Hands Falling Asleep During Sleep

Hands falling asleep during sleep can range from unpleasant to annoying. The tingling feeling experienced when hands begin to wake up can rouse you from sleep. The sensation can also be painful, leaving your hands and wrists sore after you awaken.

Hands falling asleep during sleep may indicate carpal tunnel syndrome.

Your hands falling asleep during sleep are not as unusual as it sounds. If you sleep on an arm or bend your wrist wrong while asleep, you can cut off the nerve sensation and experience ‘hand or hands asleep’ feeling. While not pleasant, simply adjusting your position and letting your hands wake back up is all you need to do.

If you experience your hands falling asleep regularly, it could be indicative of another medical problem. Some common issues that can leave your hands numb while sleeping are:

• Arthritis
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Diabetes
• Obesity (obesity can play a part, particular with regard to sleep position)

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when you experience nerve damage to the median nerve that runs through your wrist joints.

Commons symptoms of CTS include:

• Sleep disruption due to numb hands and tingling fingers
• Hand or wrist pain
• Weak hand or wrist
• Pain radiating out of the forearm
• Loss of sensation, dropping objects
• Numbness or tingling in hands while awake
• Aching in neck or shoulders

If you are concerned about your hands falling asleep while you are sleeping, you may consult your physician. Numbness and tingling sensation causing sleep disruption is only one symptom of CTS. If you experience chronic numbness in your hands during sleep, you may want to change pillows or sleep position. If it doesn’t improve, discuss the issue with your physician.

Do not shake or bang your hands on things in order to wake them up if you wake up with numb fingers or tingling. This can aggravate the unpleasant sensation and pain. Numbness in the hands or hands falling asleep is not a symptom of bad circulation, but rather crimped or impaired nerves. Sleeping awkwardly or bending your hands awkwardly can have an impact on the nerve and create the numb sensation.

Nocturnal support braces for your wrists and hands can help reduce the tingling sensation that disrupts your sleep. Splints can provide support, help you avoid bending the hands and wrists awkwardly and reduce the chance of crimping any nerves.

You should not create your own splint, but consult a physician about whether this is an option for you. If you are experiencing hand numbness during sleep and you have a sleep disorder such as sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome or insomnia, you should be sure to let your physician known. In some cases of sleep apnea, healing and recovery are slower than normal. If the numbness in your hands and wrists is related to an injury, it may be that sleep apnea is impairing your healing process.

Learn more about hand numbness, sleep apnea, carpal tunnel and related conditions from these Love To Know resources:

• Carpal Tunnel Exercise
• Tension Headache
• Treating Restless Leg Syndrome
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea

• Sleep Requirements by Age
• Sleep Apnea Full Face Masks
• Foods Containing L-Tryptophan
• Why Is Sleep Important

• Pure Sleep
• Melatonin Forums
• How to Put Someone to Sleep
• Stop Snoring Mouthpiece
• How Long Can You Live Without Sleep