Waking up with numb hands recently?
Every year we see an increase in patients presenting with numbness in their hands in the summer months. There are a few reasons for this – and you may be surprised at what the causes are!
Numbness is a loss of skin sensation. It is due to a problem with nerves being unable to transmit messages along their length. One of the reasons for this is compression of the nerve, which blocks the ability of the signals to move along the length of the nerve into the spinal cord. In mild cases it can be described as a ‘dead sensation’, associated with tingling or ‘pins and needles’ – an example of this would be the sensation we feel when we sit with our legs crossed for too long and the nerve at the back of our knee is temporarily affected. This usually recovers within a minute or so – but this depends on how long the nerve has been compressed.
In the Summer months, there are a few lifestyle changes that we undergo as the weather improves and we spend more time outdoors, like at Taylor Swift or Coldplay concerts!
When a patient presents to physiotherapy with altered sensation in their arms, we consider a wide range of potential causes for this. In Summertime, we can often see a rise in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, where the median nerve is compromised at the wrist joint. In pregnant women, who may experience swelling in their hands and feet during the third trimester, this is a factor which can affect their ability to sleep at night.
Summertime is often a time for people to get DIY jobs around their house and garden. Painting and other overhead activities can compress the delicate nerves as they exit the neck area and have to pass over the top of our first rib on their journey to supply the arms and hands.
In recent years, we have seen an increase in middle aged individuals presenting with loss of sensation or power in an arm for no immediately identifiable reason. We do a full examination including neurological exam in such patients, as we need to be able to rule out any more serious pathology and send them for further imaging tests if necessary. We always discuss their activities of the previous weeks – have they done anything differently to their normal routine…. The answer in many of these cases has been festival and concert attendance! With concerts running for over three hours and festivals running over two to three days, people can stand waving and clapping their arms overhead which puts considerable pressure on the delicate nerve roots and brachial plexus in a phenomenon known as Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.
If you’re lucky enough to be heading to Taylor Swift this weekend in Dublin, or any of the many festivals taking place this weekend, remember to take a few breaks from overhead waving, try to avoid tipping your head too far back when you’re gazing at the stage for hours, and bring a good pillow if you are camping or glamping or sleeping on a friend’s couch!
Neuropraxia or mild nerve injuries like these can resolve themselves over a few weeks if they are given a good chance to recover. If your symptoms are persisting beyond two weeks with no sign of recovery, it is advisable to see your physiotherapist or doctor for further advice and treatment.
