The causes of numbness in the fingers can be both natural and pathological. Unpleasant sensations accompany the course of cervical osteochondrosis, scleroderma, and diabetes mellitus. Their appearance may indicate a lack of microelements and vitamins in the body. First of all, it is necessary to establish why the fingers on the hands are numb. After the diagnosis is made, conservative or surgical treatment is carried out.
Why does my right arm, hand, and fingers go numb?
There are 2 causes of paresthesia on the right:
- Physiological. Associated with circulatory disorders, that is, squeezing or narrowing of blood vessels, overexertion.
- Pathological. Appears due to chronic diseases.
In the first case, numbness of the right upper limb occurs due to incorrect posture during sleep, when it is under pressure.
In office workers, seamstresses, and painters, loss of sensitivity is associated with monotonous, monotonous activity of the hand on the right. In medicine it is called carpal tunnel syndrome. The index and thumb of the right upper limb are affected.
Sometimes this is associated with a difficult pregnancy, accompanied by edema due to kidney inflammation. This requires immediate medical attention.
Pathological cause of numbness in the fingers, hand, and entire arm in chronic or acute diseases.
“numbness” of each individual part of the body indicates possible causes:
- Numbness of the fingertips on the right is a symptom that indicates the presence of vascular atherosclerosis and a lack of vitamin B.
- If the interphalangeal joints hurt and tingle, we are talking about arthritis or gout.
- When individual fingers are affected, doctors suspect diseases of the spine, ulnar, and carpal tunnels.
- If the entire right upper limb hurts completely, the cause will be cardiovascular pathologies, damage to the central nervous system and peripheral nerves.
- If both hands are numb, psychovegetative syndrome, anemia, or dysfunction of the pituitary gland or parathyroid glands is suspected.
After pregnancy, some women experience wrist pain. This may be a sign of De Quervain's disease. A characteristic symptom is that the thumb cannot be straightened if brought towards the palm. Doctors advise reducing stress on muscles by using slings.
General information
Numbness of the fingers is usually caused by paresthesia, a sensitivity disorder that is also characterized by tingling, burning, and “crawling” sensations. It can be triggered by impaired blood circulation in the hands, followed by a change in the conduction of nerve impulses. Sometimes numbness is caused by direct irritation of one of the superficial nerves, which occurs with a bruise or prolonged compression of the hand.
What to do at home
If the cause of numbness is physiological factors, physical exercise will help:
- Shaking the hands alternately;
- Performing rotational movements of the shoulders and hands clockwise and counterclockwise;
- Clenching and unclenching the fingers of the working hand into a fist.
The complex must be repeated 10 times in 3-4 approaches.
Rubbing and massage of the upper limb using vegetable oils, baths, creams, vitamins will help restore blood circulation and help the flow of oxygen to the cells.
To treat anemia, the diet is changed, enriched with foods containing B vitamins, iron, zinc, omega acids, and calcium.
How to help yourself
To get rid of an unpleasant phenomenon, you first need to determine its cause. Look around your bed and bedding, pay attention to the position you sleep in and the food you usually eat for dinner. This way you can detect external triggers and eliminate them.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Hands go numb during sleep: causes and treatment of hand numbness at night
If this does not help, you should consult a doctor so as not to miss the development of the disease. After examination and diagnosis, the specialist can prescribe a course of treatment:
- Taking medications that help strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
- A massage that helps improve blood circulation.
- Physiotherapy (electrophoresis, laser or ultrasound therapy).
- Taking multivitamins.
- A course of exercise therapy, the exercises of which are aimed at developing muscle and joint tissue, as well as normalizing blood circulation.
The doctor may note a lack of B vitamins in the patient’s body. Their deficiency can also cause numbness in the hands at night. To prevent such sensations from interfering with sleep at night, it is enough to enrich your diet with foods that contain them (nuts, grains, beans, beets and rose hips).
Why does my right hand always go numb?
The reason for long-term numbness and “numbness” of the hand on the right is chronic diseases:
- Osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, intervertebral discs, protrusion, hernia, pinching of nerve endings in the shoulder, elbow joint on the right. The latter is characterized by innervation and numbness of the middle, ring and little fingers.
- Vascular changes that are associated with arterial hypertension, pre-stroke condition with cerebrovascular accident, vegetative-vascular dystonia.
- Nocturnal loss of sensation in the right hand develops due to rheumatoid arthritis. The patient may feel something like “tight” gloves on the limb.
- In rare cases, Raynaud's syndrome can lead to this. But it is accompanied by numbness in both hands.
- Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system. At the same time, muscle weakness and pain in the legs are felt.
- Gout. The big toe is often affected, and the hand is rarely affected. A noticeable symptom is that on the right hand you can notice compactions where uric acid accumulates.
- Endocrine disorders (thyroid). Caused by calcium metabolism disorders. Characteristic symptoms: muscle cramps, tingling and numbness of the upper limb on the right.
- Anemia. Unpleasant sensations intensify towards night. All extremities are affected.
- Polyneuropathy. Damage to the peripheral nervous system associated with diabetes mellitus, Guienne-Barré syndrome, renal and liver failure, alcohol and food intoxication of the body.
- Right-sided scalene muscle syndrome. The latter compresses the artery located under the collarbone and the nerve fibers of the brachial plexus on the right.
- Oncological diseases of the cerebral hemispheres are the latest thing that can cause numbness in one or both arms. They are accompanied by prolonged migraines and loss of coordination in space.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia often occurs with hormonal disorders in a woman’s body, for example, during menopause. In addition to numbness, alarming signs such as rapid breathing, anxiety, fear and hyperventilation appear.
Constant numbness in the right hand must be combated with the help of medications, physiotherapy, exercises and diet. The entire range of measures is prescribed by the doctor during the examination.
Etiology
The causes of numbness in the right arm and leg are varied: decreased sensitivity occurs due to physiological disorders or the effects of chronic pathologies on nervous tissue or blood vessels.
