Tangan kebas (numb hands) is most often short-lived numbness or pins and needles after sitting or sleeping on your arm, which stops within minutes once the pressure is removed. Numbness that keeps coming back can be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome (pressure on a nerve in the wrist, usually worse at night), a trapped nerve in the neck, diabetes, low vitamin B12, some medicines or drinking too much alcohol. See a doctor if numbness is constant or keeps returning. Call 999 straight away if numbness or weakness starts suddenly on one side of the body, with a drooping face or slurred speech, or if arm pain comes with chest pain, because these can be signs of a stroke or heart attack.
Tangan kebas: what causes short-term numbness?
Kebas means numbness, and tangan kebas means numb hands. According to the NHS, pins and needles (often called semut-semut) feels like a pricking, tingling or numb sensation. It happens when the blood supply to the nerves is cut off, usually when you sit or sleep on part of your body, and it only lasts a few minutes.
It often affects the arms, hands, legs or feet, and usually stops once the weight is taken off the body part and the blood supply returns to the nerves. Waking up with a numb hand after sleeping on your arm is therefore common and not usually a concern.
Tangan kebas tanda penyakit apa? Possible causes
If you keep getting numbness or pins and needles, or it lasts a long time, there may be a medical cause. According to the NHS, other symptoms can give clues, but do not try to diagnose yourself:
| What you notice | Possible cause |
|---|---|
| Numbness, tingling and pain in the hand and fingers, often worse at night | Carpal tunnel syndrome |
| Pins and needles, pain or numbness in both hands and feet | Diabetes |
| Fingers or toes that tingle and change colour | Raynaud's |
| Breathing too quickly, trembling hands, pins and needles | Hyperventilation |
| Pain and pins and needles travelling from the back down the leg | Sciatica |
| Pins and needles in different parts of the body | Multiple sclerosis |
Long-lasting pins and needles can also be caused by:
- a trapped nerve in your back or neck;
- nerve damage after an injury or illness, such as shingles; see our guide to kayap;
- some medicines, such as chemotherapy, some HIV medicines, medicines for seizures, or some antibiotics;
- a poor diet, including low vitamin B12;
- drinking too much alcohol;
- toxic substances such as lead.
For pain and numbness that travel down the leg, see our guide to sakit pinggang and sciatica.
Carpal tunnel syndrome: numb hands worse at night
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is pressure on a nerve in your wrist. According to the NHS, symptoms include:
- an ache or pain in your fingers, hand or arm;
- numb hands, tingling or pins and needles;
- a weak thumb or difficulty gripping.
Symptoms often start slowly, come and go, and are usually worse at night. You are more at risk if you are overweight, pregnant, or do work or hobbies that mean you repeatedly bend your wrist or grip hard, such as using vibrating tools. CTS sometimes gets better by itself in a few months, particularly when it is caused by pregnancy.
Treatment, according to the NHS:
- wearing a wrist splint at night to keep the wrist straight; it can take up to 6 weeks to help;
- stopping or cutting down on activities that bend the wrist or need a hard grip;
- hand exercises, which have a small amount of evidence behind them;
- painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen may help for a short time, but there is little evidence they treat the cause;
- a steroid injection into the wrist if a splint does not help;
- surgery, which usually cures CTS, if it is getting worse and other treatments have not worked.
Numb hands and feet: diabetes and nerve damage
Numbness and tingling in both hands and feet can be a sign of peripheral neuropathy, where nerves in the hands, feet and arms are damaged. According to the NHS, symptoms can include burning, stabbing or shooting pain, loss of balance, and muscle weakness, especially in the feet.
- Diabetes is the most common cause in the UK, as high blood sugar can damage the nerves over time. People with diabetes should have regular foot and nerve checks; see our guide to kencing manis.
- Low vitamin B12 can cause pins and needles and numbness; see our guide to vitamin B12.
- Other causes include injury, viral infections such as shingles, some medicines and drinking too much alcohol.
The sooner neuropathy is diagnosed, the better the chance of limiting the damage. See a doctor if you have pain, tingling or loss of feeling in your feet, loss of balance or weakness, or a cut or ulcer on your foot that is not healing.
Kebas tangan kiri: is it a heart problem?
Many people worry that a numb left hand (kebas tangan kiri) means a heart attack. According to the NHS, a heart attack usually causes chest pain that feels tight, crushing or squeezing, and the pain may spread to the arm, neck and jaw. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, sweating, feeling sick, and pale or grey skin.
