Waking up with fingers entirely frozen

[JCWest]

Hey guys,

So last night at 3am I woke up and the pinky and ring fingers on both of my hands were entirely frozen. This has happened before once or twice. What's different is that the small of my back was hurting, and as soon as I changed position (I was laying on my side) the feeling started to return (rolled onto my back) but when I rolled further to my right side, I lost sensation almost immediately in my right hand, this time my thumb, pointer and middle finger.

When I say lost sensation, I mean the worst pins and needles I've felt, almost painful. The feeling came back a few minutes later after sitting up.

Any ideas? Could this be a nerve that's being pinched? I am wondering if I should go see my doctor now, or if I should just ignore it. This was surprisingly painful, I've noticed my back hurting a bit when I wake up the past few days, which is definetly out of the ordinary.

Oh anxiety....

[tigerpaw]

Ever since I had anxiety I tend to sleep wrong or something, and I cut off the blood to my hands, etc.

Its really annoying!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Try putting a pillow in such a way that it will prevent you from rolling over into a bad position.

[jojo1976]

When I'm very anxious, my arms and hands fall asleep at night. This used to freak me out beyond belief before I knew what my problem was (anxiety).  I used to even wear hand/wrist and elbow splits to bed in case it was nerve entrapment, etc. I propped my arms between towels so I wouldn't sleep on them - no matter what I did - they were dead weights in the morning and I would have a panic attack.  My anxiety went away, and then I never had a problem again.  Back 4yrs later, guess what? My arms started to fall asleep at night on me. Because this go is so much less severe, it is not something I am panicking about. My belief is that when we're anxious, even in sleep we tense our muscles. Tense muscles can trap nerves and trapped nerves can give you dead arms. Put that in rewind, relax those muscles, and you'll find less pins and needles and numbness. I've been stretching before bed and haven't had a problem except that first/one time. HTH!

[johndeere216]

I've had this too.  I agree with JoJo

[lobster]

Jojo and John,
   
    Did either one of you go to any docters and get tested, if so what were the results ?
just wondering as I wake up several time at night with my lower arms going numb(pins and needles sensation)

I also have dry mouth at night when I have this as well..........

[mollyfin]

You can have anxiety in your sleep.  I wake up in the middle of panic attacks all the time.  That could account for weird tingling and dry mouth.  Or you have a dry mouth because everyone gets thirsty while sleeping or you're mouth-breathing, and your arm is tingly because you're sleeping with pressure on a nerve. 

[lobster]

its always both arms no matter how i sleep
I only have the dry mouth when my arms are acting up.......
I also here lately my body has been really really stiff upon waking......

[miika]

tension neck

[aihli]

What do you know?! I was JUST going to post on this topic, either simultaneously or right after your post. I woke up this morning with the pinky and ring fingers of both hands asleep. And they were not in any particularly odd positions. Anxiety, perhaps? I don't know.

[sbwv09]

When I have bad anxiety I notice that all my muscles tense up quite a bit. Hands are worse in winter for me too.