Numb fingertips while pregnant

Pregnancy: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome | Kaiser Permanente

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Overview

Tingling, numbness, and pain in the hands are common during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. These problems are usually caused by carpal tunnel syndrome, and they usually go away after pregnancy.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a specific group of symptoms that can include tingling, numbness, weakness, or pain in the fingers, thumb, hand, and occasionally in the arm. These symptoms occur when there is pressure on the median nerve within the wrist.

The carpal tunnel is a small space or "tunnel" in the wrist formed by the wrist bones (carpal bones) and a ligament (transverse carpal ligament). The median nerve and several tendons pass through the carpal tunnel from the forearm to the hand. The median nerve controls some movements of the thumb, and this nerve supplies feeling to most of the thumb and to the index finger, middle finger, and part of the ring finger.

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when a combination of health conditions and activities puts pressure on the median nerve as it passes through the carpal tunnel in your wrist. Anything that decreases the amount of space in the carpal tunnel, increases the amount of tissue in the tunnel, or increases the sensitivity of the median nerve can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

The swelling that is common in pregnancy can crowd structures in the tunnel and lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, especially when combined with forceful or repetitive hand and finger movement or the use of vibrating equipment.

If your symptoms are not severe, expect your health professional to recommend nonsurgical treatment to see whether symptoms improve. Nonsurgical treatment includes:

Changing or avoiding activities that may be causing symptoms, and taking frequent breaks from repetitive tasks.
Wearing a wrist splint to keep your wrist straight, usually just at night. See an illustration of a wrist splint.
Doing exercises to stretch and strengthen the muscles in the hand and arm.
Learning ways to protect your joints as you go through your daily activities.

Unless carpal tunnel symptoms become intolerable, a pregnant woman should delay surgery until after childbirth. After delivery, symptoms often disappear without treatment when pregnancy-related fluid buildup is relieved.

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Carpal tunnel pregnancy: What to do about numb hands pregnancy

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy is marked by numb hands, tingling in the fingers, and pain in the wrists, hands, and arms. The condition is common among pregnant women because of the swelling that happens when you're expecting. The good news? You can usually find relief by making minor lifestyle changes, such as taking breaks from working on your computer, or any other activity that requires repetitive hand movements.

What is carpal tunnel?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is one of the most common causes of numbness, tingling, pain or a dull ache in the fingers, hands, wrists, and arms. It happens when the median nerve – a major nerve in the hand that travels through the wrist and arm – is squeezed or compressed.

And pregnant women, especially those who make repetitive hand movements, such as flexing and extending the wrists, while doing things like working on a computer, are more prone to carpal tunnel because of the swelling that occurs in the hands and wrists.

The excess fluid that collects in the tissues of the hands and wrists can compress the median nerve, causing numb hands during pregnancy. Carpal tunnel pregnancy can come and go, but symptoms are often worse at night because many people sleep with their wrists bent.

Carpal tunnel syndrome in pregnancy can start any time, but it's more likely to begin or worsen during the second or third trimester – when swelling can develop. Carpal tunnel syndrome usually affects both hands. Some women may suspect they have carpal tunnel, but actually have de Quervain's tendinosis, or swelling of the thumb tendons. This condition is treated similarly to carpal tunnel, but you will need to talk with your doctor about your options.

What causes carpal tunnel during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, women are more prone to swelling because of the increase in blood volume to support the baby. Swelling increases the pressure in the blood vessels and tissues throughout the body, including those in the hands, wrists, and arms. This results in crowding of the nerves and ligaments, like the carpal tunnel.

Because the median nerve provides feeling in the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers, you may have numb hands with carpal tunnel. If you do work that involves repetitive hand movement, like typing on a computer, try to take rest breaks and stretch your hands, wrists and arms throughout the day.

How can I relieve numb hands during pregnancy, and any other symptoms I may experience?

In addition to numbness, tingling, and pain, other carpal tunnel pregnancy symptoms are feeling a burning sensation in the wrists and hands and weakened grip strength or loss of finger dexterity. When this happens, you might find it difficult to do push and pull movements, open jars, or pick up small objects with your fingers.

