Numb fingers in the night!

[Maxf]

Over the past 4 months or so I ve been woken in the night with totally dead/numb fingers generally little and ring fingers but occasionally others too. It s driving me up the wall and worries me a bit too and now I second guess every ache, pain and feeling I get.

There doesn t seem to be any fixed pattern, other than it only happens when I m asleep. I m otherwise fit and healthy, although somewhat hypermobile.

I don t get anything in the daytime and can still play guitar ok, so I don t think there is a long lasting effect.

So far
I ve seen a physio - he has no idea really.
Osteopath - tried a few things, but no change.
Sports massages - my back gets quite stiff so I thought that might help - no difference.
Yoga - a nice new daily habit but no change.

I saw a surgeon specialising in limbs who diagnosed positional cubical tunnel syndrome but sent me for nerve conduction studies before committing. These studies showed 1/6 severity effect on all 4 nerves in both arms and said I had carpal tunnel (ironically in the arm which is least affected).

Thankfully the nerve specialist ruled out anything mega bad (MS, MND etc) which was worrying me, so good news. But I ve no idea why both hands are suddenly prone to numbness at night.

I m seeing a neurologist/spine surgeon next week, which seems to be the last remaining possibility other than just a cumulative effect of sleeping differently for some reason, pinching nerves.

Blood tests for diabetes/b12 booked in also, but not expecting either tbh - I started taking b12 last week just in case.
Has anybody had similar?

Edited by Maxf on Saturday 31st January 11:05

[Bill]

NCS aren't all that for diagnosing peripheral issues until it's got quite severe.

It does sound ulna nerve so irritation at the cubital tunnel or pisiform are the likely suspects. It's possible to have a minor issue there and a minor issue at the neck combining as a "double crush".

Has the physio done upper limb neural tension tests? It involves putting your arms in a few different positions to stress each nerve in turn.

[Badda]

Do you sleep with your elbows bent?

[Maxf]

Hi - yes, he’s had me in lots of different positions - none replicate the symptoms, but I suspect when I’m asleep it could be in that position for hours rather than minutes, so wouldn’t be easy to replicate really. I’m hypermobile in my arms, so that could make it even harder.

I’ve had similar symptoms once when I was laying in bed using my phone, so elbow fully compressed together.

I’m reluctant to have an operation, which is the first thing he suggested - firstly as it’s now in both arms and secondly the recovery time. I’d probably only opt for an operation if it was going to cause a longer term irreversible issue.

[Maxf]

Badda said:

Do you sleep with your elbows bent?

I think so - apparently I move around a lot! But I’m guessing I always have, but only an issue now (at 48).

[Lotobear]

I get this in both hands at night, usually the outer 3 fingers.

I have damage in both shoulders - one an old skiing accident from years ago and the other a rotator cuff tear, both are the cause.

[swanseaboydan]

I have the same - apparently disc damage in the neck that’s pushing in the nerve connected to the hand / fingers

[Maxf]

swanseaboydan said:

I have the same - apparently disc damage in the neck that s pushing in the nerve connected to the hand / fingers

I wonder if I’ve got similar. I had a big fall in the summer and got whiplash from it for a good few days - I definitely didn’t have the numbness prior, but it didn’t start straight after either.

[swanseaboydan]

Sounds about right - I had a steroid injection into the area to ease it a bit