Back of Left Hand tingles

Forgive me if this is in the wrong topic but I couldn't find one that would necessarily be as specific as I was hoping for.

So I woke up this morning with the back of my left hand numb and tingly - sort of a light "pins & needles" feeling.  It's been a few hours since I awoke and I'd hoped it would have passed by now.  I slept on my left side but somewhere in the night I must have rolled onto my back as that's the position I was in when I woke up.  If I recall correctly, I think that more than my left hand had that odd sensation but everything else except for the back of my hand seemed to have returned to proper circulation.  I felt around my wrist and occasionally I'd get that odd twinge of a nerve that had been struck wrong - sort of like your funny bone but not nearly as intense.  I've had a history of carpal tunnel symptoms but never had a full blown diagnosis.  This doesn't happen very often and I really couldn't remember the last time it happened...just that it HAS happened in the past so particular sensation isn't new to me.  I spend a lot of time on computers as it is required of me but I'm hoping that this tingling will eventually fade and not be in itself a symptom of something down the road that could be a complication.

I highly doubt it is related as I've had the tingling sensation before it had happened but I had weight loss surgery in November '08 and have lost a very significant amount of weight to the point where my arms have gotten quite small.  I felt it was necessary to add that part in though I am not sure if it would be relevant.  I do take a multivitamin and calcium twice daily.  I am also epileptic and take phenytoin twice a day as well.

Am I just being paranoid?

Thank you for your help.

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

The back (dorsum) of the hand is supplied by many nerves. The part close to the wrist is supplied by the radial nerve for the lateral aspect of the hand (the part of the hand near the thumb) and the ulnar nerve for the medial aspect (the part of the hand near the pinky). The tips of the first 2 digits by the median nerve. Any one of these nerves can be compressed during sleep, leading to transient symptoms such as a pin-and-needle sensation. In some cases, people who have slept in a particular position over a long period of time even have  motor weakness, even with paralysis. The symptoms most often resolve within a few hours, though sometimes days or even weeks are needed. If symptoms persist for more than a few days, and particularly when there is weakness, evaluation by a neurologist with possibly a test called an EMG/NCS may be indicated to test how the nerves are conducting and how the muscles respond, in order to be able to assess the extent of damage and to assess what the recovery period will be. Otherwise, protection of that area (for example, elevating the area on a soft pillow to try to avoid sleeping on it) would be beneficial.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.