Can a stroke ever present with numbness in both hands? or is it more likely to present in only one hand and one side of the body?

Numbness in both hands is rarely a sign of stroke, often only left or right. Peripheral neuropathy or nerve entrapment syndrome such as carpal tunnel syndrome is the common cause of bilateral hand numbness.

The most common type of stroke affects the part of the brain that controls muscle movement causing muscle weakness. Since the right side of the body is controlled by the left brain and vice versa we will only see symptoms on one side. It would be nearly impossible for two simultaneous strokes to occur in the same spot on each side. The symmetry of your symptoms rules out stroke as the cause.