You wake during the night and your hand is numb.
Maybe you've got pins and needles through your fingers, or you wake in the morning feeling like you need to shake your hand to get it feeling normal again.
So what's happening?
There are several possible causes of hand numbness, but one common culprit is carpal tunnel syndrome.
What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve comes under pressure at the wrist.
This nerve provides sensation to the thumb and several fingers and controls some of the muscles in the hand. Healthdirect
Symptoms can include:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Nerve pain
- Weakness
- Difficulty gripping things
And interestingly, symptoms can be worse at night. Healthdirect
Why Does It Feel Worse When You're Sleeping?
Your wrist position can influence pressure around the median nerve.
This is why one treatment your doctor may recommend is a wrist brace or splint that helps keep the wrist straight, particularly at night. Healthdirect
Is Repetitive Work a Factor?
It can be.
Healthdirect lists repetitive use of the wrist and hand — including use of vibrating tools — among possible contributors to carpal tunnel syndrome. Healthdirect
That makes this relevant to plenty of people, including:
- Tradies
- Gardeners
- Office workers
- People performing repetitive manual work
Can TENS Fix Carpal Tunnel?
This distinction is important.
TENS doesn't remove compression of the median nerve, so we shouldn't market it as a treatment for the underlying cause of carpal tunnel syndrome.
For someone experiencing wrist or hand pain, pain-management options should be discussed with their healthcare professional alongside appropriate treatment for the cause.
Don't Ignore Persistent Numbness
This isn't one of those symptoms I'd encourage people to simply manage indefinitely themselves.
Untreated carpal tunnel can worsen and potentially cause permanent nerve or muscle problems. Healthdirect recommends seeing your doctor if you have symptoms. Healthdirect
Gentle Takeaway
If you're repeatedly waking with numb, tingling or painful hands, don't assume you've simply “slept on it funny.”
Your body might be telling you something worth investigating.
Getting the cause identified early gives you a much better opportunity to manage it appropriately.
If you are interested in using TENS to assist with hand and wrist pain, we recommend our hand and body pack, perfect for instant relief.