List of diseases that may cause numbness in the right arm or leg:
- Intervertebral hernias, protrusions in the upper and lower parts of the spine;
- Displacement of the vertebrae, spinal canal stenosis;
- Pinched sciatic nerve - in this case, only numbness of the right leg will occur;
- Atherosclerosis, thrombosis, varicose veins, Raynaud's disease;
- Brain stroke, sclerosis;
- Polyneuropathy;
- Injuries and frostbite;
- Tumors.
Diseases that cause numbness in the right arm and leg
Expert opinion!
When the right arm and leg go numb at the same time, in most cases spinal diseases are to blame. If its physiological geometry is violated, the spinal nerves on the right, innervating the corresponding limbs, are pinched. Pain will be relieved by analgesics, massage, manual therapy and physiotherapeutic methods will help relieve pinching and improve posture.
Physiological abnormalities can often lead to numbness in the right arm or leg. These include:
- Frequent stress;
- Overwork;
- Vitamin deficiencies;
- Smoking and alcohol;
- Physical overload.
It is easier to cure the physiological cause of numbness in the right arm and leg than in the presence of pathology. But both options require consultation with a doctor.
Which doctor should I contact if a symptom appears?
If numbness in the hand occurs regularly or for a long time, the help of a specialist is required.
Doctors can help determine the cause of loss of sensitivity after examination:
- Cardiologist;
- Therapist;
- Neurologist.
This is due to the possibility of numbness of the hand occurring due to the development of diseases in the area of their specialization.
If there is no specific suspicion of the cause of the symptom, you need to contact your local physician, who will prescribe general procedures. This is required to identify the area where the pathology occurs and refer you to the right specialist.
Pain in the heart area that accompanies numbness of the arm or part of it requires the attention of a cardiologist. Without additional symptoms, an initial consultation with both a local therapist and a neurologist is possible.
Based on the results of the examinations, it may be necessary to contact such doctors as:
- Orthopedist;
- Surgeon;
- Rehabilitologist;
- Osteopath.
Treatment
Treatment for numbness in the right arm and leg is complex. It includes drug therapy, which is complemented by physiotherapeutic methods, therapeutic exercises and massage. You can include some methods from alternative medicine in the program.
Drug therapy
Loss of sensation in the right arm and leg should be started with medication. Depending on the reason, the following are used:
- Analgesics (Nise, Diclofenac) - reduce pain, relieve inflammatory syndrome. To eliminate numbness, ointments with a warming and cooling effect belonging to this group of drugs have proven themselves to be effective;
- For rheumatoid arthritis and various joint diseases, specific antirheumatic drugs are indicated;
- If the patient is concerned about varicose veins, atherosclerosis and other vascular pathologies, Heparin and its forms are prescribed. These drugs thin the blood, prevent the formation of blood clots, and restore blood circulation;
- In cases of brain damage and conditions after strokes, nootropics (Piracetam, Glycine) are used to regenerate nervous tissue;
- Vitamin therapy is indicated to strengthen the body. When treating at home, drugs in capsules are optimal; for greater effectiveness, you can visit the clinic and carry out intravenous infusions.
Important!
When a specific disease is identified, special medications are prescribed to eliminate the cause of numbness.
Physiotherapy
In order to strengthen the body, physiotherapeutic methods are indicated. Their implementation promotes better absorption of medicinal substances and accelerates the processes of restoration of damaged tissues. The following procedures are most in demand:
- Drug electrophoresis;
- Magnetotherapy;
- UVT (ultrawave therapy);
- Warming up.
If there is no chronic pathology, systematic procedures will relieve numbness in the right arm and leg in 10-15 sessions.
Medications and physical therapy for numbness in the right arm and leg
Exercise therapy and massage
Therapeutic gymnastics and massage are restorative methods that have proven themselves well for recovery from many diseases. To eliminate numbness in the leg and arm on the right, the following exercises are useful:
- Exercise bike or cycling;
- Various techniques from athletics;
- Swimming – strengthens the muscles of the arms and legs;
- Moderate jogging (2-3 minutes).
You can consolidate the result by massaging your feet, palms, or the entire area of your legs and arms. The emphasis should be on the right sections.
Alternative medicine
You can supplement the treatment program for numbness in the right leg near the arm with the following methods:
- Manual therapy is a kind of massage, but the effect is on the bones. If nerves are pinched, the specialist adjusts the vertebrae to their natural physiological position, thereby reducing compression of the nerves;
- Acupuncture is the insertion of thin, sterile needles into specific areas of the body. This method stimulates reflex activity and is good for many diseases.
On a note!
To perform manual therapy, you must contact a specialist; performing the procedures yourself can be dangerous!
Exercise therapy and alternative medicine to eliminate numbness
Diagnosis of the disease
Treatment for stiffness of the limbs is aimed at eliminating the cause that caused this condition. A disease is detected, one of the symptoms of which is partial or complete loss of sensitivity in one or two hands at once. This requires a range of research methods.
In order to diagnose the cause of the symptom of hand numbness, after an initial medical examination, a series of examinations may be prescribed.
Among them are laboratory tests:
- General blood analysis;
- Blood test for hormones;
- Vitamin analysis.
Upon receiving the results of laboratory tests, the doctor draws up a general preliminary picture of the state of health.
To do this, he systematizes and analyzes information:
- Obtained data from laboratory tests;
- Results of external examination of the patient;
- Symptoms of numbness based on the patient’s complaints. Comparison of additional signs accompanying numbness.
Based on the generalized information, an examination is prescribed. This is required to confirm or refute suspicions of the presence of specific disorders in the activity of a particular area of the body.
The main task of the doctor is to determine the cause of the loss of sensitivity in the hand. The collected material is examined to exclude simple mechanical compression of blood vessels, household and industrial factors not related to diseases.
Woodiness can be a harmless temporary manifestation of a separate physical impact, but it can also be a factor indicating the development of serious pathologies and disturbances in the normal functioning of internal organs.
Myocardial ischemia, stroke, diabetes mellitus, problems in the spine and a number of other diseases can be hidden under such a symptom as numbness in the arm. Often numbness occurs as a result of the progression of osteochondrosis.
To identify the disease itself and the extent of damage to the body, the patient is sent for specific examinations.
