Numbing in fingers 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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MedBlog

Your Pregnancy Matters

October 20, 2020

Your Pregnancy Matters

Robyn Horsager-Boehrer, M. D. Obstetrics and Gynecology

Approximately 31% to 62% of pregnant patients have carpal tunnel syndrome.

Swelling – everywhere – is one of the most common symptoms of pregnancy. Patients often notice extra puffiness in their face, legs, and feet. But for some women, swelling manifests inside the wrist, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Approximately 4% of adults in the general population have carpal tunnel syndrome, but 31% to 62% of pregnant patients have it. Many patients notice symptoms after 30 weeks' gestation.

During pregnancy, your blood volume doubles. That extra fluid increases pressure and swelling in the blood vessels throughout your body. In tight spaces such as the carpal tunnel area of the wrist – through which nine tendons and one nerve pass – the swelling can compress the median nerve, which runs to the hand.

The median nerve gives sensation to the palm-side surface of thumb, index, and middle fingers, and half the ring finger. It's also responsible for helping to move the muscles in the hand that bend your fingers.

Nerve compression can cause pain, tingling, and numbness in the wrist and hand, which may increase when you're trying to sleep. Pregnancy may be the first time CTS symptoms arise or the last straw that causes a woman to see her doctor for ongoing symptoms.

The good news is that pregnancy-safe treatment is available, and symptoms typically subside for many patients after the baby arrives.

I've invited my colleague, Rupali Kumar, M.D., from UT Southwestern's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) team to discuss CTS symptoms and treatment options.

Carpal tunnel symptoms in pregnancy

Dr. Rupali Kumar

When the median nerve is compressed during pregnancy, symptoms present as they would in any patient:

● Numbness and tingling

● Burning sensation

● Pain in the wrist or hand

At the onset of CTS, symptoms may come and go. But when numbness or weakness occurs frequently or constantly, that's a potential sign of nerve damage.

In severe cases, patients may have weakened grip strength or decreased finger dexterity. For example, you might have trouble picking up small objects with your fingers, opening jars, or buttoning clothes.

Related reading: 5 weird pregnancy symptoms you might not know about

Diagnosing carpal tunnel in pregnancy

We often can diagnose CTS by talking with you about your symptoms and medical history. If your symptoms are severe, we may recommend an electrodiagnostic study (EMG) to confirm the diagnosis and measure nerve function in the arm, wrist, and hand. An EMG can tell us whether you have nerve damage, how severe it is, and whether it might be reversible with intervention.

The doctor will attach small electrode stickers to your hand and arm in different places and apply low levels of electrical stimulation to gauge the nerve activity. The doctor may also insert a fine acupuncture-like needle in certain areas of the arm and hand to test muscle electrical activity. The study can be a little uncomfortable, but should not cause lasting pain.

Pregnancy-safe treatment options

With CTS, it's best to start with the most conservative therapies. That's especially true in pregnancy. Here is a list of carpal tunnel treatment options that are safe for pregnancy, from least to most invasive.

Splinting

The first-line treatment is to immobilize the wrist in a neutral position to limit the range of flexion or extension. We use a neutral wrist splint with a metal bar inside that prevents the wrist from moving up, down, or side-to-side but allows the fingers to move.

Splinting gives the median nerve a break and can help alleviate swelling, which can allow mild to moderate nerve damage to heal. However, it's tough to wear a splint all day and do everyday activities. Your doctor may recommend wearing it while sleeping and as much as you can during the day.

Occupational therapy

Hand and wrist therapy can sometimes help relieve symptoms and prevent further nerve damage. A PM&R doctor or occupational therapist can create a personalized plan for you.

Therapy may include wrist and finger range of motion and strengthening movements, massage, and nerve gliding techniques. We may also recommend desensitization to decrease nerve pain, including alternating hot and cold water baths.

Medication

Topical numbing agents can relieve symptoms, but these ointments won't get to the root of the problem. Some patients may benefit from pain relief injections, which include a combination of steroids and a local anesthetic injected around the median nerve under ultrasound guidance.

However, if there are other therapies to try, we typically avoid prescribing steroids during pregnancy to avoid side effects.

Check with your Ob/Gyn before using any over-the-counter or prescribed topical medications. Our PM&R doctors will consult with your Ob/Gyn prior to recommending medication during pregnancy.

Surgery, in severe cases

Carpal tunnel release surgery is reserved for severe cases. In this procedure, a surgeon will cut the ligament that presses on the carpal tunnel, making more room for the median nerve and tendons. This usually improves function and pain.

Generally, we recommend waiting until after pregnancy to have surgeries that are not urgent. If wrist pain or hand weakness severely limits your daily function, talk with your Ob/Gyn about the risks and benefits of having carpal tunnel surgery prior to delivery.

When will symptoms improve?

After delivery, your fluid levels and the extra pressure in your blood vessels will decrease. As such, your symptoms will likely improve or resolve.

That being said, new mothers use their hands and wrists nearly constantly. Lifting, changing, and feeding the new baby may lead to worsened or new hand and wrist symptoms.

Let your Ob/Gyn know as soon as symptoms begin. If we catch carpal tunnel early enough, we can start conservative treatments to reduce the risk of nerve damage or lingering symptoms.

After pregnancy, keep an eye on your wrist health. You'll be lifting your baby a lot and making repetitive motions, which can lead to tendinopathies related to overuse.

Even if your new aches and pains don't seem overtly pregnancy-related, let your Ob/Gyn know. Pregnancy does strange things to the body, and your provider can help you find relief from painful or annoying symptoms.

To visit with an Ob/Gyn, call 214-645-8300 or request an appointment online.

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: