Why are my hands numb during pregnancy and what should I do?

This symptom may be a manifestation of certain diseases, which requires already qualified diagnosis and correction. Therefore, when these symptoms appear, it is necessary to understand the cause. Why are my hands numb during pregnancy and what should I do? This issue often occurs in women, especially in the third trimester of pregnancy. There may be many reasons for this, but this symptom is most often due to physiological changes in the metabolism of vitamins and microelements in the body of a pregnant woman.

Causes of the numbness of hands during pregnancy

Speaking about the causes of numbness in the hands during pregnancy, one can not help saying that the most common factor is a violation of the balance of the basic vitamins, microelements and metabolic processes that affect it.

Pregnancy is a period when one more life develops in the female body and at this time one needs to be very careful about nutrition, since the consumption of nutrients, microelements and vitamins increases during this period. The process of organogenesis begins in the first trimester, and further fetal growth continues, which requires an increased amount of energy. Therefore, during the pregnancy, the mother organism gives all nutrients to the construction of fetal metabolism processes, which causes a deficiency of these trace elements in the mother. Mainly, it concerns microelements - magnesium, calcium, potassium. These substances regulate the balance between the level of cellular and extracellular electrolytes, which provides normal metabolic processes in the cell itself. This applies mainly to muscle fibers and nervous ganglia.

Potassium is a microelement, the main concentration of which is concentrated inside the cell, and its sodium antagonist is located outside. So the electrolyte balance and the normal work of the muscle cell are maintained. If there is a lack of potassium in the body, the potassium-sodium channels deteriorate and the ion current in the cell, including calcium, is disrupted. These changes lead to the fact that the contraction of the muscle fiber is not properly regulated, which can result in involuntary twitching of the muscles or numbing them. Due to the lack of potassium, peripheral cells also suffer, because instead of potassium, the place inside the cell is occupied by sodium, which drags water and causes hyperhydration. Against this background, tissue hypoxia aggravates these changes and acidosis occurs, which causes muscle pain and sensation of aches. Thus, the first sensations of numbness in the hands during pregnancy can cause serious pain in the muscles, and all this is due to the lack of a simple trace element of potassium. But similar symptoms occur when other micronutrients are deficient.

Magnesium is an electrolyte that provides the impulse to the nerve cells, and for the muscle fibers it provides a function of normal contraction under the action of the nerve impulse from the corresponding nerve. Normally, there is a balance between magnesium and calcium, and the processes of conduction of the nerve impulse are settled. Calcium through slow channels goes inside the cell and there is a muscle contraction, and then magnesium provides relaxation of the muscle fiber by nerve impulse from the nerve fiber. When magnesium is not enough, the process of carrying a nerve impulse to the nerve ganglion from the muscle fiber does not proceed properly, which can lead to numbness or excessive muscle contraction in the form of seizures of certain muscle groups. Thus, and there is first the numbness of the hands with a deficiency of magnesium, and then the spasms of the distal muscles.

Calcium is also one of the main trace elements that take part in the normal conductivity of the pulse and the contraction of muscle fibers. He is the main initiator of muscle contraction at the moment when he enters through the calcium channels inside the cell. This process is disrupted with calcium deficiency and long-open calcium channels are replaced by sodium, which causes an increase in the level of sodium in the muscle cell. Increased calcium content inside the cell causes a huge inflow of water, which in turn promotes intracellular hyperhydration. The edema of the muscle fibers causes compression of the nervous ganglia and nerve endings, which is another factor in the development of paresthesias and numbness in the arms during pregnancy.

These reasons for the development of numbness in the hands during pregnancy are easy to eliminate, because these are physiological changes. If it is a question of long-term symptoms, then there is the possibility that it is caused by an organic pathology that could have been in women even before pregnancy.

The cause of the appearance of symptoms in the form of numbness of hands during pregnancy may be a neurological disease in the form of osteochondrosis or arthrosis of the thoracic or cervical spine. This results in the compression of the nerve endings, which causes a violation of the normal conductivity of the nerve impulse with a sensation of numbness. This pathology is more serious and requires correction.

Another reason for the development of numbness can be diabetes. This disease can be a woman, as before pregnancy, and we can talk about gestational diabetes. The mechanism for the development of these disorders is that, with insulin deficiency, glucose does not pass the full pathway of metabolism, and a huge amount of an intermediate metabolite, sorbitol, is formed. Sorbitol is a substance that can accumulate in blood vessels that supply blood to nerve fibers - vasa vasorum. This disrupts the trophism of nerve fibers and causes paresthesias, that is, sensations of numbness in the hands. Therefore, with this pathology, it is very important to exclude diabetes mellitus as a possible cause of paresthesias.

These are the main causes and mechanisms of the development of numbness in the hands during pregnancy, which requires the elimination of organic causes and correction of the condition.

Symptoms of the numbness of hands during pregnancy

Numbness of the hands during pregnancy often occurs after sleep, when a woman wakes up. This is due to the fact that the conductivity of the nerve impulse after sleep deteriorates, because there is a physiological violation of this process. As for the period, often occurs numbness in the third trimester of pregnancy, when the weight of a woman significantly increases and the processes of release of metabolic products are violated.

Very often, arms become numb during sleep during pregnancy, and this is associated in most cases with the inadequacy of trace elements - potassium, calcium and magnesium. During work, these symptoms often go away. The peculiarity of such numbness is their one-type character, that is, there is no severe pain or increased symptoms with different movements.

The topical features of numbness also have some of their diagnostic features. The severity of the symptoms may be different - it can be manifested by numbness, burning, tingling, swelling. These are individual subjective characteristics of this pathology. As for the topic, the finger tips or fingers on the arm often become numb. This is manifested precisely by such subjective symptoms, and this localization more often indicates a violation of the exchange of microelements. If your hands become numb during pregnancy, or if you have one hand, you should carefully examine the woman for neurological pathology. If the middle finger on the arm grows dumb, this also requires attention, since this can be a manifestation of a so-called tunnel syndrome. If the numbness symptoms touch only the middle finger on the hand and these symptoms are the same, do not decrease and are sometimes very pronounced, then it can be a serious compression of the nerve. The median nerve, which innervates the palm part of the first three fingers of the hand, passes in the channel, which can be narrowed or compressed for certain reasons. In this case, the innervation of the middle finger occurs, since its innervation is effected by the half-median nerve, and half by the ulnar nerve. This is the peculiarity of the tunnel syndrome. Therefore, when these symptoms appear, it is necessary to exclude this organic pathology.

Often the numbness of the hands during pregnancy can be combined with other symptoms. Sometimes pain can occur simultaneously with numbness, then it is necessary to pay attention to these symptoms, as this may be a manifestation of osteochondrosis. There may also be swelling and numbness. In this case, it is a violation of kidney function or the possibility of hypertension. If the numbness of the hands is accompanied by their edema and edema is generalized, then it should be analyzed, perhaps it's just an excess of fluid in the body and you just need to remove it. If there is accompanying headache, it is necessary to eliminate the late gestosis - preeclampsia, therefore it is necessary to control blood pressure.

Often the symptoms can be complicated in the form of convulsions of the lower extremities, more often at night during sleep. This is due to a violation of not only the nerve conduction, but also the violation of muscle contraction and indicates a deficiency of trace elements.

The first signs of paresthesia of the hands during pregnancy tend to manifest in the third trimester and this is due to a deficiency of nutrients, so with proper nutrition correction, there is no need for serious treatment. Such symptoms pass without special interventions, if there is no organic pathology.

Complications and consequences

Numbness of the hands during pregnancy often has a benign functional course, so this pathology does not cause any complications. If micronutrient deficiencies increase, then it can cause a malfunction of the heart. If the cause of the development of numbness in the hands during pregnancy is an organic neurological pathology, then it is necessary to carry out treatment to avoid such complications as a violation of sensitivity, motor function. Osteochondrosis can cause complications in the form of violation of innervation of internal organs and somatic diseases.

[1], [2], [3], [4]

Diagnostics of the numbness of hands during pregnancy

To diagnose this symptom is necessary in order to exclude organic pathology, which could cause such numbness. In addition, you must carefully treat any complaint of a pregnant woman, because it is about the health and life of two people at a time.

Diagnosis should begin with a careful history. It is necessary to find out what kind of account this pregnancy, what kind of birth, how past pregnancies passed and whether they were accompanied by gestosis. It is necessary to find out the dynamics of the body weight of a pregnant woman, and also to detail the complaints. When the symptoms first appeared, how their development took place, only the arms or legs become numb, whether there are convulsions. All this plays an important role in the need for other methods of research and other analyzes. Anamnestic data allow to exclude or confirm the presence of diabetes and osteochondrosis, which can also be the cause of such numbness. Therefore, a conversation with a patient allows you to establish a previous diagnosis and sometimes there is no need for further examination.