Frequently prescribed examinations:
- Radiography. Detects damage to the spine, the presence of hernias, displacements of intervertebral discs, the appearance of neoplasms, curvature, the development of degenerative pathologies, and infectious diseases.
- Magnetic resonance imaging. Prescribed for suspected radicular syndrome - compression of the spinal nerves.
- Ultrasound duplex scanning. Allows you to determine the patency of veins and arteries, the presence of blood clots in them. Examines the walls of blood vessels, detects abnormal changes, evidence of blockage, and the presence of plaques.
- Ultrasound.
- EEG. It is carried out when there is a suspicion of disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system.
- CT scan.
- Electroneurography. A study of the nervous system allows you to assess the extent of nerve damage.
- Electromyography. The method consists of recording electrical muscle activity, which makes it possible to determine the speed of nerve impulses transmitted. It is used to assess human motor dysfunction in orthopedics.
- UZDS. Shows blood flow in the area being examined.
The examinations can be prescribed separately or in combination with each other to create a more complete picture of the health status of the body and its individual organs.
One hand goes numb
If only one arm goes numb at night, the development of arthrosis, thrombosis or osteochondrosis of the cervical spine is possible. Therefore, a person should definitely consult a doctor. Injuries lead to the same sensations.
If the patient's work activity involves performing similar actions with one limb, then this hand may suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.
We can talk about diseases of the cardiovascular system when the left arm goes completely numb (from the fingertips to the shoulder). People suffering from such disorders are more at risk of developing a heart attack than others.
Preventive methods
Numbness of the limbs causes discomfort and hinders movement. It is possible to reduce the severity of symptoms, and sometimes eliminate them completely, through systematically implemented preventive measures.
The most effective measures include:
- Moderate physical activity. Represents the daily implementation of a set of specially designed health-improving exercises. This allows you to constantly keep the arm muscles in good shape and strengthen their resistance to numbness. Physical activity is important for diseases of blood vessels and joints.
- Proper nutrition, excluding fatty and spicy foods from the diet. Inclusion of fruits, herbs, vegetables, fish, vegetable oils
- Reduce salt intake.
- Stop drinking alcohol and nicotine.
- Protection from the cold. Freezing your hands has a negative effect on the condition of your joints. Treat them with care - keep them warm, wear clothes mainly made of natural fabrics. In cold weather, wear gloves and mittens.
- A small physical warm-up for the arms, alternating with a load on the hands and palms. Circular rotations of the hands have a beneficial effect on relieving muscle tension during work involving heavy loads on the upper limbs and spine. When working with your hands for a long time, take a break every 45 minutes for a massage. This will restore blood circulation and prevent blood stagnation.
Prevention
To date, there is no specific prophylaxis to prevent the development of numbness. Experts recommend leading a healthy lifestyle, following a diet, playing sports and giving up bad habits. This approach is the basis for the prevention of most neurological and vascular diseases.
Numbness of the right arm and leg most often appears due to neurological disorders. Sometimes the cause is diseases of the blood vessels or the musculoskeletal system. Treatment is symptomatic and very effective in the initial stages.
Hand exercises
To reduce the severity of symptoms of numbness in the upper extremities and prevent the frequency of manifestations of the uncomfortable condition, it is recommended to improve blood circulation in the hands with therapeutic exercises.
The set of developed exercises can be common for all areas of the arm that are susceptible to numbness, or changed separately for each of them.
Numbness due to carpal tunnel syndrome is common. It accounts for more than 60% of all cases. It is characterized by loss of mobility in the fingers and hands up to the wrist. Less often - up to the elbow or shoulder. Gymnastic exercises for illness give the greatest therapeutic results.
Damage to the spine, the formation of intervertebral hernias, and displacement of joints cause numbness in the hand in 30% of cases. All other diseases lead to a loss of hand sensitivity of 10%.
Gymnastics are carried out to reduce symptoms. The symptom can be completely eliminated only after treatment of the underlying disease.
Exercises for hands and fingers:
- The palms folded together are placed in a vertical position in front of the chest. Rubbing movements are carried out with the palms for 2 minutes.
- The fingertips of both hands touch each other, and they make short pressing movements for several minutes.
- Fingers or other problem areas of the upper extremities are massaged. Rubbing massaging movements are carried out in a clockwise direction. Attention, when concentrating the loss of sensitivity in the area of the hand, is given to the tips of the index fingers. The massage is carried out alternately, first for one, then for the other hand.
- Vigorously clench and unclench your hands for a few seconds. Alternates with light finger massaging.
- Squeezing a tennis ball with your palms.
Exercises for the shoulder and forearm area, elbow area:
- Massage with short pressure on a point on the forearm. Performed 20 times for each shoulder. The point is found by measuring a distance of 3 fingers from the bend line of the elbow towards the hand.
- Raising and lowering the arm with a delay of several seconds in each position. Performed alternately 10-15 times for each limb.
- Adopting a lying position. Raising your hands, clenching your palms into fists and unclenching them several times. Lowering your arms, stretching them along your body, relaxing your muscles. The exercise is repeated 8-10 times.
Exercises are carried out when a symptom of numbness appears. For prevention, they are performed systematically, depending on the frequency of hand numbness - 3 or 4 times a week. In case of frequent loss of hand control - daily.
Symptoms
Having figured out why the right arm and leg are numb, let’s look at the accompanying symptoms. This disease rarely manifests itself in isolation; usually the clinical picture consists of several signs:
- Unpleasant sensations in the right arm or leg - usually appear after physical exertion or prolonged work. Patients note a feeling of heaviness, squeezing, followed by the development of numbness;
- Pain – occurs after an attack, when sensitivity returns to the muscles. Numbness is characterized by burning, aching or squeezing pain in the palms and feet. If a nerve is pinched, the symptom is noted in the affected area (buttock, armpit);
- Paresthesia is a short-term loss of sensation in the palms and soles. These sensations resemble “pins and needles”; some patients describe them as “puffing up of the skin”;
- A decrease in heart rate is characteristic of vascular pathologies. A decrease in pulsation is recorded on the radial artery or in the popliteal fossa;
- Pale skin – observed in the area of the forearms and legs, hands and feet.
