How Do I Get Rid of Numbness in My Hand?

Hand numbness commonly occurs when we’ve slept on our hands or they have been in an awkward position for a prolonged period. When this happens, the numbness is temporary and normal sensation quickly returns. 

In other cases, hand numbness may be caused by: 

• Carpal tunnel syndrome 
• Pinched nerve, which may be caused by:
  • Overuse
  • Arthritis
  • Injury
  • Narrowing of the spaces between the bones in the spine 
  • Tumor on the spine
• Migraine with aura
• Peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes
• Raynaud’s syndrome (also called Raynaud’s phenomenon)
• Neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Side effects of chemotherapy
• Stroke
• Heart attack

Other symptoms that may accompany hand numbness include:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome 
  • Tingling 
  • Feeling a need to “shake” the hand or wrist
  • Fingers feel swollen, though they do not look swollen
  • Inability to distinguish between hot and cold by touch (in severe cases)
• Pinched nerve 
  • Tingling or “pins and needles” feeling
  • Feeling the hand has “fallen asleep”
  • Sharp pain
  • Hand weakness
  • Muscle weakness in the arm
• Migraine with aura
  • Vision problems: seeing spots, flashes of light, zig zags, stars, or temporary vision loss 
    • Some vision symptoms resemble a stroke so see a doctor if any of these occur
  • Tingling sensation in other parts of the body
  • Muscle weakness
  • Difficulty speaking or finding the right word, slurring or mumbling
  • Nausea or vomiting
• Peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes
  • Tingling or burning
  • Stabbing pains 
  • Muscle weakness
  • Balance and coordination problems
  • Increased sensitivity to touch (the weight of clothing or sheets may be painful)
  • Loss of reflexes, especially in the ankle
  • Serious foot problems (ulcers, infections, and bone and joint pain)
• Raynaud’s syndrome (also called Raynaud’s phenomenon)
  • Fingers or toes become suddenly cold 
  • Skin color changes: pale or purple or blue color 
  • "Pins and needles" feeling, aching, or clumsiness of the affected hand(s)
  • Skin of the ears, nose, face, knees, and nipples may also become pale or bluish in color after cold exposure
  • Mottling (a bluish discoloration) of the skin of the arms and legs 
• Neurological conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Numbness in the feet
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle spasms
  • Weakness
  • Problems walking
  • Difficulty speaking or concentrating
  • Vision problems
  • Dizziness and spinning sensation (vertigo)
  • Bladder problems
  • Constipation
  • Sexual dysfunction
• Side effects of chemotherapy
  • “Pins and needles” feeling
  • Burning of hands and/or feet 
  • Numbness around mouth 
  • Weakness and cramping or pain in hands 
  • Difficulty picking things up or buttoning clothes
  • Loss of positional sense (knowing where a body part is without looking)
• Stroke
  • A stroke is a medical emergency: if you have any symptoms of a stroke call 911 and get to a hospital’s emergency department immediately
    • With a stroke, the hand numbness is usually accompanied by weakness in the hand and the rest of the arm and usually the leg/foot on the same side of the body (though this is not always the case)
  • Weakness
  • Confusion
  • Problems seeing and speaking
  • Drooping on one side of your face
  • Dizziness
• Heart attack
  • A heart attack is a medical emergency: if you have any symptoms call 911 and get to a hospital’s emergency department immediately
    • Chest pain
    • Shortness of breath
    • Breaking out in a cold sweat