How to Wake Your Hand Up When It Falls Asleep
After your hand has been at rest in a compressed position, it may become numb or fall asleep.
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You Will Need
- Pressure relief
- Your doctor
Steps
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If you experience numbness and tingling shortly after a head, neck, or back injury, go to the hospital or call 911.
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Step 1
Wait for a minute or two
Relieve the compression on your hand and wait for a minute or two. In most cases feeling will return, often with a tingling or pins-and-needles sensation.
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Temporary pressure on the nerves in your hand causes it to fall asleep.
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Step 2
Shake it
Shake your hand and count to five. Do this three times. It will encourage circulation and nerve decompression.
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Step 3
Reach for the sky
Reach your arm or arms skyward. Hold and count to five. A few repetitions should loosen pinched or compressed nerves.
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Step 4
Rock your head
Rock your head from side to side. A sleeping hand can be the result of the compression of a bundle of nerves in your neck. Loosening your neck muscles can relieve the pressure.
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Step 5
Shrug your shoulders
Raise and lower your shoulders. Hold the position for a few seconds. A couple of repetitions of this will loosen nerves in your neck.
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Be careful not to injure your hand when it is asleep. The decrease in feeling may make it more prone to accidental injury.
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Step 6
Avoid nerve compression
Prevent your hand from falling asleep in the future by avoiding placing it in a position where the nerves become compressed.
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Step 7
See your doctor if the condition persists
Consult your doctor if numbness and tingling in your hand persist. You may have a more serious medical condition.
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Nerves, which run like threads through your whole body, carry messages to the brain.
