Hand numbness during sleep

Fe_Princess

I have been having severe numbness on my right, non-cancer side (reduction). It wakes me up and keeps me awake. Standing up does not immediately relieve it either. I had a mammo last month and the scar tissue has grown. It feels like a hard lump with a smaller, soft bump behind it. I will go back next month to see if it has grown and if it has then get a MRI. I have a had numbness on both sides on and off but it is getting worse. I did not have rads, chemo and do not take Tamoxifen. I am normal weight, active, and do not have lymphedemia. Anyone out there have the same symptoms?

pupmom

It's probably something unrelated to cancer or your surgeries. I had hand numbness on Aromasin (a brace you can buy at Walmart fixed the problem), but you apparently are not on any anti-hormonals. My best guess is carpal tunnel. You should consult your doctors.

Anonymous

It sounds like you're pinching a nerve. If it only happens at night, pay attention to your wrist position. Years ago I had numbness caused by sleeping with my wrist bent too much. I wore a brace for some time, but then I switched to placing my hand under my pillow or under my head to keep my wrist straight. Even now I catch myself with my wrist in a bad position, but as long as it doesn't stay in that position too long, I have no numbness.

If it continues, check with your doctor. Physical therapy might help.

MTwoman

I agree with Serenity. I have had this off and on for several years, both sides alternately. It happens when my elbow or shoulder are in a restrictive position (like under my head or in a tight angle). I've had massage and acupuncture to help with the knots I get under my should blades. I've also had to go to an orthopedist as one side progressed to frozen shoulder. If you can't get relief by neutral sleeping positions (I tend to move back to my "bad" sleeping positions while I sleep ) then I'd go to see a medical professional for assessment.

Fe_Princess

Hi All and thanks for the replies,

How did you know you had frozen shoulder? It gets numb even when I am awake. If I am typing too long, on the phone, or have it elevated for longer than 5-10 mins it starts to go numb. I guess I should go to the doctor instead of just "wondering" about it.

bravepoint

I had the same thing start up about a month after rads and 10 days after starting on Femara but on my surgical side. I stopped the Femara but no change. My PCP sent me for a nerve conduction test which confirmed moderate carpal. I now wear a brace when I sleep which has helped a lot. It still tingles during the day and I get zaps during certain activities like driving!

Fe_Princess

Hi Bravepoint,

I will see my GP on Monday. It is getting worse by the night. I did not have any rads or chemo. I am perplexed at the reasoning behind it. It is making sleep a nightmare. I wake up at least a couple of times a night and cannot get the feeling back in my hand unless I get up and walk around. I am bonkers busy at work right now too. I am a dog walker!! How did you get diagnosed with carpal tunnel?

KBeee

I have had carpal tunnel syndrome and cubical tunnel syndrome. Both were diagnosed via EMG, which is a nerve conduction tedt

exercise_guru

I had an oophrecrony and reconstruction. 4 months later both my hands started going number a you described. I had only been on aeimidex like 3 or 4 weeks so I went off it and no change then after it would not resolve I had carpal tunnel surgery and dequervaines on the other side. It only fixed it about 80 percent. I have decreased grip strength as well and my hands go number if I ride my bike.

There are many women on hystersisters who had hysterectomies that the loss of estrogen caused what you are describing

I did not read of anyone resolving the condition without surgery. Women are more likely to get carpal tunnel anyway and the loss of estrogen can increase the odds.

I had to go to a neurologist and they did a test of nerve conduction. I tried sleeping with hand braces and I tried hand therapy and I tried water therapy. I couldn't try estrogen for obvious reasons and that isn't well studied anyway.

I did a search for loss of estrogen and carpal tunnel and found correlation but I apologize I didn't save the study.

bravepoint

I had the nerve conduction as well to diagnose carpal tunnel. I really don't want the surgery so am trying PT. The physiotherapist has given me stretches to do as she thinks the tingling in my hand is coming from higher up in my neck area. None of it has helped though after 3 months. I know have a cord in my pectoral (surgery side). When i do the massage and stretches for that issue, I get more tingling in my hand so I suspect it is all connected.

