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My hands get numb many times during the night and wake me.

Sent to Health Experts November 11, 2006 7:57 a.m.

My hands get numb many times during the night and wake me. I was once told that it wasn't carpel tunnel syndrome and that I was turning my hands in at the wrist as a stress mechanism such as teeth grinding. I wore wrist guards while I slept for awhile and the numbness decreased but they still would occasionally get numb. Usually the entire hand gets numb not just the median nerve fingers. I have been a dental hygienist for 8 years. However these symptoms started before I was a dental hygienist. Many years ago I broke my left wrist and had a collies fracture. I had to do therapy and had numbness in the median nerve for some time but that all healed. I am 56 years old. I see a chiropractor once a week for lower back pain and neck pain. I also have knee pain but I use to be pretty active with dance and was an aerobic instructor. I do believe I have some arthritis of the knees and possibly the wrist. I just want the numbness to go away and to make sure it is not something serious.

Optional Information:
Female , Age: 56

Already Tried:
wrist guards at night

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Status: Closed Value: $15

Answer
November 11, 2006 8:20 a.m. (22 minutes and 28 seconds later)

REPLIED

Hi,
The most common cause of numbness of hands is carpel tunnel syndrome. This has been ruled out in your case as you have already consulted someone for it. The other common causes can be -

systemic causes like diabetes or under active thyroid.
It can be an imbalance of sodium, potassium - seen in cases of dehydration. If you are exercising in the evening and not taking enough salt and fluids after the exercise, then this might be the cause.
Calcium deficiency - seen in cases of hypothyroidism.
a simple Vitamin B12 deficiency.
toxins like tobacco and alcohol.

I would advise you to take a good Vitamin B12 supplement, take lots of fluids and get investigations like blood sugar levels and thyroid function test done to rule out diabetes and hypothyroidism. If still after this there is no improvement, then I would advise you to consult a neurologist for more detailed investigations.

Please ACCEPT the reply (by pressing the GREEN accept button), and give a BONUS if it was useful. If you need more information, just let me know.
Regards
Dr. Gupta

Gaurav Gupta -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 4597 Health Accepts
Physician, online medical researcher, & will try to listen and understand you

Reply to Gaurav Gupta
Sent November 11, 2006 8:25 a.m. (5 minutes and 3 seconds later)

I have heard that there is a blood test for carpel tunnel but no one has done this for me. Is this true. Should I ask for a test?

Customer (name blocked for privacy)

Answer
November 11, 2006 8:31 a.m. (5 minutes and 34 seconds later)

ACCEPTED

Normally Thyroid function test is advised in suspected cases of Carpal tunnel syndrome, because this can occur both in underactive and overactive thyroid gland. Other than that there are no blood tests to rule out Carpal tunnel syndrome. Normally a diagnosis is made based on neurological examination and if need be nerve conduction tests.

Please ACCEPT the reply (by pressing the GREEN accept button), and give a BONUS if it was useful. If you need more information, just let me know.
Regards
Dr. Gupta

Gaurav Gupta -- Doctor (MD) -- 97% Positive Feedback on 4597 Health Accepts
Physician, online medical researcher, & will try to listen and understand you

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