To relieve discomfort, try to identify what activities tend to cause or aggravate carpal tunnel syndrome for you, and limit those activities during pregnancy as much as you can, especially activities where your wrist is in the same position for a long time. Doing yoga can improve hand strength and may relieve your symptoms.

You can also adjust your workstation:

Change the height of your desk chair so your wrists don't bend downward as you type on your computer.
Use an ergonomic keyboard or mouse.
Take short breaks to move your arms and stretch your hands.
Use a keyboard pad with wrist support.

If symptoms bother you at night:

Avoid sleeping on your hands and try to keep your wrists straight.
If you wake up with pain, try gently shaking your hands until the pain or numbness goes away.

If you don’t notice any changes to your condition with these adjustments, see your doctor. They may suggest you wear a wrist splint with a metal bar to keep your wrist from moving in different directions. However, it allows you to move your fingers so you can carry on with everyday tasks. A wrist splint may also help with relieving any swelling in the hands and wrists, allowing the median nerve to relax and heal.

For immediate pain relief, ask your doctor about using over-the-counter topical or anti-inflammatory pain medications that are safe for pregnancy (don’t take any medications without consulting your doctor first). Just remember that these medications don’t actually resolve the issue; they just help you feel better temporarily.

In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend occupational therapy, where you work with a physical therapist to do hand stretches, wrist-strengthening exercises, massage techniques. and nerve gliding. And in rare cases, your doctor may suggestion steroid injections if your condition is severe.

Carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms usually resolve on their own after pregnancy, when the swelling subsides. However, symptoms may linger for some women, especially those who are breastfeeding. The median nerve may also be exacerbated from carrying, feeding, and changing the baby.

If symptoms persist after your baby is born, or if your symptoms are severe (meaning you have constant numbness, muscle weakness, or loss of sensation), be sure to mention it to your healthcare provider at one of your postpartum visits so you can get a referral to a specialist.

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy: Can I prevent it?

There’s not much you can do to prevent carpal tunnel pregnancy because of the natural increase in blood volume and fluid retention. However, you can help reduce the stress on hands and wrists by taking frequent rest breaks throughout the day from repetitive movement and alternate hands if you’re able to.

As mentioned earlier, if you work at a desk all day, you can adjust the height of your chair so your wrists don’t bend, try using an ergonomic keyboard or mouse, and you can experiment with placing keyboard pad with wrist support at your workstation for extra support.

Get moving throughout the day to increase blood flow and relieve tense areas of the hand and wrist. Try doing wrist stretches, such as a wrist extension and wrist flexion. The wrist extension stretch, for instance, involves straightening your arm and bending your wrist back with the opposite hand as if you’re telling someone to “stop.”

Because other health conditions, such as hypothyroidism, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause inflammation in the body, they may contribute to carpal tunnel syndrome so talk to your doctor about the appropriate treatment for you.

Will having carpal tunnel during pregnancy affect my pregnancy or baby?

Carpal tunnel during pregnancy won’t actually affect your pregnancy or baby, but it will affect your hand and arm mobility and your ability to carry out everyday tasks.

That said, severe or sudden swelling during pregnancy is a sign of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy and is marked by high protein in the urine. If left untreated, preeclampsia can cause serious complications, including intrauterine growth restriction, low amniotic fluid, placental abruption, and premature birth.

So, if you notice severe or sudden swelling in the face, feet, ankles, and hands, call your doctor right away to get a proper diagnosis. In addition to severe or sudden swelling, other preeclampsia symptoms are severe headaches, vision changes, upper abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, and shortness of breath.

When will carpal tunnel during pregnancy go away?

Carpal tunnel syndrome usually resolves after giving birth as the excess fluid and blood leaves your body, but if you’re still experiencing symptoms, check in with your doctor.

For those who still have severe swelling, it could be a sign of preeclampsia, which can also develop after giving birth.

Note that carpal tunnel syndrome does cause nerve damage, so don’t ignore the problem and make sure to seek medical help to prevent further issues.

When should I call my doctor about carpal tunnel during pregnancy?

