numbness in hands

My question is what could I possibly have. In the last two years I have been sleeping with two pillows because when I sleep with one my hands feel numb. Also for the first hour or two after waking up when I hold something like a toothbrush, blowdryer and hairbrush I get a feeling of numbness in both hands (left hand with blowdryer and right hand with brush.

When I go to work for the first hour or so holding a pen and writing or doing anything where my hand is closed because I'm holding papers I get a numbness. But this doesn't happen everyday but it happens often maybe 20 out of 30 days in a month. I remember 10 to 15 years ago when I'd get up two hours earlier so I could do some sewing before the kids woke up, just holding a sewing needle would make my hand numb, but that's the only time it would happen. I mentioned this to my my family doctor about 5 years ago thinking I had a circulatory problem, but he said it's not and had to do with nerves but he never sent me for any tests or x-rays. The problem was really more this week since last weekend and Monday (three days in a row) I was doing yard work where I dug with a shovel and broke the clumps of earth putting in a border of bricks where I have a garden, so I think my problem was worse because of the yard work for some reason.

I put flyers together at work for two days a week and there were times where I just stopped for 15 to 20 seconds because the numbness started to give me pain, and then I'd feel better and continue. What do you think I have and what tests should I ask my doctor to perform? Could I have arthritis?
Sincerely, Anna
Thank you for your help and information.

Dear Anna,
The first thing to consider is EXACTLY which fingers go numb. There are many possible causes of the numbness, and knowing which nerve is affected certainly helps.

Secondly, do movements of your head and neck, particularly rotating to the side, and then simultaneously looking up, provoke the numbness?

Thirdly, does placing your hand on your head relieve or increase the numbness?

Arthritis in your spine is a possibility, particularly if you have had a whiplash previously, (type "joints of Luschka" into the Search this site function at C-H). Other possibilities are cervical ribs, a carpal tunnel syndrome and a thoracic outlet syndrome.

Sounds to me like it's time to get some X-rays of your neck, including "obliques" and to look for an experienced chiropractor.

I hope this has contributed.

Dr b