Analyzes are an important indicator for diagnosing changes in the level of basic electrolytes, as well as for monitoring the main indicators of the state of a pregnant woman. Conduct general tests and special - a general blood test, a general urine test, feces, a biochemical blood test with diagnostics of the basic electrolytes. As a rule, in case of a normal pregnancy, there are no specific changes that would indicate a pathology. In determining electrolytes, there may be a decrease in the amount of calcium, magnesium and potassium, but they can also be normal, since their level decreases only in the cell, but remains normal in the blood. Special examination methods allow differential diagnosis. Carry out a blood sugar test and a test with glucose load.

Instrumental diagnosis of numbness in the arms during pregnancy implies the exclusion of neurological pathology, as well as the control of the fetus. For this, ultrasound is usually performed with the determination of the fetal condition, and in the late stages of pregnancy - cardiotocography, which allows to determine the state of the fetal heartbeat and the tone of the uterus.

Special instrumental diagnostic methods are ultrasound examination of the vaginal spaces of the tendon of the hands to exclude the tunnel syndrome. The ultrasound can determine the edema of the canal, in which the nerves pass, which can cause numbness. In case of suspicion of osteochondrosis, it would be advisable to perform X-ray examination to exclude the diagnosis, but during pregnancy this method is harmful to the fetus, therefore this method of diagnosis is kept. Conduct only an examination by a doctor neurologist for osteochondrosis, especially if numbness is accompanied by pain.

[5], [6], [7]

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis of numbness in the hands during pregnancy should be carried out primarily with diabetic neuropathy, as well as with neurologic symptoms.

To exclude diabetes mellitus allows carrying out of the analysis of a level of a glucose in blood and the test with loading by glucose. Neurological problems in the form of osteochondrosis and tunnel syndrome can be differentiated upon examination. In this case, soreness and violation of other types of sensitivity will be observed, and numbness will not only be local, but there will be other somatic pains.

If there is numbness and swelling of the hands, then it is necessary to measure blood pressure for the purpose of differential diagnosis with late gestosis.

Treatment of the numbness of hands during pregnancy

Treatment of this pathology naturally depends on the cause. Since mainly in more than 80% of pregnant women, numbness of the hands is due to a lack of trace elements, and the approach to treatment should be mild. It is necessary to bring to the fore a correction of lifestyle and nutrition with an increase in these electrolytes, and only then switch to substitution therapy and vitamin preparations.

What if my hands go numb during pregnancy? This issue is very troubling for women, as it can cause a disruption of daily activity due to numbness and muscle cramps. First of all, it is necessary to change the nature of nutrition and increase the exogenous supply of these trace elements with food.

The basic principles of such a diet are:

• Food is better to take in boiled form, warm, not hot and not cold, because in hot food all vitamins and trace elements are quickly destroyed.
• Caloric content of food should be sufficient, but without complex saturated fats, which impair the absorption of nutrients and disturb the normal processes of digestion.
• Acidic, salty, smoked products are excluded completely, as they retain water and can cause swelling of the tissues, which increases the disturbances of nerve conduction and numbness symptoms.
• It is necessary to eat protein daily in the form of boiled meat, fish, which helps to function better for all cells, including nervous ones, since protein is a building material.
• Dairy products should be increased in the diet, as they have a lot of calcium, necessary in this case. More should be consumed cottage cheese.
• To drink it is necessary in sufficient quantity, it is better to take cooked fruit drinks, alkaline water, warm tea. If there is swelling, then you need to reduce the drinking regime by half.
• The number of fruits should be increased with the preference of those that are seasonal and characteristic of the area.

It is necessary to eat foods that are rich in microelements in a selective manner. To products that are rich in potassium is:

• potato, with a shell baked in the oven or cooked in a shell;
• dried fruits - dried apricots, raisins, figs, prunes;
• nuts - almonds or pine nuts;
• beetroot, pumpkin, green peas, greens (dill, spinach);
• berries - gooseberries, apricots, red currants;
• pomegranate and pomegranate juice.

As for products rich in magnesium, the following products should be preferred here:

• dairy products - cottage cheese, milk, sour cream;
• meat of red varieties - beef, lamb, pork;
• beans - beans, peas, soybeans;
• cereals - millet, buckwheat porridge, oatmeal with bran;
• fruit - apricot, dried apricots, peach, bananas, strawberries;
• nuts and sesame seeds.

