Hand going numb - why?

[klg47]

My left hand (fingers) keeps going a little bit numb or tingly. My arm, wrist, and fingers don't appear to be swollen at ALL. I've had days where my wedding ring was starting to leave a mark, but it's not like that today at all. Is this normal, from increased fluid in the wrists, even if it doesn't appear swollen? I am wearing knee-high socks today, so maybe some of the fluid that usually collects in my legs is being forced into my finger I have a desk job and don't use the best posture (resting wrists on the desk, etc.). Is this something to keep an eye on, or just par for the course?

[artgoddess]

Could it be pregnancy carpal tunnel. I had trouble for a few weeks where I couldn't grasp anything in my right hand. Kind of scary really. But I really started hitting the water and protein and that helped a lot.

[klg47]

Twix counts as protein, right?
It doesn't? Dang.

[artgoddess]

[ThreeBeans]

Totally normal...pregnancy carpal tunnel syndrome. I've had it with my last two pregnancies

[lyttlewon]

Originally Posted by ThreeBeans

Totally normal...pregnancy carpal tunnel syndrome. I've had it with my last two pregnancies

: I had numbness Saturday and my MW explained it was CT which was better than my visions of having a stroke . Also do you lean on your elbow a lot? You could be pinching something.

[kristen1978]

Yep, CT. It doesn't take much fluid retention at all in the wrists to put pressure on the nerves and vessels. Not fun, but in the range of normal. Treat it the same way you would your feet. Also, watermelon, cucumber, celery are great, so is Butcher's Broom. Hope it stops bothering you soon!

[Jster]

Ah, this is what I'm suffering from as well!! Will it go away after baby? I'm sooooo sick of my right hand being constantly numb!

Also, what are the ways to treat it? Keep it elevated? (I've tried that!) I have no specific swelling in my hands, just kind of over all extra pudginess, but this is really driving me NUTS! :

[ladyleigh]

The median nerve can also get impinged in the shoulder (not just the wrist) which would show up in the hand. This is most often caused by pregnancy posture- slumping the shoulders forward- as well as sleeping on the shoulder and putting a lot of pressure there.

2 good stretches:

1. Facing the wall- place your hands on the wall- elbows straight- a few inches above your shoulders. Step back and let your head fall through your arms or lower, if you can. It is important to keep your back and arms straight. You will look like the letter 'L'.

2. Stand facing the wall- place one hand on the wall at the height of your shoulder with elbow straight. Keep your shoulder blade dropped down your back- not hunched up by your ear. Slowly begin to turn your torso away from the wall (your hand will start to stretch behind your back- fingertips facing the ceiling). Again- shoulder down, elbow straight. Turn your feet toward the center of the room as much as you can. You will feel the stretch all the way down your arm and through your wrist. Keep all 5 fingers as flat on the wall as you can. Do the other side.

Hope these make sense! I teach these a lot in prenatal yoga.

[ladyleigh]

BTW- any tingling you feel with the stretches above is from the nerve 'waking up' and is a good thing.

[mamamoo]

Interesting!! I had my finger tips on my right hand going numb the other day whiel knitting. It hasn't happened since, but good to know it was nothing to worry about. This summer pregnancy sure is bringing lots of new things to me.