Fe_Princess

What is carpal surgery? Geez, it feels like it never ends!!

bravepoint

It's called carpal tunnel release:

"During open carpal tunnel release surgery, the transverse carpal ligament is cut, which releases pressure on the median nerve and relieves the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. An incision is made at the base of the palm of the hand."

Anonymous

Fe - Which part of your hand is numb? There are different nerves that can get pinched resulting in numbness. Before considering surgery, please try physical therapy.

I recommend nerve flossing to help relax any pinched nerve. It helped me with my sciatica that I've had for years. This is different than stretching that can further irritate nerves. A PT can help guide you though there are many videos online.

Fe_Princess

Hi SerenitySTAT,

I do not want anymore surgery. I had basel cell removed from my nose last summer and I have to go on the 7th to repair it because it did not heal correctly. I was hospitalized with staph infection after my last reconstruction. I had a lumbar fusion in 2009 so I understand sciatica...It is the first and middle fingers of my right hand. I just want to know what is causing it. I have a torn Patella so my hand is 2nd of the list. Do I need a specialist for nerve flossing?

Anonymous

That sounds like the median nerve is getting pinched somewhere. Do you have tight muscles anywhere? You should see your doctor for a proper evaluation. It could be carpal tunnel or something else.

https://www.spine-health.com/blog/getting-right-diagnosis-numb-fingers

In the meantime, this link has several videos on nerve flossing. Be sure to do them gently. Stop if your pain increases. You don't want to aggravate the nerve. It's better to do the movements a few times several times a day. A physical therapist can help with nerve flossing and can help with finding the cause of the numbness.

https://www.themassagespecialist.com/self-help/nerve-flossing-upper-body.html

At night, I recommend loosely wearing a wrist brace. Wearing a brace tightly for too long can cause other problems.

Anonymous

Also wear the brace when walking a dog. That might be what triggered the pain if you walk a dog that pulls. You might have repetitive injury anywhere along your arm.

Anonymous

And sleep on your back or on the side without hand numbness. Back is better.

CgC58

I am not sure where I fit in. Had trouble deciding where to post. Have had carpal tunnel symptoms before. Mastectomy surgery 3 years ago this coming June. Have severe carpal tunnel in both hands according to a neurological test. My left hand is worse so will be first. My right-side is my masectomy side. Two nodes were removed and was told no blood pressure, no needle pokes...ever. I am concerned about lymphedema. Did have some after surgery. I have at least 2 years to be able to retire and my current job is housekeeping at a hospital. Lots of squeezing of rags and gripping of mop handles. Anyone have carpal tunnel surgery in their surgery arm with no problems?

P.S. I am right handed

exercise_guru

I would try Myofascial release using the Barns method if there is a PT in your area. I have one that is also lymphadema trained and it has helped with my hand numbness signficantly. I would also add B12 sublingual as I do B12 shots every other week and that has helped. I did have carpal tunnel surgery after a dbl matectomy It only improved the numbness 50 percent and I lost strength in my hands. I certainly couldn't sqeeze rags now. I think some of my numbness is an effect from the Herceptin and Carboplatin along with the mulitple surgeries I had along with the double hysterectomy that removed my estrogen.

jennyunderthesun

wow! I get this too! I never connected it. I’m going to pay attention to what side it’s on in the future...

Marymc86

Sounds like carpal tunnel syndrome. I'm a Dental Hygienist and we tend to have that a lot. I had it and wearing a brace at night to keep my wrist straight really helped. Also, I used to sleep on my stomach with my arms under me. I broke that habit. And, you say you're active. Do you lift weights? Or, do you use a computer often? Both can exacerbate the problem.

Also, watch salt intake. It can cause your hands and wrists to swell, thereby pinching the nerve in your wrist.

Notice which fingers are numb. If it's the thumb and first 3 fingers, nerve in wrist is compressed—carpal tunnel. If it's the pinky and ring finger, probably a pinched nerve in your neck.

Hope this helps. I've suffered with both. Better now. I have noticed it giving me more trouble since nodes removed. Buildup of fluid. I’m addressing that now with a lymphedema PT and it’s helping.