causes for numb hands
Hand numbness is usually caused by damage, irritation or compression of one of the nerves or a branch of one of the nerves in your arm and wrist. Diseases affecting the peripheral nerves, such as diabetes, also can cause numbness, although with diabetes similar symptoms usually occur first in your feet. In very uncommon instances, numbness can be caused by problems in your brain or spinal cord, although in such cases arm or hand weakness or loss of function also occurs. Numbness alone is only rarely associated with potentially life-threatening disorders, such as strokes or tumors.
Numbness in the Hands. Numbness in the hands is a sensation of loss of feelings in the hands, often referred to as falling asleep. Symptoms of hand numbness are tingling, pins-and-needles, prickling sensations. Sleeping on your hands or holding your hands above your head for a long period of time will cause numbness.
Numbness or tingling in the hands occurs when nerves in the arm or wrist are compressed or damaged, according to WebMD. One of the simplest causes for nerve compression during sleep is when the arm is bent for a prolonged time or rested underneath another part of the body.
Hand numbness while sleeping has a variety of causes, including sleeping position, carpal tunnel syndrome and diabetes, according to WebMD. Other possible causes include vitamin deficiencies, alcoholism, infections and injuries.
Ulnar nerve compression at the wrist: This causes numbness and tingling of the little finger, part of the ring finger, and in the palm on the little finger side. Ulnar nerve compression at the elbow: This causes not only the numbness noted above but also numbness on the back of the hand on the pinky side.