Numbness of hands during sleep

[Allie238]

I wake up several times each night with numbness in both hands. I am not usually laying on either arm when this occurs. After I am awake , I move my hands around and the numbness goes away. However it returns later in the night after going back to sleep. Can you help me diagnose this problem?

[Allie238]

Thanks for responding to my problem with hands going numb during sleep. I never would have thought of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Everyone I have know that had CTS only had it in one hand, and it was usually related to computer use. But when Gee1111 stated CTS could come from a variety of things, including hypothyrodism, a light bulb came on in my head. I have hypothrodism, have recently had an increase in my med., and have notices the numbness seems to be getting less. I would never had thought of CTS as the culprit, if not for the input from you and Gee1111. Thanks so much for your help!

[Allie238]

Thanks for replying to my problem with numbness in the hands while sleeping. I do have hypothyrodism, and the doctor has recently increased my medicine. I know the increase didn't cause it, as the numbness started beforehand. However, I'[m wondering if the numbness will stop once the new dosage of levothyroxin builds up. It doesn't seem as bad, the last few nights, so I'm thinking it may have been related to my not getting enough levothryroxin. Thanks again.

[Gee1111]

I have had the Carpal Tunnel Surgery.  I definitely agree with the previous comment.  One other thing you can do to temporarily help you.  Try to avoid salt and salty things, especially for evening meal---that really aggravates it.  The other is---you can go to Walmart and buy the more expensive wrist support.  I was injured on the job as a nurse and the Walmart wrist supports were much better than the one I received at the Workmen's Comp. facility that saw me.
You want to wear those to bed at nite and during the day.  You will see a difference, as soon as you put it on.  My hand would be cramped up like a claw in the morning after my injury, determined to be from lifting a very heavy patient up in bed.  I felt the snap when it happened, the numbness and pain came the next a.m.  Good luck.  PS: The Carpal Tunnel Surgery relieved the pain, numbness and swelling that I had.  They often can do a minimally invasive form of surgery.  You definitely want the surgery done by a surgeon who "specializes in Hands".

[Paderla Anitha, DNB]

Hello and hope you are doing well.

The numbness could be due to Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. The nerve innervating (supplying) the thumb, the index finger and the middle fingers is the median nerve. This can get compressed in the wrist, leading to numbness of these areas leading to a condition called Carpel Tunnel Syndrome. The nerve can get compressed due to obesity, Diabetes Mellitus, hypothyroidism, arthritis and trauma. Would advise you to consult your primary care physician who may do a neurological assessment and may ask for Nerve conduction Studies to detect lesions in the nerves.

Hope this helped and do keep us posted.