Is It Normal To Wake Up With Numb Fingers? What Can You Do About It?

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Many people have experienced waking up with numb hands at some point in their lives.

Numbness or tingling in the hands and fingers may occur as a result of sleeping in a position that blocks blood circulation to the hands. However, numbness in the hands or fingers may also indicate a more serious medical condition [1].

In most cases, waking up with numb hands once in a while is not a cause for concern. However, if your symptoms prevent you from sleeping or persist after you awaken, you should consult a physician.

Is it normal for you to wake up with numb fingers? What can you do to resolve the problem?

What Causes Numb Fingers In The Morning?

You may experience numb hands or fingers when waking up in the morning for the following reasons [2][3]:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cervical (neck) spondylosis
• Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS)
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Chemotherapy and other medications
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency

Ganglion cysts: In the wrists and hands, ganglion cysts are benign lumps that grow along the joints or tendons.

Alcohol abuse: Excessive alcohol consumption may damage nerve tissue, resulting in alcoholic neuropathy.

Sleeping posture: You may wake up with numb fingers due to pressure on your hands as a result of your sleeping posture. This can occur when you sleep on your arm or hand or in a position that places pressure on a nerve.

Usually, it is enough to change your position to relieve your symptoms of numbness or pins and needles. A temporary lack of blood flow can result in numbness [4].

Certain diseases can cause numb fingers:

A number of other diseases can cause numbness in the hands. Some of these include [5][6]:

• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Multiplele sclerosis
• Lupus
• Lyme disease
• HIV and AIDS
• Syphilis
• Sjögren's syndrome
• Hypothyroidism
• Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Raynaud's phenomenon

Is It Normal To Wake Up With Numb Fingers?

The feeling of numbness and tingling in your hands and fingers when you wake up may be just as unnerving as waking up in pain. Many people experience the occasional feeling of numbness or tingling in their hands due to sleeping in an uncomfortable position [7].

You should consult your doctor if you experience intermittent numbness or tingling in one or both hands.

You should seek emergency medical attention if the numbness begins suddenly or follows an injury or accident.

Tips to Reduce Numbness in Fingers When Waking Up

You may be able to reduce numbness in your hands while sleeping in a variety of ways depending on the cause. A supportive but soft pillow and mattress may help ensure that pressure points are less likely to form in your neck and shoulders.

Supporting your neck and spine is essential to getting a good night's sleep. You may also want to consider the following tips to avoid numbness in your fingers when waking up [8]:

• You should wear a wrist brace while sleeping in order to keep your wrist stable.
• Consider sleeping in a different position, particularly on your side.
• Be sure not to lay your arms under a pillow, since this can cause nerve compression. Also, make sure your wrists are not flexed, since this can result in tingling.
• To reduce nerve pinching, try keeping your arms next to you if you sleep on your back often with your arms overhead.
• Before going to sleep, try stretching your hands and wrists.

Consult your physician to determine if there are any other underlying conditions.

When to Talk to Your Doctor?

In general, numbness or tingling experienced during the night is not common and usually passes fairly quickly. However, if the numbness in your arms and hands is persistent or affecting your quality of sleep, you should see your physician.

The following symptoms may indicate a need to see a physician:

• An ongoing feeling of numbness
• You may experience numbness throughout your body, not just in your hands
• Muscle weakness
• Hand or finger clumsiness
• Weakness or dizziness that occurs suddenly
• Unrelenting pain in the arms and legs

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.