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.

Instructions

: If you experience numbness and tingling shortly after a head, neck, or back injury, go to the hospital or call 911.
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.
TIP: Temporary pressure on the nerves in your hand causes it to fall asleep.
Step 2: Shake it Shake your hand and count to five. Do this three times. It will encourage circulation and nerve decompression.
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.
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.
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.
TIP: Be careful not to injure your hand when it is asleep. The decrease in feeling may make it more prone to accidental injury.
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.
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.
FACT: Nerves, which run like threads through your whole body, carry messages to the brain.