Symptoms of numbness in the right arm and leg
Attention!
Advanced stages are characterized by impaired coordination and trophic disorders in the form of brittle nails and receding hair.
Traditional methods of treatment
Remedies used in traditional medicine are recommended for use only in combination with the main treatment. A preliminary consultation with a doctor about the possibility of side effects as a result of taking the medication is required.
Alternative medicine methods used to eliminate the symptoms of numbness of the upper extremities:
- Taking a bath with rosemary before bed. An infusion prepared within half an hour from 3 liters of water and a handful of flowers is added to a bath filled with water. Take a bath for a quarter of an hour.
- Rubbing numb areas of the hand with a product prepared from camphor (10 ml) and ammonia (50 ml) alcohols. The resulting mixture is diluted with one liter of water at room temperature. One spoon of table salt is added to the finished product.
- Numbness of the elbow is treated with boiled wheat porridge, folded into a fabric bag. To obtain relief that occurs immediately, the bag is applied to the elbow and held for half an hour.
- Garlic cloves cut into slices are infused in vodka for 2 weeks. Take orally 2 times a day before meals, 5 drops of the product diluted in one teaspoon of water. The duration of the course of treatment is one and a half months.
- Tying the wrist with woolen thread.
- Powdered round black pepper is poured with vegetable oil and left for half an hour with occasional stirring. The resulting product is rubbed warm into problem areas 2 times a day.
Effective folk remedies against numb hands
Additionally, your doctor may recommend products that you can prepare and use at home.
- Contrasting hand baths will be effective. It is necessary to fill 2 basins with water (1st – cold, 2nd – hot). Hands should be lowered into each container one by one, and then rub them well with turpentine ointment. Wear gloves made of natural fabric on top.
- To prevent your left or right hand from becoming numb at night, you can make a compress with pumpkin porridge. To do this, you need to coat your hands with warm porridge, wrap them with cling film on top and wrap them in a scarf. As a rule, 2-3 such procedures are enough to get rid of unpleasant sensations at night.
- To strengthen the vascular walls, use a mixture prepared from lemon, honey, parsley and celery. Grind 1 kg of parsley and celery, 2 lemons using a blender or meat grinder and mix everything with 250 ml of honey. You need to take the medicine on an empty stomach. 2 tablespoons at a time is enough.
- You can try rubbing your hands with wild rosemary tincture or a mixture of pickles and red pepper. To prepare this mixture, grate 3 large pickled cucumbers on a fine grater and mix with 3 chopped chili peppers. Pour 500 ml of high-quality vodka into the mixture. The medicine is infused for 7 days in a glass container at room temperature. After which it is used to rub sore spots.
- A product made from black pepper and vegetable oil has a good effect. To do this, pour 100 g of ground pepper into 1 glass of oil. The mixture should be simmered over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring constantly. After cooling, apply the product to your hands, lightly rubbing into the skin.
USEFUL INFORMATION: Drowsiness during pregnancy: when does it go away, how to deal with sleepiness
Consequences
Consequences of hand numbness.
- Reducing activity during work.
- Excessive fatigue.
- Danger to life and health when performing certain work (driving a car or operating other mechanical devices).
- Tissue death as a result of poor blood flow.
The worst consequence of this condition is tissue death.
Reason 7. Panic attack
Symptoms of a panic attack
The main signs of a panic attack are:
- cardiopalmus;
- fear;
- trembling;
- numbness or tingling of the hands or face (especially in the lips).
What can you do if you have a panic attack?
Practice relaxation techniques. Consult a physical therapist in case of persistent attacks.
Other features of a panic attack
Physical signs of a panic attack may be triggered by rapid breathing. Typically, these attacks stop in 15 minutes or less.
Diagnostics
Diagnosis is related to discovering the cause of the disease. First of all, blood pressure is measured. After which an inspection is carried out. Often, it is enough to detect a problem and, subsequently, prescribe treatment. If additional diagnostics are required, then resort to the following types:
- Vascular ultrasound. It is used to determine the movement and stagnation of blood in the vessels.
- Electromyography is used to check the state of the nervous system.
The diagnosis is carried out by a neurologist.
If the reason is more serious than it seems
Numbness of the hands during sleep, associated with serious illnesses, is treated differently. And it requires a scrupulous approach.
Vegetative-vascular dystonia requires an integrated approach. The disease is treated by a cardiologist, psychotherapist, neurologist and other doctors.
Numbness of the extremities caused by diabetes mellitus can be relieved with antidiabetic drugs with constant monitoring of blood sugar levels.
Cardiovascular pathologies (coronary heart disease, consequences of stroke and heart attack) with impaired blood circulation in the arms are treated with medication. All therapy takes place under the supervision of a doctor.
Reasons for violation
Numbness of the upper extremities causes the appearance of a certain clinical picture. Some patients complain that both arms go numb at the same time, while in others this phenomenon occurs only on one limb. Sometimes the manifestation of such a symptom continues for quite a long time, but sometimes it can last only a few days.
This manifestation of the body should not be left without due attention, because it often develops as a result of various mental disorders and even vision problems. If your hands are numb at night, you should definitely visit a specialist who will conduct an examination, find out the cause of such disruptions in the body and, if necessary, select an effective treatment.
Numbness in the left hand in a dream often signals problems with the cardiovascular system or heart disease. This phenomenon requires mandatory supervision by a specialist, since it can cause disruption of the functioning of other organs and systems.
If the left limb becomes numb at night and during the day, a specialist may suspect a mini-stroke or a pre-infarction condition. If such a symptom occurs, it is necessary to visit a specialist, which will avoid the development of many complications.
Often the left limb begins to go numb due to disruptions in the metabolic processes occurring in the human body. Vitamins A and B take an active part in the construction of nerve fiber sheaths, and often a pathological condition develops when their intake into the body is insufficient. A deficiency of such elements causes damage to the membrane, which results in a decrease in the sensitivity of nerve fibers.
Sometimes numbness of the left arm occurs due to a disease such as atherosclerosis of the brachial artery. Mostly this disease is diagnosed in elderly patients and requires emergency treatment.
