Numb Hands

Numbness in hands or hand paresthesias is an unusual and annoying feeling, that can be described as a loss of sensation in the hands. Sometimes, numb hands can be accompanied by a tingling or stinging sensation. Numbness can be felt in one or both the hands and also in the fingers. There can be various reasons behind this condition, ranging from minor conditions like, keeping the hands in the same position for a long time to serious health problems like, stroke and diabetes.

Numbness in Hands

Causes
Numbness in hands can develop gradually or all of a sudden, and it may be accompanied by some additional symptoms like tingling or burning sensation, pain and weakness in the hands. The conditions that are more commonly found to be associated with such an unusual sensation are:

• Keeping the arms and hands in a single position for a long time, or inactivity can be termed as one of the most common, but minor conditions that can cause hand numbness. This is more commonly observed in people having the habit of sleeping with the hands rested under the head or pillow.
• Any kind of nerve injury or nerve impingement in the neck region can produce the sensation of numbness and tingling in the hands.
• Interruption of the blood supply to the hands, especially when the hands are kept above the level of heart can also be responsible for causing numb fingers and hands.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome is the condition, characterized by compression of a nerve in the carpal tunnel, which is located in the wrist. People with this disorder can often experience numbness in hands while sleeping, or after they wake up in the morning.
• Another condition is Raynaud's syndrome or phenomenon, that can cause numbness in the extremities of the body like, hands, fingers and feet. It is caused by the constriction of the blood vessels in the extremities of the body, especially when exposed to extreme cold and stress.
• Many times hand numbness can be a sign of impending stroke, especially when it occurs all of a sudden and is accompanied by symptoms like sharp pain in the arms.
• If you usually get numbness in your limbs while cycling, then it can be ulnar neuropathy, which is caused by an injury of the ulnar nerve. It can result from the direct pressure applied on the ulnar nerve while gripping the handlebar of the cycle. The condition is also known as 'Cyclist's Palsy'.
• Apart from these, hand numbness can be a sign of some other conditions including, diabetes, deficiency of vitamin B12, seizures, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, herniated disc, migraines and an under active thyroid gland.

Diagnosis and Treatment
Its treatment would require a detailed evaluation of the symptoms, as well as the medical history of the patients. Physicians usually carry out the diagnosis with the help of thorough neurological examinations, electromyography, thyroid function test, cold stimulation test, nerve biopsy, nerve conduction velocity test, MRI and CT scan of the head and the spine, angiogram, myelography and X-ray of the affected area. The results of these tests would help to identify the underlying conditions and thereafter, decide upon the course of treatment. If numb hands are not caused by any major health problem, then the symptom can be alleviated with some simple measures like, rest and correction of sleeping position. In the long run, exercises and physical therapy can help to manage the condition.

However, if numb hands is a symptom of some serious health conditions, then different treatment options would be required to address the condition. So, proper evaluation of hand numbness is of utmost importance to find out, and then address the underlying causes. Therefore, consider consulting your physician if you are suffering from numbness in hands for a prolonged time period.