I have a medical concern.

[Keanumoreira]

It isn't anything serious, but it has worried me for the past few days. Lately, when I wake up in the morning, my arm feels numb. From what I know, this is called a "pinched nerve", in which I slept on my arm the wrong way and it tingles when I move it out of that position. It scares me because I know that lack of blood circulation causes irreversible tissue and nerve damage. Is it really the blood I'm cutting off to my arm, or is it just the nerves I'm affecting, and is sleeping on my arm really that bad?

[HeyYou]

If you are sleeping on your arm, you are probably just cutting off circulation to it, in which event, it goes 'dead'..... go long enough, and when you wake up, you won't feel it, you won't be able to control it, it will just hang there, until circulation resumes. That's when you get the pins and needles sensation..... which can be painful on occasion. Don't make a habit of it... it isn't really good for your arm..... not sure how long it can go before permanent damage starts happening.

[Keanumoreira]

If you are sleeping on your arm, you are probably just cutting off circulation to it, in which event, it goes 'dead'..... go long enough, and when you wake up, you won't feel it, you won't be able to control it, it will just hang there, until circulation resumes. That's when you get the pins and needles sensation..... which can be painful on occasion. Don't make a habit of it... it isn't really good for your arm..... not sure how long it can go before permanent damage starts happening.

 

There's nothing I can do about it. For some reason, whenever I sleep on my back, I end up on my stomach sometime during the night and that's when my arm goes numb sometime in between. I don't know how long it's been like that and I'm worried that yeah, I'll lose it one day or cause permanent damage to it. I can't sleep any other way and this has never happened to me before. :/

[TheCalliton]

Go see a doctor, they have meds that stop people from moving in their sleep. apparantly moving in your sleep is a lack of something not quite clicking between brain an dbody when you fall asleep. Wish i remembered it better, I move a not in my sleep

could also be an issue with your back

[sendo75]

Same experience. Its not as serious as you imagine and it is quite common, blood circulation is restricted, not cut off completely and your body responds by moving while you sleep which interrupts your rest. Seeing your doctor/specialist is the best advise so far but meanwhile you can consider using an inflatable air pillow (those used for travelling to support your neck), wear it over your arm to cushion the pressure. Edited April 1, 2012 by sendo75

[Dazaster]

I saw a documentary once which showed bushmen sleeping on their sides while propping up their heads with one arm. I bet their's felt pretty numb the next day day too. I wouldn't worry unless you start getting numbness during the daytime.

[bben46]

That is not the only reason for a numb arm. However, if it only happens when you first wake up poor blood circulation in that arm due to sleeping on it is the most likely reason.

 

I have a pinched nerve in my neck that causes my right arm to go numb, but it can - and does happen at any time, and does not go away for hours if at all. As the blood circulation is fine there is no tissue damage from this. I get a cortisone shot whenever it gets too bad and that clears it up for me. However this does not work for everyone with a pinched nerve.

 

Note: cortisone shots like the one I get are very expensive if you have to put up with the third world US medical system. My last one cost US $1600. Luckily I still had 'good' insurance and only paid about $350 of that. But it was worth it as I can use my right arm again. :thumbsup:

 

See a doctor and have it checked out. :yes:

 

Also, I recently saw a pillow with a channel for your arm that could prevent pinching blood vessels while you sleep in this position.

[Keanumoreira]

That is not the only reason for a numb arm. However, if it only happens when you first wake up poor blood circulation in that arm due to sleeping on it is the most likely reason.

 

I have a pinched nerve in my neck that causes my right arm to go numb, but it can - and does happen at any time, and does not go away for hours if at all. As the blood circulation is fine there is no tissue damage from this. I get a cortisone shot whenever it gets too bad and that clears it up for me. However this does not work for everyone with a pinched nerve.

 

Note: cortisone shots like the one I get are very expensive if you have to put up with the third world US medical system. My last one cost US $1600. Luckily I still had 'good' insurance and only paid about $350 of that. But it was worth it as I can use my right arm again. :thumbsup:

 

See a doctor and have it checked out. :yes:

 

Also, I recently saw a pillow with a channel for your arm that could prevent pinching blood vessels while you sleep in this position.

 

Thanks bben. Everyone is telling me to go to my doctor about it, so I think I will. I need to go there this week anyway to change my medication, so I can just bring the subject up.

[SilverDNA]

My simple low cost solution to your problem Keanu ...

Sleep In a hammock. This should solve the problem.

[naomis8329]

Sweetheart, stop prevaricating and go to the doctor, even if it turns out to be something and nothing you've had your mind put at rest.

 

However, some things should not be ignored and numbness is one of them. There are treatments, some medical some not the pillow sounds like a good idea, but if necessary the injections would be beneficial (my father had them and they worked for him).

 

Let us know how you get on as you know how we worry about you.

 

Love ya xxxxx