And in some situations, sudden numbness—particularly when it occurs together with facial drooping, difficulty speaking, severe weakness, or other neurological symptoms can be an emergency.
Here’s what you should know.
What Does It Mean When Your Hands Go Numb?
Hand numbness is usually related to changes in how nerves send sensory signals.
Nerves carry information between the brain, spinal cord, and the rest of the body. When a nerve is compressed, irritated, damaged, or affected by another medical condition, you may experience:
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Burning
- Pins-and-needles sensations
- Reduced sensitivity
- Electric or shooting sensations
- Weakness
Sometimes the problem originates directly in the hand or wrist.
In other cases, it begins farther up the arm or even in the neck.
This is why the location and pattern of numbness are so important.
1. You May Simply Be Sleeping on Your Arm
One of the most common explanations for temporary hand numbness is pressure on a nerve while you’re sleeping.