If you experience carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms, you should contact your doctor as soon as possible to get a proper diagnosis. Explain your symptoms to your doctor and keep a record of when they started and how often they occur.

You'll likely be referred to an orthopedist to have an ultrasound, X-ray, or MRI scan to get a better picture of what’s happening in your hands and wrists. Electrophysiological tests also help doctors determine how well your median nerve is working and whether it’s experiencing too much pressure. And if you are diagnosed with carpal tunnel, your doctor can recommend the best treatment for you.

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what to do about it and how not to miss the body's signals about the presence of the disease

Table of contents

Causes and symptoms of hand numbness during pregnancy
What is dangerous numbness of hands and possible consequences
Prevention of numbness
Folk remedies for numbness
Cucumber tincture
Milk trays
Pumpkin Puree Wraps
Lemon and garlic tincture
Camphor ointment for the morning
Hand shower
Copper bracelets
Drawing conclusions

Pregnancy makes its own adjustments to the usual rhythm of life. Sometimes, a woman's body leads unexpectedly, and gives out symptoms that have never happened before. It arouses interest, and disturbs. One of these symptoms is that during pregnancy, hands become numb during sleep. Let's look into this issue, and understand whether the symptom is dangerous, and how to remove it.

Causes and symptoms of hand numbness during pregnancy

Do your hands go numb during sleep during pregnancy? The most common cause is circulatory problems. Nerve impulses transmit a signal of a lack of blood, and save the limbs by minimizing possible movements. However, during pregnancy, a few more are added to the characteristic cause:

Hormonal changes in the body.

A woman's body receives a powerful charge of hormones, which, on the one hand, makes bearing a fetus possible in principle, and on the other hand, makes adjustments to well-being, processes occurring in the body, appearance, mood, etc. Including hormones can cause hands to go numb during sleep during pregnancy. nine0003

Severe swelling.

A rare woman can avoid swelling during pregnancy, numb hands during sleep due to swelling. The accumulation of water leads to increased pressure on the vessels, which complicates blood circulation.

Weight set.

Another common cause of sleep numbness during pregnancy. All mothers already know that it is important to control their weight throughout pregnancy. This is not so much an aesthetic issue as a health issue. The load on the body is already increased, and if obesity of any degree occurs, the vessels reduce their ability to conduct blood correctly. nine0003

Tunnel syndrome.

Tunnel syndrome is characterized by compression of the median nerve. Because of this, nerve conduction is disturbed, and you feel that your hands go numb during pregnancy, in particular fingers and hands. Along with numbness comes a burning sensation, tingling, redness and swelling.

Vitamin deficiency.

Iron deficiency is also a common cause. This is one of the main trace elements that mothers need to replenish from the first days of pregnancy. Its lack is characterized by weakness, fatigue, and a decrease in hemoglobin. This leads to the fact that the hands go numb during sleep during pregnancy. nine0003

Less commonly, osteochondrosis and chronic pathologies of various types can be added to the causes. In contrast, you can note the reason that lies on the surface - you sleep in an uncomfortable position, because of which the tissues do not receive enough blood. Therefore, if the numbness of the hands occurred for the first time, do not panic. If possible, contact a gynecologist with this question, and most importantly, follow the dynamics of the onset of symptoms.

The danger of hand numbness and possible consequences

The mere fact that hands go numb during pregnancy is not dangerous. This is an uncomfortable symptom that can be accompanied by both a slight tingling sensation and quite noticeable pain. However, what is behind this symptom can bring serious consequences. nine0003

We have already mentioned above that if your hands go numb during sleep during pregnancy once or from time to time, do not worry, this may be due to an incorrect posture during sleep. Constant and recurrent pain can signal the presence of a disease that needs to be treated.

Leaving your arm numb during sleep unattended during pregnancy, you run the risk of exacerbating a particular disease that will lead to pregnancy complications, negatively affect the baby or negatively affect the birth process. nine0003

Prevention of numbness

If hands become numb during pregnancy, preventive measures can help. Moreover, these recommendations are useful for pregnant women in general. By introducing some changes in your usual diet and lifestyle, you can achieve significant results in the regulation of your health.

