Tingling sensations in hands when lying down...what is it?

[worriedhelpme]

Every night when I go to sleep I experience tingling sensations in my hands.  What can cause this?  It’s been many months since this first began.  I also have twitching in my thumb and random twitched throughout my body.  I have been tested for a thyroid problem, carpel tunnel, and I do not have a B12 deficiency.  Any other ideas?  
Thank you

[Esteban Cheng-Ching, MD]

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 obtain a history and examine you, I can not tell you what your diagnosis is, or what is causing your symptoms.
Hand numbness could be a manifestation of different conditions, one of them being a neuropathy (problem in the peripheral nerves).  A neuropathy usually causes sensory problems (such as numbness or pain), in the distribution of a specific nerve, or symmetrically affecting both sides, (commonly have been described as a “glove” distribution if affects the hands, or “stocking” distribution if affect the feet).
Neuropathy could also produce weakness, and the distribution is as mentioned above, and the symptoms could be a combination of sensory problems, motor problems, or both.
There are different types of neuropathy, and common conditions include diabetes, nutritional or vitamin deficiencies, inflammatory conditions, metabolic conditions and infectious problems. Initial work up include a detailed history and examination, to consider if it meets the distribution and characteristics of a neuropathy. If in fact this is one of the considerations, work up includes blood tests to rule out diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, inflammatory and systemic conditions, infectious process, and other rarer conditions.
It seems that you have had some work up for some of the conditions that could be involved, and they have been ruled out.  
Electromyography and nerve conduction studies are also performed, and this gives an idea if the problem is affecting the nerve itself, the sheaths or both, also can give some information about the cause and prognosis.
Regarding “twitching”, it is difficult to correlate it to a specific condition, and this depends on what the movement is that the patient calls “twitching”, as there are movement abnormalities that have larger or smaller amplitude, and higher or slower frequency, as well as distribution. Most commonly what people call “twitching” could be attributed to medications or drugs, caffeine or other components ingested. It could be present in anxiety as well. Other conditions could be associated with “twitching” such as movement disorders like tics, or dyskinesias. Nerve problems could cause abnormal movement in the muscles themselves, and people could refer to them as “twitches”, and the work up is as discussed above. However the movements would be only restricted to the area affected by the nerve, and not widespread.
More widespread “twitching” in the muscles could be fasciculations, and in the right setting with an association with other neurologic manifestations, could be attributed to illness such as motor neuron disorders or muscle disorders. And this should be evaluated by a neurologist.
I think it is important for you to be evaluated by a neurologist, to find the cause of your problems, and determine if your symptoms are caused by a neurologic problem or not. Other work up like and EMG and NCV should be considered if there is a possibility of a neuropathy.
Unfortunately with the information you provide, and without being able to take a detailed history and examine you, I cannot give you a diagnosis.
I hope the information provided helps.

[ampky]

My Mom (age 61) had the same problem with her hands falling asleep at night and was told that is probably the angle of her neck when she slept (a nerve was being pinched while sleeping). She bought a new pillow (one that is styrofoam and has a "dip" in it that holds one's neck straight during sleep) and has erased the problem!

Best wishes to all!

[sister556]

I can relate.  I can't seem to get a good nights sleep in.  I wake up around the clock with numb sholders, and the two side fingers numb.  last night my left middle finger went numb along with everything else. Both sholders, both hands.  
I've had corodozine shots in both thumbs and I'm loosing my grip in picking up things.
I've been seeing a head and neck specialist for a swolen lymph gland for a year and a half.
He said the numbness has nothing to do with the lymph node.  soo
I've had Diabetes test clear, B12 test good, thyrdoid test clear, lead test clear,so,
I've had mri of my head, beacuse my mom passed away 17 mo ago of a brain anyrism.
my came out good.  
The doctor said the next step was a mri of my spine. - He would get back to me.
I can't take the not sleeping..I just cant sleep long.......
I have high blood pressure and low thyroid.  Last month I was in Icu for low potassium.
I'm 45 yrs old and female....

somthing has got to be wrong but what???????
Any Ideas????

[sheralee]

I wake up unable to feel or move the last 2 fingers on my right hand. It is the knid of numbness you get with a "dead leg" when you've sat funny. I hold my hand in front of my face and will my fingers to move. Eventually, the feeling returns and I can move my fingers. I used to wake up with both my hands "crooked", like you'd seein an old lady with artheritis. Any suggestions about what it is? Any similar experiences?

[sweetiet1180]

I am a diabetic and I get tingling in my hands and feet a lot at night.  I was going to ask, do any of you sleep with your arms above your head?  You may be losing blood flow out of your hands/arms because you sleep with them above heart level and not below.  

[tori851]

if you dont mind me asking what was your diagnosis and prognosis...ive had similar symptoms - tingling but not twitching.  

[justin2001]

Sorry to Hear about your problems.  I too experienced tingling sensations in my hands while sleeping and random twitching throughout my body.  The tingling in my hands occurred in the middle of the night and wnet away when I wiggled my hands.  It felt as if my hands were asleep, but there was no reason for them to be, I would wake up with them in normal position and simply tingling.  I also experience a few other neurological symptoms and was referred to a neurologist and received an MRI of the brain, eeg testing, and evoked potentials.  Abnormal findings were found and diagnosis is on the path it needs to be.  I do not mean to scare you but rather post as a way of helping you help yourself.  Good luck and I hope this helps!