You may unknowingly sleep with your wrist bent, your elbow compressed, or your arm trapped underneath your body.

After remaining in that position for a while, you may wake up with a hand that feels:

Usually, the sensation improves after you change position and restore normal pressure to the nerve.

This type of numbness is generally temporary.

However, if you wake up with numb hands frequently, don’t automatically assume you’re simply sleeping awkwardly.

Repeated nighttime numbness can sometimes be associated with conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome or other nerve compression problems.

2. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Is a Common Cause

One of the best-known causes of hand and finger numbness is carpal tunnel syndrome.

The carpal tunnel is a narrow passageway in the wrist through which the median nerve travels.

When pressure builds around this nerve, symptoms can develop in the hand.

Typical symptoms include:

The numbness often affects the:

If your hands are going numb, here’s what it means… See more