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Meals.

First of all, it is necessary to remove spicy and salty foods from the diet. It is also worth completely abandoning sausages and canned food. Other products, on the contrary, should be introduced into the diet:

Protein products. They act as a building material for the circulatory system, muscles, improve the functionality of cells. In addition, the protein is simply necessary for the baby for proper development.
Foods rich in calcium. With all the benefits of dairy products, make sure that what you eat is actually made from milk. It is also worth monitoring the reaction of your body. He should be comfortable digesting glucose.
Also on a regular basis in the diet should be foods rich in magnesium and potassium. nine0006

Drinking.

Not only what you eat is important, but also what you drink. The diet should contain exclusively purified mineral water and herbal teas. Everything else should be left for later. At the same time, it is important to keep the water balance. Drink the correct amount of liquid, calculated according to your individual needs.

Physical activity.

The reason that hands go numb during pregnancy can be physical activity. Both their excess and their shortcomings negatively affect. So, you need to completely refuse to carry heavy objects, bags on one shoulder, and minimize the time spent sitting. What is worth doing? nine0003

Wear a support brace.
Walk outdoors more often.
Do pregnancy exercises before bed, go to yoga or go swimming.

Additional tips for preventing numb hands during pregnancy.

Also introduce some good habits into your life that will help relieve unpleasant symptoms during pregnancy:

Completely give up uncomfortable clothes that squeeze. Of course, pregnancy is not a reason to look sloppy, but still, during this quivering period, the main thing is your comfort and the health of the baby. nine0006
If your hands go numb during pregnancy, choose an orthopedic mattress and pillow that is comfortable for you, purchase a special pillow for pregnant women (especially in the later stages).
Try to avoid hypothermia.
Get a massage.

But, the most important advice if your hands go numb during pregnancy is to consult a doctor. Perhaps the numbness of the hands is just a discomfort that will accompany you during one trimester, or even the entire pregnancy. Perhaps this is a signal from the body about a disease that needs to be treated today. nine0003

Folk remedies to combat numbness

To speed up the process of getting rid of an unpleasant symptom, or remove it "here and now", you can supplement the doctor's recommendations with folk methods. However, it is worth remembering that this is only an auxiliary part of the treatment. Traditional medicine offers safe and effective methods to relieve hand numbness during pregnancy, but with constant numbness, it is important to find and eliminate the cause.

Cucumber tincture

The tincture will help relieve the numbness syndrome and eliminate unpleasant indications. Its disadvantage is long preparation. The tincture is prepared for 10 days. You need to chop a few pickles and a couple of red pepper pods. All this is done with vodka and stored in glass containers for 10 days. Infusion should take place in a cold place, so it is worth placing the jar in the refrigerator. As time passes, use the tincture to rub your hands before going to bed. nine0003

Milk baths

If your hands go numb during pregnancy, an effective and pleasant treatment is milk baths. To do this, take about a liter of milk, water in equal amounts, 50 grams of honey and 400 grams of salt. Mix all this in a saucepan and simmer over low heat for half an hour. After the mixture has cooled, dip your hands in it for 15 minutes. The full course consists of 14 procedures at bedtime.

Pumpkin puree wraps

Helps prevent nighttime numbness and pumpkin. To do this, boiled pumpkin porridge should be put on your hands in a thick layer, put on cellophane gloves. So it is necessary to spend half an hour before going to bed. After half an hour, wash your hands in warm running water. nine0003

Lemon-garlic tincture

In four days you can prepare an effective non-alcoholic tincture for oral consumption. Lemon zest + an equal share of garlic are poured into half a liter of water and left for 4 days. After you need to drink 50 ml. potions before bed.

Camphor ointment in the morning

If your hands go numb during pregnancy, and in the morning you feel unpleasant consequences, such as tingling, redness, take camphor ointment, eucalyptus essential oil and rub it well on your hands with soft massage movements. nine0003

Contrast hand shower

An immediate and easy way to relieve the symptoms of numb hands during pregnancy is a contrast hand shower. One has only to hold hands under hot-cold-hot water. However, it is worth remembering the ongoing pregnancy. This leaves an imprint on the permissible temperatures. At the same time, the effectiveness of the method may decrease.

