Every night, my hands fall asleep and go numb. Both of them. What causes this?

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Dr. Joshua’s Answer:

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One possibility is carpal tunnel syndrome, which commonly causes pain and numbness in hands and fingers (thumb to ring finger) at night. The median nerve is compressed at wrist level, causing the symptoms. Computer work, and also hard manual work, typically increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome. Sometimes, carpal tunnel syndrome may require surgical treatment.

Nerve compression can occur in other anatomical locations, too, while sleeping. If you sleep very deeply, and do not change position during the night, the nerves in your arm may be stretched or compressed, and suffer from lack of blood and oxygen during the night.

General measures to prevent such nerve compression during sleep: avoid sleeping pills or alcohol - they deepen your sleep. Eat properly and get exercise daily. Ensure that you have a soft, high quality mattress and a good pillow. Also, if a person is overweight, the risk of this sort of problems is increased.

Please see your primary care physician - he/she will be able to make the diagnosis, and if not, refer you to the proper specialists.