Remedy 3: Exercise your fingers & hand
  • Step 4: Massage your wrist & forearm
  • Summary
  • FAQs
  • About

Overview

Having numb hands while sleeping is a very common problem. If it only happens occasionally, it's usually nothing to worry about. More than likely, you probably only need to adjust your sleeping position. If this is the case, try sleeping on the opposite of your preferred side. Changing your pillow or mattress is also helpful.


However, if you have numbness in your hands while sleeping on a regular basis, and it's constantly waking you up, then it could be more serious. By far, the most common problem causing this is carpal tunnel syndrome. If fact, having numb hands while sleeping is usually the FIRST sign of this disorder. Unfortunately, simple sleeping adjustments are not enough to eliminate carpal tunnel.


Most people get carpal tunnel as a result of their occupation. If yours involves a lot of strenuous hand activity (like rapid and repetitive finger movement) then you're already at high risk for getting this disorder. But don't panic; there are several tested and approved nonsurgical remedies to eliminate carpal tunnel syndrome.


Young caucasian man sleeping akwardly.

Signs you have carpal tunnel syndrome

We already established that having numb hands while sleeping is one of the first signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. But there also are several other signs, as listed below. It's not necessary to have these other symptoms, but most people get more than one.


It's also important to establish WHERE these symptoms occur. This diagram shows where ALL carpal tunnel symptoms appear. The symptoms usually are confined to these areas. Sometimes symptoms radiate out from these areas as well.

Carpal tunnel sign #1 - Numbness

Where carpal tunnel symptoms appear

This diagram indicates where carpal tunnel signs occur. They follow where the Median Nerve is (darker areas indicated on the hand).


In its early stages, carpal tunnel syndrome doesn't bother you during the daytime while working. In fact, symptoms become noticeable when your hand is quiet and relaxed. That's why it's common to have numb hands while sleeping instead of working.


Usually, the middle fingers go numb first. The thumb is also commonly involved. Then your palm becomes numb. 


The numbness can be so bad that it wakes you up. Upon waking, you might feel the need to shake out the numbness. Some people find relief by hanging their hand off the bedside.


As carpal tunnel syndrome progresses, the numbness will last into the daytime. This is a sure sign that the condition has become more severe.

Carpal tunnel sign #2 - Pain

man with pained face

Pain in the areas indicated in the above diagram is another common sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. In the beginning of the disorder, the pain will also likely be present only at night. It might wake you up with the need to rub your hand to relieve the pain. 


As the disorder progresses, the pain (like numbness) will show up during the daytime. Whether during the night or day, the pain can have one or more of these qualities:

Carpal tunnel sign #3 - Tingling

pins and needles in the fingers and hand

Tingling, prickling or pins & needles is another key sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. It also occurs in the areas indicated in the hand illustration above. 


When you have carpal tunnel, tingling usually is accompanied by numbness. But this is not always the case.


Once again, at first, the tingling occurs at night while sleeping. As carpal tunnel advances, it starts to show during the daytime.

Carpal tunnel sign #4 - Itching or burning

burning hands

There are several conditions that can casue burning hands. Carpal tunnel certainly is one of them.


Itching and burning can even appear before you feel pain or numbness in your hands. Other symptoms will almost certainly catch up later.


The itchiness and burning usually is confined to the palm and middle fingers. As with other symptoms, they commonly begin while sleeping. But as carpal tunnel advances, they will also appear during the daytime.


Note that any benefit from applying a "carpal tunnel cream" such as "Icy Hot" is only a placebo. That's because the problem is not on your skin (or even below it) but in the nerve inside your wrist joint. 

Carpal tunnel sign #5 - Puffy or swollen feeling

burning hands

Like having burning hands and figners, swollen fingers can have many causes. Carpal tunnel is one of them.


Having the feeling of puffiness or swelling is usually just that - a "feeling". That's because your skin feels that way, but looks perfectly normal. And usually the skin is not discolored.


It's rarer for carpal tunnel to cause actual swelling. When it does, usually it's confined to the fingers only. The skin is not usually discolored.