It must be remembered that numbness in any hand is not always a sign of a dangerous illness occurring in the body. This disorder can appear when wearing uncomfortable and tight clothes, staying in one position for a long time, or during active sports.
Doctors say that a person’s right hand goes numb under the influence of the same factors as the left. Mostly this pathology develops with the following disorders:
- compression of blood vessels;
- cervical osteochondrosis;
- shoulder injuries and injuries;
- scoliosis;
- neurological disorders of the brachial plexus.
At the same time, numbness in the right hand is not considered a sign of heart disease. Only sometimes can such an ailment signal a pre-stroke condition, which is accompanied by narrowing of blood vessels in the neck.
Night numbness of both limbs at once is considered a sign of diabetes, intervertebral hernia or osteochondrosis. Periodic numbness in the left and right hand and wrist may indicate pathologies of the nervous system or increased blood pressure.
Simultaneous numbness in both hands is one of the signs of the following disorders:
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- arthritis;
- anemia;
- multiple sclerosis;
- increased blood pressure;
- lack of vitamins in the body.
There is no need to delay examination and treatment, since numbness in the hands during sleep causes gradual decline in the fingers, arthritis or partial paralysis.
Digital paresthesia
The causes of digital paresthesia should be sought in the clinic. For examination, the therapist can give a referral to the following specialists - cardiologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, traumatologist.
- If the cause of the pathology is discovered to be of a neuralgic nature, drug treatment and a vitamin complex will be prescribed. Physiotherapy is often additionally prescribed.
- If the reason lies in muscle strain or injury, the traumatologist will give his recommendations.
- If elbow neuropathy is suspected, electroneuromyography is prescribed, which will confirm the diagnosis.
- Extensive blood and urine tests and examination of the gastrointestinal tract will help identify endocrine diseases.
Other ways to solve the problem
Other means can also be used.
- Alcohol procedures. Pour 70 g of ammonia and 15 g of 10% camphor alcohol into 1 liter of clean water. Stir 3 tsp into the solution. coarse salt. Rub the resulting mixture onto problem areas of your hands. The treatment course should be continued until the numbness of the hands disappears completely.
- Rosemary baths. 2 tbsp. Pour rosemary into 3 liters of chilled water. Leave to infuse for half an hour. Pour the resulting solution into a slightly hot bath and take it for 20 minutes. Repeat the procedure 5-8 times. After the bath, you need to treat the numb areas of your hands with mustard oil. This therapy is best done in the evening.
You can take rosemary baths
- Potato baths. Peel and cook the potatoes until they are soft. Drain the water and add 3 tsp. vegetable oil. Wait for the potatoes to cool slightly and put your hands down for 10-12 minutes. Afterwards, do a light hand massage to speed up blood flow, rubbing moisturizer into the skin. The procedure must be repeated until the problem is completely eliminated.
Main! Too hot baths for varicose veins are strictly prohibited.
If your hands go numb at night, the proven folk methods discussed above can demonstrate good results. The effect should be expected if the numbness is not caused by the development of a serious illness. If you experience such discomfort, do not hesitate to visit a doctor.
With the help of folk remedies you can successfully get rid of this problem.
Causes of nocturnal paresthesias
Feelings of numbness, tingling, burning, pain of varying intensity in the upper extremities at night can be caused by:
- congenital anatomical feature (narrowed bone canal, abnormal bone growth, accessory muscle, tendon constriction);
- neoplasm;
- infectious process (tuberculosis, syphilis, HIV infection, etc.);
- endocrine pathology (insufficient thyroid function, acromegaly, diabetes mellitus);
- metabolic imbalance (lack of B vitamins, atherosclerosis, nutritional starvation);
- osteochondrosis of the cervical and thoracic spine;
- hormonal changes (pathological pregnancy, menopause);
- systemic autoimmune disease (rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic vasculitis).
Provoking factors, acting in combination or individually, disrupt metabolism and the functioning of nervous tissue and lead to the occurrence of paresthesia. The most clear connection between impaired sensitivity of the hands at night and compression-ischemic conditions of the nerves can be traced through the example of tunnel syndromes of the upper limbs.
Surgery
Surgery is necessary when numbness in the hands during sleep is accompanied by pain that cannot be relieved in any other way. Extreme measures are indicated for severe pain caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. During surgery, the surgeon uses an endoscope or through an incision in the skin to excise the wrist ligament, which leads to relief of symptoms.
Acute thrombophlebitis is also an indication for surgery . Surgery in this situation will help avoid blood clots and blockage of blood vessels.
Numbness in right hand
There are many reasons why the right hand goes numb. This feeling occurs at different times - at night in a dream, throughout the day, while working. Depending on the frequency and duration of numbness, conclusions can be drawn about the presence of pathology. Or about its absence, if the unpleasant sensations are associated only with the uncomfortable position of the hand during sleep. In this case, you should take care of a comfortable bed.
The most common reasons:
- Staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time. Most often this is associated with professional activities.
- Staying in the cold for a long time;
- Carrying heavy objects or uncomfortable bags.
- Prolonged muscle tension in the arm.
Numbness does not always occur in the entire limb; sometimes this feeling occurs in certain parts of the arm. If tingling is felt from the shoulder to the fingers, then the causes may include osteochondrosis of the cervical spine, arthrosis. Sometimes this can indicate an impending stroke. If the fingers of your right hand go numb, especially at night, this may be a sign of a malfunction of internal organs, such as the lungs.
Long monotonous work, in which the hands are in one position, can cause numbness.
Exercises for numb fingers
Complex measures provide good results. Therefore, along with the main treatment, patients are recommended to perform special exercises for their fingers. Ideally, morning exercises should include exercises for the upper limbs.
The following exercises will help restore mobility and sensitivity of the phalanx:
- Lying on your back, raise your arms above your head, and in this position clench and unclench your fists at least 50 times.
- It is performed like the previous exercise, only the arms are extended along the body. Clench and unclench your fists about 60 times.
- You need to stand on your feet, rise on your toes and raise your arms above your head. It’s good to stretch and stay in this position for 50 seconds. Perform several approaches.