Daily consumption of rich foods for potassium and magnesium is necessary not only for the treatment of numbness in the hands, but also for the normal functioning of the heart and other organs. Often such changes in the diet are sufficient to restore the deficit of trace elements, but sometimes for a faster effect, the prescription of medications is necessary. Medications that are used to treat numbness of the hands during pregnancy are preparations of magnesium, potassium and calcium or complex multivitamin complexes.

• Magnnefar is a drug that contains magnesium and pyridoxine, which helps to normalize the nerve impulse through the fibers and reduces episodes of numbness and muscle spasms. In addition, magnesium takes part in the metabolism of cellular elements and promotes the synthesis of energy required for the cell. Pyridoxine takes part in protein and carbon metabolism and improves the absorption of magnesium in cells. The combined effect of the two substances improves neuromuscular conduction and reduces the spasms of individual muscles.

The drug is produced in the form of pharmacological tablets of 500 milligrams and is taken in a dose of one tablet three times a day. The course of treatment is usually seven days, then you can take a prophylactic dose. Side effects are possible in the form of allergic manifestations, as well as changes from the gastrointestinal tract. Possible manifestations of the cardiovascular system in the form of violations of the heart rate, pressure decrease. Contraindications to taking the drug are pathology of the muscular system, arterial hypotension, elevated magnesium level in the blood. Precautions in the case of using this drug - you should not take it in combination with other multivitamin complexes.

• Magnetot is a drug that contains magnesium orotate, which is an active metabolite of this trace element. Magnesium contributes to the normalization of the nerve impulse through the fibers, being in competition with calcium ions, which contributes to improving the conductivity of the nerve impulse from the nerve fiber to the muscle fiber. The drug is produced in the form of pharmacological tablets of 500 milligrams and taken in a dose of one tablet three times a day, it is better to take an hour after eating, which improves the metabolism of the drug. The course of treatment, as a rule, is not less than a month. Side effects are possible in the form of allergic manifestations, as well as dyspeptic phenomena. Contraindications to taking the drug - this is an increased level of magnesium in the blood, malabsorption syndrome and congenital lactase insufficiency. The drug is approved for use during pregnancy. Precautions in the case of using this drug - you need to take care with the drug in the event of an impending driving.
• Elevit Pronatal is a complex vitamin preparation that is recommended for pregnant women as a preventive and curative vitamin remedy. Given the rich composition, the drug replenishes stocks of not only vitamins, but also trace elements. The composition of the drug includes vitamins - A, B ₁, B ₂, B ₆, B ₁₂, C, D, E, as well as trace elements - magnesium, calcium, copper, manganese, zinc, phosphorus, biotin, nicotinamide and folic acid. Due to the complex action of calcium and magnesium, numbness and cramps pass very quickly with the restoration of the normal level of electrolytes in the tissues. The drug is released in pharmacological form of tablets and is taken at a dose of one tablet once a day, it is better to take 15 minutes after eating, which improves the metabolism of the drug. Side effects are possible in the form of allergic manifestations, as well as dyspeptic phenomena in the form of constipation. Contraindications to taking the drug - this is an increased level of any hormones, hypervitaminosis, a violation of kidney and liver function. Precautions in the case of using this drug - you should not take it in combination with other multivitamin complexes.
• Supradin is a complex vitamin preparation that is recommended for pregnant women as a preventive and curative vitamin remedy. Given the rich composition, the drug replenishes the reserves of not only vitamins, but also trace elements, which allows using it as a vitamin preparation for the treatment of numbness and seizures. The composition of the drug includes vitamins - A, B ₁, B ₂, B ₅, B ₆, B ₉, B ₁₂, C, D, E, H, as well as trace elements - magnesium, calcium, copper, manganese, zinc, iron, molybdenum. Due to the complex action of calcium and magnesium, numbness and cramps pass very quickly with the restoration of the normal level of electrolytes in the tissues. The drug is available in pharmacological form of dragees and effervescent tablets. It is taken in a dose of one tablet once a day, dissolving in a small amount of water. Side effects with respect to the dose are not detected, it is possible to change the color of urine due to the composition of the drug. Contraindications to taking the drug - this is an increased level of any hormones, serious violations of kidney and liver. Precautions - do not combine with other vitamins.

Physiotherapeutic treatment of this pathology is possible and has a beneficial effect on the state of nerve fibers. Magnetotherapy, electrophoresis with ions, rock crystal extract are used.

