Why do my hands keep falling asleep at night?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is the most common cause of hand numbness and pain:
It is caused by compression of the Median Nerve as it goes through the wrist, specifically the Carpal Tunnel hence the name Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.

A second possible reason (and probably the more likely one because of the specificity of the time you experience the sensation or rather the loss of sensation), is from nerve and or blood vessel compression in the effected limb from your sleeping positions.

Many people have this occur. Repositioning with pillows is one easily managed intervention.

It does sound like a circulation problem. If you sleep on your arm wrong then you are cutting off the blood flow. When the blood returns, the arm gets tingly and painful. If changing your sleep position doesn't help then you should go see a doctor.

The same thing happens to me every night. But its because I sleep on my arm.

quote:

Originally posted by Tree:
Why do my hands keep falling asleep at night?

This happens to me a lot, not only because I sleep on my arm at times, but also sometimes I sleep on my back with my hands up above my head on the pillow, which means they're above my heart. After a while, I suppose the blood flow to my hands slows down, and when they start to tingle, I wake up and shift positions. Could it be that you're sleeping on your hands or sleeping with your hands above your heart?

I too have this problen and what seems to ease the Problem is to put another pillow under the side on which you sleep. Or,Try out a "V" shaped pillow which Gives support in the same way. Not the skinny version which is is as thick as a draft excluder
www.westons.com/acatalog/pr20143.jpg
This one is priced @ £15.62 (US$30.11)
Though I do know I've seen them cheaper in the shops

One thing I haven't seen mentioned is Raynaud's phenomenon or syndrome.

quote:

Originally posted by frankvan:
One thing I haven't seen mentioned is Raynaud's phenomenon or syndrome.

Raynaud's Phenomenon or Syndrome COULD be the cause, but she isn't mentioning the classic triggers of emotional stress and cold.

Thanks for your help. I kind of doubt that it's Raynaud's Phenomenon cuz what I see is:

"Most often Raynaud's phenomenon affects the fingers and toes. It can also affect the ears and nose."

This affects my entire hand, not just my fingers, and happens to me only when I'm trying to sleep. It happend to me awhile back, but then stopped. That was perhaps a year ago. Now, it's started up again.

At first, I thought it was carpal tunnel, but it stopped. NOW, I'm wondering again.....

I don't sleep on my back with arms overhead. I sleep from side to side.

If you have a job that requires repetitive motion, it very well COULD be, but not necessarily. I, myself, have never gotten it with jobs that required VERY repetitive motion over long periods of time. Others have gotten it with much shorter durations of the same movement.

Each person is individual. There are fairly simple tests that can be formed to determine if that is the cause. If it is very troubling, see your doctor.

By the way, almost any sleeping position can lead to nerve/vessel compression. Not just over head 'limb storage' for want of a better term. LOL

You know Sid, you got me thinking. The last few weeks, or so, I've been having trouble keeping my hands warm. I've been wearing mittens while I drive to work and people thought that it was rather odd.

When I got to work, my hands were so cold that they weren't functioning properly and it took some time before I could warm them up.

there might be a problem in your cervical spinal nerves.

Thanks Saint Dan.

The last couple of days, I've had a pinching in the back of my neck and in the wrist of my left hand. My hands - maybe more like my fingers - fall asleep at nite, then during the day, I get this nerve-pinching sensation off and on. (More off than on, though).

It's annoying.