Regularly performing these simple exercises will normalize blood flow and eliminate unpleasant symptoms.
Diagnostic methods
Since hands can go numb at night for various reasons, it is difficult to make a primary diagnosis only on the basis of an external examination and patient complaints. Functional tests are required to assess sensitivity, tendon reflexes, and muscle strength. A number of instrumental studies are prescribed:
- radiography in two projections;
- MRI of the spine;
- Dopplerography of the vessels of the head and neck.
In diagnosis, myelography, evoked potentials, electroneurography, electromyography, ECG, ultrasound of the abdominal organs, thyroid gland, and heart can be used. Using the results of biochemical and general clinical studies, it is possible to detect endocrine pathologies, hypo- and hypervitaminosis, and metabolic disorders.
Drug therapy
Let us immediately note that the listed medications are prescribed exclusively by a doctor. Information about drugs is presented for informational purposes only.
Disease | Drug name |
Carpal tunnel syndrome | Painkillers – Ibuprofen, Ketorol, Nimesulide |
Osteochondrosis and back pain | Analgesics – Novocaine, Ultracaine, Lidocaine |
Diabetes | Hypoglycemic agents – Metformin, Gliclazide |
Arterial hypertension (high blood pressure) | Medicines to lower blood pressure – Perindopril, Bisoprolol, Nevibolol |
Anemia | Iron supplements, vitamin and mineral complexes with vitamin B12 |
Other pathologies accompanied by pain | Painkillers – Analgin, Aspirin |
conclusions
There are many reasons for numbness in the hands, which may be related to your usual lifestyle or the development of serious diseases.
The human body is a whole system that sends signals in case of any violations. It is worth learning to recognize them and listen to them in order to provide the necessary assistance in a timely manner and prevent the occurrence of severe pathologies.
If such a symptom does not subside for a long time, you need to consult a doctor.
If numbness in your hands continues to bother you at night, you should immediately make an appointment with a doctor. Similar symptoms should not be ignored, as they can develop into a chronic disease.
Important ! More severe cases will require a change of main job.
Treatment recommendations
In the fight against numbness in the hands, it is necessary to increase the flow of blood through the vessels. In this case, daily physical activity will help.
Long walks and exercises in the morning will help cope with discomfort and pain that bother you at night. A therapeutic massage will not be superfluous, but it is worth resorting to when an accurate diagnosis has been established.
It's worth taking more walks in the fresh air
Important ! Hand paraffin therapy, physiotherapy, magnetotherapy, phonophoresis, and electrophoresis are also effective.
Phonophoresis
Detailed study of internal causes
Cervical osteochondrosis. Occurs in 75% of people over 55 years of age. Nowadays, even the younger generation is not immune from the disease. But there are other reasons that only a professional doctor can identify. The earlier the disease is diagnosed, the sooner treatment can begin. Osteochondrosis may indicate more severe problems - protrusion of the intervertebral disc, and later - herniation of the cervical spine.
Hernia of the cervical spine
Locations of the disease in the lower cervical vertebrae indicate areas of numbness in the hands during sleep:
- if the C7 disc is damaged, the inside of the entire arm becomes numb;
- touching the C6 disc leads to numbness in the shoulder area, index and ring fingers;
- damage to the C5 disc causes pain and numbness on the lateral side of the arms, involving the thumb and index finger.
Where numbness will be felt depends on the location of the hernia.
Vascular disease. It is a very serious reason why the upper limbs go numb during sleep. If, in addition, blood pressure rises, dizziness and unclear consciousness are noted, there is a risk of a mini-stroke. As a rule, the reason lies in severe fatigue, tension, stress and constantly fluctuating blood pressure.
Ischemic stroke is also accompanied by numbness of the hands at night. There is a disturbance in blood flow in any part of the brain. Dizziness and increased blood pressure also occur.
Ischemic stroke
Discomfort during sleep can be caused by smoking, especially at night. Smoking causes blood vessels to constrict, and the body responds in the form of numbness in the limbs.
Important ! A similar phenomenon is observed when drinking alcohol at night. Alcohol leads to a short-term dilation of blood vessels, and subsequently to their sharp narrowing.
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease. Often the pathology affects the joints of the hands. At night, the patient may experience:
- burning and pain in the hands and fingers;
- stiffness in finger movement;
- general weakness of the upper limbs;
- a feeling of tightness in the hands, they are “pulled.”
With the further development of the disease, a person feels prolonged and intense morning pain in the fingers, sometimes an increase in body temperature is registered, and the joints become severely deformed. The pathology is treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antirheumatic drugs that reduce the manifestation of symptoms.
How to find out why your hands become numb during sleep
After determining the cause, treatment is prescribed. These are various exercises or physical therapy. But the best option would be complex therapy, including 2-3 methods.
Physiotherapy
This method includes massage, magnetic therapy, and ultrasound treatment. With its help, damaged blood vessels and tissues are restored. The body improves balance and blood circulation. Muscle heaviness, fatigue and pain will disappear.
Physical therapy exercises
Physical therapy is considered the most effective method. Blood circulation is normalized in the body, and not just in the limbs. Exercise therapy exercises have been tested in practice and produce results.
ethnoscience
If numbness of the hands occurs, the causes and treatment are determined during the examination. There are many folk methods that help fight the disease.
Among them:
- Contrast baths. Prepare several containers with cold and hot water. The brushes are lowered into them one by one. This normalizes blood circulation.
- Pumpkin gruel will help get rid of symptoms. It is applied to the entire surface, starting from the neck. Afterwards, they wrap themselves in a warm blanket.
- A glass of hot water drunk in the morning on an empty stomach helps strengthen blood vessels.
- Anti-wicking baths can consist of more than just water of different temperatures. They are also made from decoctions. You need to take 1 tablespoon of birch buds, aspen or oak bark. Mix with salt, 5-6 tbsp. spoons and dilute in a liter of water. Baths are made for 25-30 minutes. After which, you need to put on warm gloves and leave them on all night. The course consists of 10-15 procedures.
Prevention is an important part of getting rid of the disease. It will help avoid serious consequences, such as tissue death.
