What Causes Persistent Numbness In The Hands?

Posted on Sat, 18 Feb 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sat, 18 Feb 2017 Answered on

Sat, 11 Mar 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : I am a 50 year old female. I wake up several times overnight with numbness in one or both hands, which is remedied by massaging them for a few minutes. It does not seem to be related to positioning, as it occurs no matter how I try to lie and position my hands. This has just started in the past month. What could it be related to? I also occasionally have trouble swallowing. I have entered menopause recently.

Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (53 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Could be a vit deficiency or just menopause related poor vascular health

Detailed Answer:
Hello ma'am and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. This is a common complaint of women who are pre- or peri-menopausal and the cause in majority of cases is related to either or both of these factors:

1. Vitamin B9 deficiency: Can be corrected with the use of vitamin B complex oral supplements, or weekly vitamin B shots

2. Weak vessels: Can happen with age or underlying conditions (e.g. diabetes, neuropathy related to hypertension, etc.). Can treat or improve with medication like neurobion (contains a mixture of vitamins)

You can discuss the same with your doctor, and also request for a doppler study on the region that turns numb, which will provide information on the health of the blood vessels in that region.

I hope you find my response helpful. Please feel free to write back to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng