Whether your numb hands come and go, you experience numbness infrequently or you have a chronic problem with numb hands depends on the cause of that numbness. Pinched nerves can cause temporary numbness, while serious medical conditions can contribute to chronic numbness. While you can certainly try to ease numbness in the hands on your own at home, if you can't find relief, it's time to schedule an appointment with your doctor to decipher the cause of your symptoms.
Step 1
Move your body and shift positions. A numb hand may be the result of paresthesia, commonly called "pins and needles," notes the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. When your arm is folded in such a way that blood flow to your hand is limited, you can expect to feel a tingling sensation first, and then a numbness in the hand. Simply changing positions and straightening your arms should help to remedy the problem.
Step 2
Take a break. When doing activities that cause your hands to repeat motions, like knitting, using vibrating tools or typing, take a break every 30 to 60 minutes and do something differently with your hands to allow blood flow to resume as normal in the hands. Repetitive motions can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome, where the carpal tunnel is compressed due to inflammation in the wrists. This inflammation can diminish blood flow to your hands and result in numbness.
Step 3
Stretch and perform exercises that increase blood flow to your hands. Pinched nerves and weakness can lead to diminished blood flow, which can make your hands feel numb, especially when doing repetitive activities. Hold your hands in front of you and gently rotate your wrists for one to two minutes to find relief, says Alexander Reeves, professor of neurology and anatomy at the Dartmouth Medical School.
Step 4
Apply ice to your wrists and hands, if you sustain an injury. Certain injuries that cause inflammation can cut off blood flow to you hands, resulting in tingling and numbness. By applying ice, you can reduce some of the inflammation for more comfortable and better functioning hands.
Step 5
Schedule an appointment with your doctor. If simple stretching and readjustment don't seem to affect your numbness, seek advice from your physician. If your numb hands begin suddenly, spread up your arm, worsen over time or seem related to a specific task, it could be the sign of a serious problem, warns MayoClinic.com. Stroke, carpal tunnel and even vitamin deficiency can be evidenced by numb hands, and your doctor can work with you to find a plan of action to help improve your hand numbness.
