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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Why am I experiencing numbness in my hands?

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    Back & Neck Pain Pain
    I am experiencing numbness in hands especially at night which wakes me - but sometimes if I have my arms raised above my head- what could be causing this
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    Sunil Mulay

    Massage Therapist

    Sunil is a professional remedial massage therapist with a deep interest in the functioning of the human body’s structural systems, and the conditions that are … View Profile

    Is this pain in your hands constant throughout the night, or does it just come on when you are in certain positions? Is it worse in one hand than the other? When did this come on? Slowly, or after a certain incident?
    Numbness in the hands is very often due to a nerve impingement in your neck or further down, deep in the shoulder area. The fact that it comes on more when you raise your arms, suggests that there may be impingement in your shoulder/chest area (called the thoracic outlet).
    You should probably visit a doctor, osteopath or physiotherapist, or an experienced remedial massage therapist (who has knowledge in this area) to assess the likely causes.
    You may need specific exercise training to reduce any muscle imbalances which may be leading to postureal issues that could be in turn leading to the nerve impingment.
    All the best.

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    Tina Garrett

    Occupational Therapist (OT)

    Well Now Health Solutions offers high quality occupational therapy services to the adult population in Gympie and the surrounding regions. Our occupational therapy services aim … View Profile

    As Sunil correctly identified, most commonly the cause will be nerve entrapment or impingement.  If it is more frequently experienced in your hands at night, and is in the area of the thumb, index and middle finger, you could consider carpal tunnel syndrome.  There is are simple tests for this, Phalen or Reverse Phalen test for carpal tunnel, which you will be able to find online and apply.
    As a general rule, if the pain and numbess are on the radial side (thumb, index and half of middle finger) it is usually related to the median nerve.  If it is on the little finger side, it is usually ulnar nerve involvement.
    It is best to have this looked at by a health professional, such as osteopath, physiotherapist, doctor, who can do some testing to determine the cause.
    Regards
    Tina Garrett
    Occupational Therapist

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    Dr Danny Diab

    Chiropractor

    Dr Danny Diab is situated at Proactive Spine & Sports Medicine in Narellan NSW. His clinical interests extend far beyond the traditional neck and back … View Profile

    As mentioned above the most common cause of numbness in the hand is nerve irritation or compression.

    You should visit a chiropractor or health care provider to perfom a thorough assessment/examination to determine WHERE the compression is occuring.

    The neck is a very common cause, as the nerves travelling down into the arms and hands originate in the neck. Other common locations are the forearm (Pronator teres) or the wrist (carpal tunnel).

    In my experince I have found that many patient with numbnesss/tingling into the hands/arms have issues in all the areas mentioned above, and correcting all aspects gives them the greatest relief from their symptoms.

    Correcting any muscle imbalance, work and sleep posture, nutrition etc may also help with your symptoms.

    Hope this helps

    Dr Danny Diab - Chiropractor Camden

    www.proactivespine.com.au

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    Dr Daryl Ansell

    Chiropractor

    The cause of numbness in the hand is usually nerve irritation or compression of the nerve supplying this area somewhere in its path from the spine to the hand. This is the first challange, finding the actual site of nerve irrritation.

    The most likely area given your description is the cervical spine or wrist however your thoracic outlet is still a possibility.

    Clinically you then need to evaluate whether there are other biomechanical/postural issues that underpin the acute nerve iritation.

    Go to a good qualified health practitioner who can evaluate your issues properly and come up with a working diagnosis and treatment plan to attempt to correct your problems and relieve your symptoms.

    You may need to also evaluate many other aspects of your life including pillows nutrition work enviroment to name a few to get to the bottom of your problems.

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