Numbness in one hand can also be caused by a nerve problem such as carpal tunnel syndrome or a trapped nerve. But call 999 immediately if arm pain or numbness comes with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating. For heart health, see our guides to darah tinggi and kolesterol tinggi.
Petua hilangkan kebas tangan: what can help?
- If numbness comes from sleeping or sitting on your arm, change position and move your hand; it should pass within minutes.
- For carpal tunnel syndrome, wear a wrist splint at night, cut down on activities that bend the wrist or need a hard grip, and try simple hand exercises.
- If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control and have your feet and nerves checked regularly.
- Cut down on alcohol and eat a balanced diet that includes sources of vitamin B12.
There is no "petua" that cures numbness caused by an underlying condition, so see a doctor if it keeps happening.
When should you see a doctor?
See a doctor, according to the NHS, if:
- you constantly have pins and needles or numbness;
- it keeps coming back;
- carpal tunnel symptoms are getting worse, are not going away, or home treatment is not working;
- you have pain, tingling or loss of feeling in your feet, loss of balance, or a foot wound that is not healing.
A doctor will ask about your symptoms and may arrange blood tests (for example for diabetes or vitamin B12), a nerve conduction test or a scan, and treatment will depend on the cause.
When is numbness an emergency?
Call 999 immediately if you or someone else has signs of a stroke. The NHS uses the word FAST:
- Face: one side of the face may droop and it may be hard to smile;
- Arms: you may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of weakness or numbness in one arm;
- Speech: slurred words or sounding confused;
- Time to call 999.
Other signs include sudden weakness or numbness down one side of the body, blurred vision or loss of sight, confusion, dizziness or falling, and a severe headache. Get help even if the symptoms stop after a short time.
Also call 999 if you have chest pain that feels tight or squeezing, or chest pain spreading to your arms, neck or jaw, which may be a heart attack.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What is kebas in English?
Kebas means numbness. Tangan kebas means numb hands, and the related feeling of pricking or tingling is called pins and needles (semut-semut). Short-lived numbness after sleeping or sitting on your arm is common and harmless, because pressure briefly cuts off the blood supply to the nerves.
Tangan kebas tanda penyakit apa (what disease causes numb hands)?
Numb hands are often caused by pressure on a nerve, such as carpal tunnel syndrome at the wrist or a trapped nerve in the neck. Long-lasting numbness or tingling in the hands and feet can also be a sign of diabetes, low vitamin B12, nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy), some medicines or drinking too much alcohol. See a doctor if it keeps coming back.
Is a numb left hand (kebas tangan kiri) a sign of a heart attack?
A heart attack usually causes chest pain that feels tight, crushing or squeezing, which may spread to the arm, neck or jaw, often with breathlessness, sweating or feeling sick. Call 999 if numbness or pain in your arm comes with chest pain or these symptoms. Numbness on one side of the body that starts suddenly can also be a sign of a stroke (angin ahmar).
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on a nerve in the wrist. It causes numbness, tingling and pain in the hand and fingers, and sometimes a weak thumb or difficulty gripping. Symptoms often come and go and are usually worse at night. It is more common if you are overweight, pregnant, or often bend your wrist or grip hard.
How do I get rid of numb hands (petua hilangkan kebas tangan)?
If numbness comes from sitting or sleeping on your arm, it usually stops within minutes once the pressure is removed. For carpal tunnel syndrome, wearing a wrist splint at night, cutting down on activities that bend the wrist or need a hard grip, and simple hand exercises may help. See a doctor if numbness is constant or keeps coming back.
Can vitamin B12 deficiency cause numb hands?
Yes. Low vitamin B12 can cause pins and needles and numbness, as well as tiredness and a sore tongue. A blood test can check your level. If you have long-lasting numbness, ask your doctor to check your vitamin B12, especially if you take metformin for diabetes or eat little animal food.
When is numbness an emergency?
Call 999 immediately if numbness or weakness starts suddenly on one side of your body, or comes with a drooping face, slurred speech or arm weakness, as these are signs of a stroke. Also call 999 if arm pain or numbness comes with chest pain, breathlessness or sweating, which may be a heart attack.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice, diagnosis or treatment from a doctor or pharmacist. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