Proper nutrition will also be an important component. Carrying a backpack or bag on one shoulder leads to this type of illness. Therefore, this method of carrying things should be excluded.
The work chair should be comfortable. When constantly working at the computer, playing musical instruments and similar activities, it is worth taking breaks and minimal gymnastics.
Numbness of the limbs indicates that the innervation in the corresponding organ is impaired. Simply put, one of the nerves that runs from the neck to the arm becomes pinched. Nerves have their own blood supply system - these are neighboring arteries and their branches. When something presses on an artery, the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the nerve is interrupted, causing it to stop functioning.
If the pressure is short-term, the nerve quickly restores its function. However, with regular negative impact, the nerve becomes unusable over time. So if your fingers or hands go numb at night for months or years, this could indicate significant nerve damage.
Numbness of the fingers or hands at night is a common phenomenon; the reasons may lie in everyday sleeping conditions, such as:
- incorrect body position during sleep;
- uncomfortable pillow;
- tight nightwear;
- bed too soft.
These problems are caused by external factors that you can cope with yourself. For example, buy a special orthopedic pillow and mattress. They will help the body take the correct position during sleep, which will help improve blood supply and the general condition of the musculoskeletal system.
When falling asleep, you should make sure that the limbs are not compressed by anything, the neck lies naturally without unnecessary tension and sharp bends.
Women tend to go to bed wearing jewelry: bracelets, rings, necklaces, which can also be fraught with circulatory problems.
It must be remembered that any physical pressure can cause tissue numbness. Thus, nursing mothers often place their baby next to them at night, and they are forced to put their hand under their head, thus creating pressure in the hand. The same thing happens when one spouse puts his head on the other's shoulder.
An equally important reason when your hands go numb at night is excessive stress during the day. This is typical for people with a manual nature of work: writers, programmers, seamstresses - everyone who spends a lot of time at the computer. Constant flexion and extension of the wrist leads to nerve damage.
Most often, fingers go numb during sleep or in the morning when a person wakes up. What does it mean? The cause of this condition is incorrect body position during sleep, which impairs blood circulation in the limbs and causes temporary discomfort. If this condition occurs infrequently, there is no reason to worry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=
When the fingers of one or both hands go numb all the time, the following conditions may be the provoking factors:
- pathologies of the heart and blood vessels (atherosclerosis, angina pectoris, multiple sclerosis, blockage of cerebral vessels);
- endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, thyroid problems);
- poor patency in the vessels of the upper extremities (thrombosis) or impaired blood circulation in the capillaries and veins of the fingers (Raynaud's syndrome);
- injuries or bruises of the shoulder, elbow, fingers, hands;
- pressure on the nerve roots due to swelling of the hands during pregnancy;
- pinched nerve in the carpal tunnel (a disease of people who work at the computer for a long time).
Thrombosis is a common cause of numbness in the limbs
Often, fingers go numb due to diseases of the internal organs (liver, kidneys, lungs) or as a result of severe stress or nervous strain.
In itself, tingling only at the tips or all the fingers of the left and right hands is not a pathology. This is an unpleasant symptom that warns of the development of negative abnormalities in the body.
Based on the unpleasant sensations in one or another phalanx, a specific disease can be identified.
If your thumb or index finger becomes numb after monotonous long-term work (knitting, printing, embroidering), we are talking about overload of the neuromuscular system. At this time, loss of sensation may be accompanied by seizures and impaired motor ability. This condition does not last long and is not a pathological deviation.
After knitting for a long time, your thumbs and index fingers may go numb.
Numbness of the little finger along with the middle and ring fingers may indicate problems with the heart and blood vessels. Usually the phalanges on the left hand become very numb at night, and during the day the patient feels a barely noticeable tingling sensation that spreads over the entire surface of the arm to the shoulder.
Inflammation of the elbow joint or pinched nerve endings in the brachial plexus is indicated by poor sensitivity of the ring and middle fingers on the back of the hand, which is accompanied by pain from the hand to the elbow.
Fingers often go numb due to inflammation of the elbow joint
Often, severe poisoning of the entire body can cause numbness in the middle finger. To accurately determine the source of discomfort, it is better to consult a doctor.
Tingling of the tips of any finger in adolescence often occurs due to a lack of vitamin A and group B. After 45 years, a deficiency of such substances provokes not only a temporary loss of sensitivity in a specific phalanx, but also numbness of the hands in general.
More often the left hand goes numb during sleep, less often the right hand. The sensations may be constant or recur periodically
During sleep, you may be awakened by unpleasant sensations in your fingers or joints. Symptoms most often appear in the index and middle fingers or the ring and little fingers. Sometimes only one finger (for example, the little finger) or all fingers at the same time are bothered.
Numbness can occur in one limb or in both at the same time or periodically migrate from side to side. If the fingers of your left and right hands go numb at night, you should monitor your body position when resting. Having a comfortable mattress and pillow is an integral factor in diagnosing the problem.
Having woken up with numb fingers, they often try to shake them or stretch them so that the symptoms go away, but this is far from the most effective method. The resulting attacks exhaust the body and disrupt sleep, thereby reducing the body’s ability to recover, contributing to the chronic course of the disease.
If it occurs at a young age, you should be extremely vigilant and find out the cause. The hands of people with cervical osteochondrosis constantly become numb at night.
Sound and healthy sleep is the key to full recovery of the brain and the entire body after physical and psychological daytime stress. Therefore, you should not ignore such an unpleasant symptom as numbness of the hands at night - the causes and treatment of this disease are closely related. Only after accurately identifying the factors causing this problem, it becomes possible to completely eliminate it.
The described symptoms do not necessarily indicate the development of any disease. Sometimes this occurs due to physiological or external circumstances:
- sleeping in an awkward position;
- clothes that are too restrictive for night rest;
- incorrect body position;
- professional activities associated with constant lifting of heavy objects or raising hands above heart level (painters, loaders, plasterers);
- high pillow;
- uncomfortable mattress.
How to avoid problems with numbness
In order for such symptoms to go away and you never think about them, try to slightly change your usual rhythm of life. Be sure to find time every day in the morning and evening to do basic morning exercises. In this case, you will never have numb hands or feet either at night or in the morning.
