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MedHelp Member's Question

Night time numbness in hands

by heana, Feb 24, 2007 12:00AM
I am 34 female experiencing hand numbness upon waking.  This has been going on for over three years now.  Normal CBC and nerve test.  Neg to carpal tunnel.  Have not found a doctor that can diagnose the problem.  Have had xrays at Chiropractor which show Scoliosis.  They say my problem is situational and positional.  I would like to cure this ailment.  Please advise me!!
Member Comments (16)

by heana, Feb 25, 2007 12:00AM
It doesn't seem to matter how I sleep, but I mostly sleep on my left side.  But when I occasionally fall asleep on the couch on my back or on the airplane sitting up or on my stomach in my bed, it happens. Doesn't matter where I am or how I sleep.  I tried the wrist splints for carpal, even though I have tested neg for that...I have tried B-12, aspirin.  Do you think I need an MRI?  No doc has suggested that so far, but something must be causing this, right?  Do you think it is curable?  I have many years left to live and this is very aggravating.  I have no pain thank God, but the numbness every time I awake is driving me nuts!! I have heard of pregnancy causing this, but I am not and never have been pregnant. I keep putting it off because it doesn't happen when I am awake, just while I am sleeping.  Wonder if it is serious??  Thanks.

by PlateletGal, Feb 25, 2007 12:00AM
To: heana

When you sleep, do you put anything (pillow, your head, etc) on your arms that may cut off your circulation ?

by PlateletGal, Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
To: heana

I'm sure your physician did an EMG when they checked you for carpal tunnel, correct ?

The only other thing I can think of is to get checked for diabetes. If you test negative and continue having numbness and especially if you have other symptoms, consider getting tested for autoimmune conditions.

by heana, Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
Do you mean get tested for things like MS and Lupus?  Is there one blood test?  

by PlateletGal, Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
To: heana

IMO... I wouldn't be too concerned about an autoimmune condition, unless you were having other symptoms. However, if you are still concerned and especially if you have other symptoms, there is a test called an "ANA", which checks for an autoimmune disease (unspecified). If the ANA titer is positive, your physician will order other lab tests. The ANA does not diagnose MS. You may want to ask your physician about whether or not he/she feels you should have an MRI.

I know you mentioned taking B-12. Were you getting B-12 shots ? That is the best method.



by heana, Feb 26, 2007 12:00AM
Thanks for all your help.  I was taking the B-12 pills under my tongue.  

by Mic11, Aug 20, 2007 06:17PM
........... I too have hand numbness..... Started in left hand (pinky and ring finger), progressed to whole hand....... after about five weeks, hand first occurance in right hand. that was my first call to my doctor. This all started about June 2007, Now it is mid august and I cannot sleep one night without having my hands completely numb each night. I wake up to shake and rub them......... they come back and a try to go back to sleep. It seems to be getting worse as time passes, one night it took almost 10-15 minutes for me to get my left hand back.........  My other issue is that it seems to be causing me to have fatigue or some weird feelings during the day....... muscle ache or just not feeling normal. I had some minor feet numbness in mid-july, but it has always been my hands at night.......
My issues during the day are scaring me abit....... I have had an MRG to rule out carpal tunnel, MRI's on my head and cervical spine, showing minimal things my Primary care can see....... i have an appointment in mid sept. with a neurologist to go over my MRI's and symptoms, but it seems too long.......... I dread 9:00 oclock because I know sleep is coming soon....... which means waking up around 12:30 totally numb ........... then 2:00ish,  about 3:30ish ........... and once more around 5..... then i give up and just get going for work.......
I am a male, 37 years old, 6' 2" 240lbs, little heavy.....but in with an athletic build, always been, and still play sports, High Cholesterol, but my blood work has come back OK........... for sugars and white cell.......... I original thought my issue was vascular........ circulation was what I thought was my issue, but the clinic doesnt seem to think so......... Nerve issues scare me more.............Any feedback would be great.........

by Mic11, Aug 20, 2007 06:23PM
Also, I have tried sleeping in different positions, in a recliner, everything except hanging upside sown....... no luck still go numb.  When I have had a chance (Busy summer with my two kids, and work) I fell asleep around one in the afternoon, and then too........ I got numb in the hands!!!!  It is very aggrevating!!!  My clinic has seemed somewhat proactive with the MRI test and the carpal tunnel test, but trying to see a specialist or neorologist is like pulling teeth........... which I think would be better that my hand numbness.........

by Larry B. , Oct 01, 2007 08:45PM
To: heana
I had the same problem except my whole arm went numb and was useless. The doctors started working on trigger points and after 30 min. it was mostly ok. As time goes by it's down to a little tingle. It was a rib out of place as well as trigger points in my arm behind the shoulder and another trigger poin t near the elbow that was the problem. I hope this is of help to you or anyone else who suffered like I did for so long.

by Kristin P., Oct 05, 2007 04:40AM
Hello there.  I sure hope that everyone here has or will find solutions to their medical concerns!  

Tonight is the first time that my symptoms have been so bad that I cannot sleep.

About a year ago, I began to feel a burning/itching sensation at night.    If I recall, it seemed to be all over my body.  Had bloodwork done and was checked for Lupus.  No indications of Lupus were found.  Was told it was dry skin.  I also noticed around this time that my skin would get very red (red streaks) on my torso if rubbed, even minimally, as in trying on clothes or nervous rubbing with fingers.  The only other thing of note from this time is that doctor told me I have a slightly elevated bilirubin level (cannot remember what this is called).  Nothing of real significance.

Fast forward a year and the nighttime burning has evolved into numbness.  It has been going on for about six months or more.  I wake up at night with numbness in my hands and feet, as well as legs and arms (not so much arms).  As others here have described, I will wake up multiple times during the night with these symptoms.  The numbness does not usually involve tingling as when a foot "falls asleep", just a dull heavy aching numbness.

I've been told I have