Copper bracelets

Unproven medicine also recommends the use of copper bracelets. By putting them on your hands at night, you will get rid of numbness on the first night. How much it helps when hands go numb in a dream during pregnancy has not been studied, but this method does not cause harm, so you can try folk wisdom from your own experience. nine0003

Drawing conclusions

Summing up, I would like to remind you that such an unpleasant, but seemingly unimportant symptom, is the reason for visiting a doctor. Especially during pregnancy. It is also important to remember that traditional medicine is most effective in conjunction with the official one. If your hands go numb during pregnancy, follow the doctor's recommendations, take prescribed medications and supplement them with your favorite folk method. Be healthy!

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90,000 why your hands are numb, fingers during pregnancy: what to do

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Updated 26 Jan 2022

Content:

Hand numbness during sleep

What to do next

Numbness or tingling in the hands is not normal. To get rid of this symptom will help a comprehensive examination of the body and the passage of appropriate treatment. A pregnant woman should be especially wary of such complaints, since a short-term loss of sensation in the limbs can be a harbinger of a dangerous condition. That is why if your hands go numb during pregnancy, you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible. nine0003

If your hands become numb during pregnancy, you should immediately consult a doctor

Numbness of hands during sleep

At first, there may be complaints of a slight tingling in the hands after waking up or at night, then the discomfort becomes more pronounced. Loss of sensation is limited to the fingers, the wrist area, or extends up to the shoulder.

Unpleasant sensations are sometimes accompanied by pain in the upper limb, and it may be unilateral or bilateral. Because of this, sleep worsens, the woman wakes up early and can no longer fall asleep. The most common and harmless cause is an uncomfortable posture. In this case, the discomfort is one-sided (for example, only the right hand is affected). nine0003

In the presence of a pathological process, there are complaints of tingling and numbness in the hands during the daytime, the discomfort becomes more pronounced.

You should not try to cope with the described symptom on your own or wait until the painful sensations disappear on their own.

It is necessary to contact a specialist and describe the complaints as accurately as possible: the nature of the discomfort, their duration, frequency of occurrence, exact localization and time of day at which numbness most often bothers. nine0003

It is obligatory to indicate whether the left arm or the right arm is taken away, whether tingling occurs in the lower extremities. A short-term decrease in sensitivity in the hands may be accompanied by blue and cold skin, burning, pain. It is important to accurately describe all disturbing phenomena.

Particular attention should be paid to such a moment: if the hands go numb during pregnancy, but this was not observed before, then something is definitely wrong in the body. Perhaps the woman has hidden edema that causes a similar symptom. The causes of discomfort are varied, and to identify them, you first need to contact an obstetrician-gynecologist and a therapist, if necessary, to other specialists. nine0003

More often numb hands during pregnancy in the 3rd trimester

A common mistake of pregnant women is to write off various kinds of unpleasant sensations for such common diseases and conditions as vegetative-vascular dystonia, osteochondrosis, hormonal changes, banal fatigue, physical inactivity, etc. Therefore, if in a dream or at any other time of the day in the forearm , shoulder, wrist and other places there is a burning sensation and tingling, you need to get an examination as soon as possible. Self-diagnosis is unacceptable, especially for women in position. nine0003

If the cause is fatigue, weight gain in the 2nd or 3rd trimester, drug therapy is not required. Compliance with the doctor's recommendations for lifestyle correction will eliminate the symptom in which hands become numb during pregnancy. It is strictly forbidden to take any drugs for other purposes.

There are several circumstances that explain why hands become numb during pregnancy. Sensations such as tingling and numbness should not be confused. In the latter case, we are talking about the loss of sensation in the limb, most often for a short period of time. In this case, numbness may be preceded by pain, burning and a feeling of "needles" in fingers hands or feet. In most cases, this is caused by a pinched nerve.