The second important element is walking or light jogging once a day. It is better to do this in the afternoon, when the blood viscosity index is at its lowest value. A walk in the park will replace all your antidepressants and help you take your mind off the past working day.
Watch your diet. Try to eat foods that contain as few artificial preservatives and colors as possible. All of them have a negative effect on blood vessels, blood viscosity and the condition of nerve fibers.
When should you contact specialists?
You should not hesitate to visit a doctor if:
- paresthesia, which lasts a long time, is manifested by painful sensations and occurs not only during sleep;
- numbness prevents you from concentrating on work;
- numbness of both hands;
- sudden onset of numbness. Accompanied by deterioration of vision and emotional state.
If numbness occurs suddenly and does not go away for a long time, do not hesitate to visit a doctor.
Cause 5. Stretching or compression of the nerve or decreased blood circulation to the nerve
Signs of nerve stretching or compression
The arms (as well as the buttocks) become numb after sitting (or resting) for a long time in a certain position.
What can be done if a nerve is stretched or compressed?
Move your limbs a little or rise to your feet; the feeling of discomfort should disappear after a few moments.
Other Features of Nerve Stretching or Compression
This temporary "thousand needles" condition is completely normal and does not indicate a specific disease.
Numbness in the fingers of the left hand
An alarming sign is numbness in the fingers on the left hand. Such symptoms can be a harbinger of a stroke and signal heart problems. Therefore, this problem cannot be ignored and the person must be hospitalized immediately.
Big
Osteochondrosis of the cervical or thoracic region is indicated by numbness of the thumb of the left hand. Weakness of the arms can confirm the diagnosis. Brachial neuralgia and pathology of the elbow joint can also lead to the problem. In such cases, not only one finger goes numb, but also the entire left upper limb. Sometimes this problem with the phalanges occurs due to a deficiency of vitamins A and B.
This is a dangerous symptom in vascular atherosclerosis. This disease is incurable, but with early treatment the pathological process can be stopped. If unpleasant sensations appear during night sleep, you should consult a cardiologist and undergo an examination. Additionally, they are tested for diabetes.
Numbness of the thumb in pregnant women indicates that there is swelling of the wrist. Expectant mothers should monitor blood pressure and prevent swelling. For this purpose, it is worth monitoring fluid intake, monitoring the level of protein in the blood and performing preventive massage.
Pointing
The ulnar nerve innervates the index finger on the dorsal side, and the median nerve on the palmar side. Damage to any of these nerves can cause numbness in the left index finger. Also, the passage of a nerve impulse may be difficult from the neck. The spinal cord of the cervical region controls the function of the upper limbs. Therefore, with a hernia of the spine in the cervical region, paresthesia of the index finger of the left upper limb occurs.
The provoking factor for numbness includes monotonous work for a long time. Paresthesia can be a dangerous symptom of myocardial infarction. When a blood vessel or aorta is blocked, the blood supply to the left arm is disrupted. Sometimes a blood clot forms in the vessels, which, traveling through the cardiovascular system, is retained in the small fingers of the vessels. If the phalanges not only lose their sensitivity and begin to darken, you should immediately call an ambulance. Every minute of delay can lead to amputation of a limb.
Average
In most cases, numbness in the middle finger of the left hand occurs due to serious diseases of the spine. The problem also arises when nerve fibers are damaged and vascular pathologies.
Paresthesia of the middle finger requires urgent diagnosis. Because it can be a harbinger of heart disease.
Nameless
Pinching or injury to the nerve of the elbow joint can cause numbness in the ring finger of the left hand. If loss of sensation is also observed in the area of the ring finger, then there is a high probability that the person has heart problems.
We recommend additional reading: What to do if your hand is bruised or swollen
This condition is typical for protrusion and intervertebral hernia. Numbness can be caused by pathological growths on bone tissue - osteophytes.
Little finger
Local circulatory disorders cause numbness in the little finger and ring fingers of the left hand. A condition in which the nerve in the wrist is compressed is called carpal tunnel syndrome.
This problem occurs when working at a computer for a long time or playing a musical instrument and often causes numbness of the phalanx.
Fingers going numb is that what?
The term numbness of the fingers (paresthesia) refers to a condition in which their sensitivity is lost. This neurological symptom is characterized by changes in sensitivity as a result of damage to the transmission of nerve impulses. A specific nerve from the palmar or dorsal part innervates one phalanx.
Sometimes it is accompanied by tingling and pain. Numbness and tingling of the fingers first appear at night or in the morning after waking up. It is not given importance because it appears as a result of being in an uncomfortable position for a long time.
In cases where the sensitivity of the fingers is regularly lost, you need to see a doctor. Because numbness can be treated early. Loss of sensation can signal the development of a dangerous disease such as a stroke.
Several fingers, or the entire hand, may become paralyzed. To eliminate an unpleasant symptom, you need to establish its cause and, together with your doctor, determine methods for getting rid of it.
What is hand numbness
Officially, the unpleasant symptom is called paresthesia of the limbs. According to the terminology, this is a temporary loss of sensitivity, which is characterized by sensations of numbness, accompanied by a feeling of tingling, crawling on the skin. The condition develops equally at any age; at first it goes unnoticed, but is fraught with complications. This is a physiological (natural) phenomenon, for example, when the position of the body changes, or pathological, indicating an internal disease.
When your hands go numb at night, this unpleasant symptom cannot be ignored, otherwise the problem will only get worse. If your hands go numb, then when you move your fingers you feel a slight tingling sensation, painful sensations that are paroxysmal in nature, focal localization. The patient complains of:
- difficulties in coordinating actions;
- inability to use a limb;
- lack of response to external stimuli;
- loss of sensitivity not only of the skin, but of the entire arm/hand.
To exclude cardiac pathologies, first of all, the doctor orders an ECG and additionally collects data (history). The symptom is diverse, and the examination of the body must be comprehensive, including instrumental and laboratory methods, and differential diagnosis. You can contact:
- therapist;
- neurologist;
- cardiologist.