Operative treatment of numbness of fingers during pregnancy is not used, because there is no special indication for such an intervention.

Alternative treatment of numbness in the hands of pregnancy

The use of alternative methods of treating numbness in the hands during pregnancy is very widespread, which is associated with minimal harm and availability of these methods. Such methods can be used in conjunction with vitamin medications. The drugs that are used are directed mainly at correcting the lack of trace elements and improving the nerve conduction. To do this, use alternative means, herbal medicine and homeopathic medicines.

The main alternative means that use:

1. Honey, as a natural source of nutrients and trace elements, which increase local immunity and stimulate the regeneration of nerve endings with improving the conductivity of the nerve impulse, is widely used to correct the violations of the composition of cellular microelements. To create a medicine from honey, you need to make a solution of three tablespoons of honey, five drops of flaxseed oil and three tablespoons of boiled water and take a teaspoon twice a day, the course - 10 days. Such a tool helps normalize the increased excitability of the muscular structures, and also has properties to calm the nervous system.
2. Tincture of propolis reduces involuntary contractions of muscle fibers and contributes to the restoration of nerve conduction. To make the tincture, 10 grams of propolis should be boiled in boiled water for about 20 minutes, this solution should be infused for at least an hour, then applied inward on a tablespoon 2 times a day. Alcohol tincture is more effective, but in pregnancy it is not worth using it.
3. Milk is a natural source of calcium, so it is widely used to replenish its deficiency. Milk can be taken hot, while adding a few drops of lemon juice, which increases calcium absorption in the intestine.
4. The most important source of calcium is the egg shell. In order to get the medicine it is necessary to wash the shell of the raw egg, then to shred in a mortar finely to a powdery state, add five drops of lemon juice there, then when the reaction takes place, take it minimally once a day.

The main herbs that are used to treat this pathology are:

1. To normalize nervous excitement, it is necessary to take infusion of herb Leonurus and hawthorn, for taste, you can also add honey.
2. Cones of hops, valerian, lime, coriander, motherwort and oregano must be poured with a liter of hot water and after being infused, drink in the morning and in the evening 2 teaspoons. Such a solution calms the nervous system and improves neuromuscular conduction in the ganglia.
3. Sprigs of raspberries, currants and hawthorn are boiled for ten minutes in hot water, insist, and then drink half the glass of this broth in the morning and in the evening, the course of treatment is about three weeks.
4. Tea from the viburnum can be taken throughout the day several times instead of liquid drinks, you can add a spoonful of honey. This tea improves nerve conduction and reduces numbness symptoms.

Homeopathic remedies are based on the restoration of the level of microelements, as well as on the toning effect on nerve conduction. Property, plant and equipment:

1. Kalkohel is a complex homeopathic remedy, which is the main source of calcium. The drug is available in the form of homeopathic tablets for resorption and is used one tablet three times a day before meals or an hour after it. There were no side effects.
2. Avenamal is a vitamin homeopathic preparation, which is convenient for treating this pathology. It is available in the form of an aerosol and is sprayed into the hands when numb or leg muscles with convulsions. Continuous use throughout the period of pregnancy reduces the risk of developing these paresthesias.
3. Eco - berin is a vitamin homeopathic remedy, which is recommended during pregnancy. Vitamins and trace elements restore the balance and reduce the symptoms of numbness in the arms during pregnancy.
4. Reprise is a homeopathic vitamin preparation that not only restores micronutrient deficiency, but also increases immunity.

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Forecast

The prognosis of this pathology for recovery is favorable. Measures to prevent the development of this pathology are nonspecific and consist in preventing the development of deficiencies in essential vitamins and microelements. This is the proper nutrition of the pregnant woman, its balance, a sufficient number of vegetables and fruits, vitamins. It is recommended to start a preventive intake of vitamins before pregnancy, and also take vitamin complexes throughout pregnancy. For the prevention of complications of pathology with the appearance of other symptoms - headache, swelling of the hands, violation of sensitivity - it is necessary to be examined. Proper management of pregnancy with the implementation of all prescriptions, the delivery of the necessary tests and the use of drugs, allows you to prevent this problem and any complications associated with pregnancy.

Numbness of the hands during pregnancy is a frequent complaint of women, especially in the third trimester. But do not worry, because most likely the cause of this condition is a deficiency of magnesium, calcium and potassium, so replenishing this deficit will solve the problem. Treatment can be done by simple correction of the diet or if this is not enough, then take multivitamin complexes.