Carpal tunnel sign #6 - Weakness

woman struggling to open a jar

It's rare for the initial symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome to appear as hand or finger weakness. While not a rule, doctors see it as a sign of more advanced carpal tunnel. 


Losing hand strength is a sure indicator you have this condition. It starts by having difficulty opening doors or jars. 


More advanced stages of carpal tunnel syndrome can see progressive and catastrophic loss of hand strength. That means people often drop things like phones, cups, keys, and kitchen utensils. 

Carpal tunnel sign #7 - Clumsiness

woman holding her infant

Like weakness, hand clumsiness usually occurs as carpal tunnel advances further. It's rarer for clumsiness to be a first sign of this condition.  


The clumsiness means loss of dexterity. Carpal tunnel patients often find it difficult to write with a pen, pick up coins or keys, or turn a door knob. Tying a shoelace, buttoning a shirt, or combing your hair feels awkward and clumsy. Dropping things like dishes, cups, and books is a daily occurrence. Care must be taken when holding infants.

Why do these symptoms happen?

Having painful or numb hands while sleeping is easily explained if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. To do so, you must understand that the problem with carpal tunnel starts deep inside your wrist joint.


The main nerve to your hand (median nerve) passes through a passageway deep inside your wrist joint. It travels through the passageway alongside your flexor tendons (which are responsible for curling your fingers).


When some people stress their fingers and hand, these tendons inflame and swell. That swelling pushes against the adjacent median nerve. The result is that the nerve is crushed. And that's what gives you all of the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.


However, you can get a crushed median nerve (and hence carpal tunnel syndrome) in other ways. Any condition which causes swelling (i.e., pregnancy, a broken wrist, lupus) can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Pregnant woman waking up with back pain

Who gets carpal tunnel syndrome?

High risk conditions

Anybody can get carpal tunnel syndrome. However, there are certain risk factors that make the probability of getting this disorder much higher. These are:


Caucasian female hair stylist cuts brown hair

High risk occupations

There are specific occupations commonly associated with getting carpal tunnel syndrome. That's because each of them requires either repetitive or forceful finger and hand activity. These occupations are:


Young caucasian man holding up 4 fingers.

4 Steps to eliminate symptoms without surgery

No doubt you've heard about carpal tunnel surgery to relieve symptoms. You might even know somebody who had this hand operation (like millions of people already).


But did you know that the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) advises doctors to recommend surgery as the very LAST option for carpal tunnel? The reason is because surgery has a success rate of approximately 50%. Most of the other half (or the "successful" patients) see symptoms return within 2 years.


Moreover, there are multiple non-surgical options available. These have a high success rate of permanently eliminating symptoms.


Each non-surgical remedy listed below works to reduce the source of the tendon swelling. By doing so, the tendons will not crush the median nerve again. When you combine these remedies together, they have a 97% success rate when performed for a minimum of 4 weeks.

Step 1: Brace your hand at night

a wrist brace with a palmar spine

Keeping your hand in the neutral (flat) position helps reduce pressure inside your wrist joint. If you bend your wrist unconsciously when you sleep, pressure rises inside your wrist joint. This compresses (crushes) the median nerve, making your carpal tunnel syndrome much worse. 


In contrast, bracing your hand in the neutral position eases pressure on the median nerve. This also keeps you from over-bending your wrist, further damaging the median nerve. The result is that the brace promotes healing while you sleep.


2 IMPORTANT BRACING CAUTIONS

1. Generic (pharmacy) braces commonly sold at Walgreens, Walmart, CVS, etc. are harmful if you have carpal tunnel syndrome. Why? They usually contain a palmar spine. This pushes into your wrist joint causing increased pressure. Therefore, only wear a certified carpal tunnel brace. 


2. Do not wear ANY wrist brace while you're working. Your hand and wrist are already damaged with carpal tunnel syndrome. So why force your hand to fight a brace when it's trying to do its regular work? That only stresses your wrist joint even more. 

Step 2: Rest your hand frequently

woman's folded hands

Rest is the remedy for most ailments. And rest is also exceptionally good for carpal tunnel syndrome. But you don't have to lie in bed to rest your hand. Just be mindful that you should take short breaks if your hand is involved in any of these activities:

  • Repetitive and rapid motion (like using a mouse or keyboard)
  • Pinching repeatedly and forcefully (like sewing or knitting)
  • Bending the hand with force (like playing tennis)
  • Grasping and releasing repeatedly (like using a hair brush)
  • Gripping forcefully (like hammering)
  • Maintaining a bent wrist (like lifting weights)
  • Twisting the hand and wrist (like using a screwdriver)

Taking short (30 second) breaks to rest your hand is important when the hand activity is stressful or harmful. Also, try to lessen the hand stress by:

  • Switching hands periodically
  • Changing your stance 
  • Alternating your arm angle or position
  • Protecting your hands with cushioned gloves

Step 3: Exercise your fingers & hand

woman performing a hand stretch exercise

This is a BIG help. Therapists instruct patients to use 4 core stretching exercises for carpal tunnel syndrome. They work to relieve this disorder because the stretches are designed to loosen adhesions on flexor tendons and also lubricate them.


Best of all, these 4 core stretching exercises take only a minute to complete in total! Therefore, perform them at least every hour you work with your hands:

  1. Prayer Stretch (for treating the entire length of your flexor tendons)
  2. Stop Stretch (for treating the wrist joint)
  3. Finger Interlace Stretch (for treating the finger muscles)
  4. Thumb Stretch (for treating the thumb)

Step 4: Massage your wrist & forearm

therapist performs myofascial massage on a wrist

One of the most aggressive, and effective, technique for eliminating carpal tunnel syndrome is massage. However, the massage must be a particular type.


Myofascial release massage works exceptionally well. It twists and kneads the flexor tendons and the surrounding tissues just below the skin near the wrist. This action destroys adhesions which cause inflammation and swelling - and ultimately carpal tunnel symptoms.


But there's more to myofascial release massage than breaking up adhesions. This massage also:

  • Enhances blood circulation to facilitate the healing process.
  • Drains fluid that builds up inside your wrist joint and causes excess pressure.

If you cannot do the massage yourself, try the CarpalRx. This FDA cleared device mimics a therapist's fingers automatically. That means it provides the same massage, right in your own home. And it's 97% effective against carpal tunnel syndrome.

Summary

Having numb hands while sleeping can be due to a poor seeping position. In that case, adjusting your sleeping position should solve the problem. But having numb hands while sleeping is also a main sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. If this is the problem, you don't have to allow this disorder to take over your life. Taking the proper steps now to resolve the problem will prevent misery later on. Follow 4 simple steps to stop carpal tunnel in its tracks.

FAQs

  • I adjusted my sleeping position and the numbness reduced a lot - but it's not gone. What can it be from?

It's possible you have carpal tunnel syndrome. Check yourself here.


  • Does the CarpalRx do the exact same massage as a therapist?

Yes, the CarpalRx reproduces the motions of kneading the skin over your wrist and forearm area. This is identical to the myofascial release massage a therapist gives you.


  • Can I use multiple remedies at once?

Yes, in fact, it's preferable. Using rest and avoidance, night bracing, stretching exercises, and myofascial release massage simultaneously and on a regular basis will make symptoms resolve faster and more completely.

About

Biography: Dr. Z - CarpalRx Medical Director & author

Dr. Maik Zannakis (Dr. Z) 

Medical Director at the CarpalRx


Dr. Z is an acclaimed medical scientist renowned for his expertise in carpal tunnel syndrome and soft tissue disorders. With over 40 years of experience, he is credited with hundreds of medical journal publications and hundreds more web articles about carpal tunnel syndrome. After inventing the CarpalRx, Dr. Z became the go-to expert for carpal tunnel syndrome and wrist tendonitis. His opinions, inventions, and personalized care have distinguished Dr. Z as a trusted leader in this growing field. Read full Bio


Email: dr.z@carplarx.com

Phone: 800-450-6118