If you wake up with numbness in your hand, what should you check?

If the wrist remains bent for a long time while sleeping, the nerve passing through the wrist may become compressed, causing numbness in the thumb, index, and middle fingers that wakes you from sleep. It is important to distinguish whether the sensation improves after shaking out your hand, and whether the numbness affects the entire hand or is limited to a specific finger.

We also check whether you experience numbness or a dull sensation while using the keyboard and mouse during the day or when gripping objects.

• If I shake my hand after waking up from numbness at night, it improves.
• Numbness is mainly felt in the thumb, index finger, and middle finger.
• Buttoning clothes or using chopsticks feels less coordinated
• Frequently dropping objects
• Numbness worsens after bending the wrist or repeated use.
• The little finger side tingles, and the sensation varies with neck movement.

Numbness on the side of the little finger may be related to nerves in the elbow or neck rather than the wrist, so it is important to distinguish the distribution of numbness.

If the muscles under the thumb noticeably shrink or hand strength weakens rapidly accompanied by numbness, it is necessary to check for the possibility that nerve compression is progressing. Even when numbness occurs simultaneously in both hands and feet, one should not assume it is solely a problem of the wrists.

If pain persists after falling and supporting yourself with your hand, or if your fingers become pale or cold, you need prompt medical attention.

We examine the fingers where numbness occurs, the night/day pattern, and whether repetitive movements or trauma are present. Compares wrist flexion/extension and rotation, finger movement, grip strength, and pinch strength.

If there is sensory loss, we also examine whether the tingling changes with movement of the elbow and neck to identify areas where nerves may be irritated.

Chuna manual therapy may be considered when fracture and infection have been ruled out and management of connected movement and muscle function of the wrist, elbow, and shoulder is needed. The goal is not to forcefully bend the wrist.

At night, adjusting your posture to prevent severe wrist flexion may be helpful. If numbness and muscle weakness persist, consider nerve examination and consultation with other medical institutions.