Possible causes of discomfort:

Hidden swelling. In pregnant women, this is the most likely cause of a decrease in the sensitivity of the limbs. Fluid retention in tissues leads to compression of blood vessels, nerve formations. At the same time, blood microcirculation deteriorates. Puffiness develops against the background of the influence of progesterone - the hormone of pregnancy. Edema poses a serious threat to the health of the mother and fetus, so you need to weigh yourself daily and record the results in a notebook. Only a doctor can correctly determine the treatment tactics for such pregnant women. nine0006
A feeling of tingling, burning, soreness in the hands is sometimes caused by a lack of vitamins and minerals, especially vitamin B group. This cause is rarely considered as the main one, so it is necessary to tell a doctor about the nature of nutrition at a doctor's appointment. Insufficient intake of foods rich in potassium, magnesium, calcium can lead to impaired sensitivity in the limbs and convulsions. Diet correction does not always make it possible to cover the deficiency of these substances, therefore, some pregnant women are recommended to take vitamin-mineral complexes. Only a doctor should choose the right drug. nine0006
Uncomfortable bed or mattress, wrong position during night rest. The right or left hand does not work due to the fact that it is squeezed for some time. Providing a normal, comfortable place to sleep will prevent the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms in the future. In order to eliminate the feeling of numbness in a squeezed limb, it is enough to stretch it a little.
Pinching of the cervical spine. This occurs not only because of an uncomfortable posture, but also because of an incorrectly selected pillow - too high or low. nine0006
Incorrect organization of the workplace during constant work at the computer. Such people often complain not only of periodic tingling and numbness in the limbs, but also of pain in various parts of the body. If pain and burning appear only in the hand, most likely there is a tunnel syndrome. It occurs due to constant work with the keyboard and mouse. A monotonous monotonous load on the same segments of the limb leads to pinching of the median nerve, which causes pain in the fingers. nine0006
Intervertebral hernia, cervical osteochondrosis, diseases of the joints. According to statistics, osteochondrosis is diagnosed in every fifth middle-aged person, and at first the disease does not manifest itself in any way, and as the pathological process progresses, symptoms such as numbness, tingling in the limbs, pain in the back, shoulders, and arms appear. The diagnosis is confirmed by the presence of specific radiological signs. Pregnant women do not undergo X-ray examination, but consultation with a neurologist is still required. Infringement of the cervical nerve is accompanied by pain in the shoulders, chest and limbs, a feeling of numbness of the fourth or fifth fingers. nine0006
Chronic diseases. In pregnant women, immunity decreases, which leads to an exacerbation of chronic pathologies. When visiting a doctor, you need to tell in detail about all the existing diseases. Violation of sensitivity may occur due to metabolic disorders, inflammatory or neoplastic processes.

Not always numbness and tingling in the hands appears due to the pathological process. Significant weight gain, psycho-emotional instability, overwork, insufficient rest and other adverse factors - all this can cause discomfort. nine0003

Most often the pain is in the right hand . This is due to the fact that this hand is most involved in performing daily activities at home or at work. A simple warm-up will help prevent overstrain and the appearance of discomfort. Between cooking, cleaning, working at the computer, you need to do light gymnastics - rotational movements of the hands, spreading the arms, etc.

Should be alert if pain and tingling occur in the left arm and shoulder. In some patients, these symptoms are associated with problems in the cardiovascular system. If, at the same time, chest pains are also disturbing, you should immediately contact a cardiologist. nine0003

why fingers go numb: the cause is nerve compression

What to do next

If the described symptoms appear, you should first contact your general practitioner, and also report the discomfort to the obstetrician-gynecologist who manages the pregnancy. The therapist will draw up a plan for the necessary studies and, if necessary, refer to other doctors: a neurologist, endocrinologist, cardiologist.

The key is to find the cause of the numbness as soon as possible and treat it if necessary. Most often, it is enough to eliminate adverse factors (uncomfortable bed, poor diet, mental and physical overload). nine0003

Light herbal sedation may be needed. Only a doctor can choose a remedy suitable for a pregnant woman. Some are also prescribed external medicines in the form of ointments, gels.

Prevention recommendations: