Introduction
Hello, and welcome back to Making Sense of Women's Health. I am Roberta Bass, and today we are going to dive into a topic that can range from being just a little bit annoying to concerning, and that is hand numbness.

Have you ever woken up with tingling fingers? Have you struggled with weakness in your hands? Maybe you felt pins and needles out of nowhere. These symptoms may seem very minor, but they can significantly disrupt your daily life and sometimes can indicate a deeper issue. Hand numbness is actually quite common, and it can range from a variety of causes.

This can be nerve compression or circulation problems. For women, hormonal changes, particularly during pregnancy or at menopause, can make us more prone to these issues. So today, I’m going to go into the most common causes, including things like carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel syndrome, thoracic outlet, Raynaud’s, and even cervical myelopathy.

We’re also going to talk about when you actually need to go and get some help or what things you could try yourself that could address the symptoms.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Let’s start with one of the most well-known conditions. I certainly had this after pregnancy—I think I may have had it during pregnancy as well—carpal tunnel syndrome.

Lots of people have heard about carpal tunnel. This is when the median nerve is compressed in the wrist. You’ve got lots of fascia and things that go over the wrist, and all the ligaments and tendons that are in there.

When the nerve gets compressed, it can give you tingling or numbness, particularly in the thumb, first finger, and half of the middle finger. It often starts with that altered sensation but can develop to become weakness.

Women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel. This is particularly common in pregnancy, like I mentioned when I had it, or menopause. This is thought to be due to hormonal changes that can cause swelling in the carpal tunnel. During pregnancy, we put on weight, experience increased swelling, and an increase in our circulatory systems because we’re feeding babies as well.

Studies show that carpal tunnel syndrome affects 3 to 5% of adults but impacts 62% of pregnant women. It’s normally a temporary issue within pregnancy—once you’ve had your baby and that swelling and increased blood volume decrease, it often settles.

To manage carpal tunnel, wearing wrist splints at night can be helpful, especially since symptoms are often worse at night. Many people describe waking up with pins and needles in the thumb, index finger, and middle finger. Shaking the hand out can help settle it. During the day, symptoms are generally okay, but as it worsens, symptoms may persist throughout the day as well.

Splints prevent the wrist from bending down and squishing the nerve. Improving your work setup is also helpful, particularly if you are a desk worker. Poor wrist positioning can increase compression on the nerve.

Physiotherapy can also help. We focus on strengthening the muscles, stretching tight structures, and performing nerve mobilization. It’s important to ensure the issue isn’t coming from somewhere else, as I’ll discuss later in the episode. If conservative management doesn’t help, steroid injections or surgery may be options to relieve nerve compression.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Another cause of hand numbness is cubital tunnel syndrome. This involves the ulnar nerve, which runs along the elbow—what we often call the “funny bone.” The ulnar nerve goes through a little groove called the cubital tunnel, where it can be compressed.

This causes numbness or tingling in the ring and little fingers. You might also experience weakness. Compression often results from prolonged elbow bending or leaning on hard surfaces.

Management includes avoiding prolonged pressure on the elbow, using padding to protect the area, and performing nerve gliding exercises to reduce irritation.

The ulnar nerve can also be compressed at the wrist in Guyon’s canal, often due to repetitive wrist movements or prolonged pressure, such as cycling. Trauma to the wrist can also cause issues.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thoracic outlet syndrome occurs when nerves or blood vessels are compressed in the neck or upper chest area, where they exit the thorax. This can cause numbness, weakness, and heaviness in the hands, as well as changes in pulses.

It often affects the ulnar nerve distribution (ring and little fingers) but can sometimes involve the whole hand. Addressing posture, strengthening the neck and shoulder, and avoiding repetitive overhead activities can help manage this condition.

Raynaud’s Syndrome
Raynaud’s is a vascular condition where blood vessels in the hands temporarily narrow, often triggered by cold or stress. This causes fingers to turn white or blue, feel numb, and sometimes become painful.

Women are more likely to experience Raynaud’s, and menopause can worsen it. Keeping your hands warm, minimizing stress, and avoiding smoking are helpful. Severe cases may require medication to improve blood flow.

Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy involves nerve damage rather than compression. It often causes numbness, burning sensations, or weakness in the hands.

It’s commonly related to diabetes but can also result from vitamin B12 deficiency or heavy alcohol use. Managing the underlying condition is key, as nerves don’t fully recover once damaged.

Hormonal Impacts
Hormonal changes during pregnancy and menopause can significantly affect hand health. Pregnancy-related fluid retention can lead to temporary carpal tunnel syndrome. During menopause, estrogen decline can lower pain thresholds and exacerbate pre-existing conditions like Raynaud’s.

Red Flags and When to Seek Help
Most hand numbness causes aren’t life-threatening but can still be inconvenient. If symptoms worsen or new symptoms arise, seek medical attention.

Red flags include:

• Persistent weakness or loss of hand function.
• Severe, unrelenting pain.
• Sudden changes in skin color or temperature.
• Symptoms associated with neck pain or injury.

Cervical myelopathy, for example, presents as bilateral glove-like numbness and may include spasticity, hyperreflexia, or disturbed gait. This requires immediate medical attention.

Conclusion
If you are experiencing hand numbness, don’t ignore it. Don’t panic either. Many conditions are manageable, especially when addressed early. If your symptoms relate to pregnancy or menopause, I can help with physio and tailored support.

Visit my website for more details. All links are in the show notes. Thank you for joining me today—I hope this episode has empowered you to better understand your health. Always get symptoms checked out, and I’ll see you next time. Take care!