arm going numb?

[Brandi]

Ok how can i explain this? When i go to sleep at night I like to sleep on my sides. I have always slept like this. I have also always had neck problems from years of sculpting for work. I have noticed this past year that sometimes when i wake up my arm will be numb. Now the wierd part is this it is not the arm I am laying on. does that make since? Does any one have suggestions. I don't see a Dr very often anymore for my neck stuff cause it is mostly always muscle related. I have learned through the years how to treat it. Unless I throw it out really bad then I see him.

[velogirl]

Hey, Brandi! Since you have known neck problems, this might indicate a pinched nerve. I'd recommend seeing a chiropractor or a neurologist. Nerve issues aren't anything to fool around with, especially since you have a physically demanding career (sand sculptures, right?).

Then again, if it's an isolated situation, maybe you just had a crazy dream and were clenching your fist or something!!!

If this isn't an isolated situation, I wouldn't ignore it.

[Bikingmomof3]

Take it from someone who tried to brush off numbness, go see a doctor! Please.

[beckt]

Does your arm go numb during the day, at any other time other than waking up? Where is the arm numb - anywhere in particular? Is there anything in your sleep style that may be causing this numbness.... is it a nerve issue or a circulatory issue....

I have been dealing with numbness in my hands since mid summer - my right ring and little finger would go numb when my hand was in a dependant position (like riding my bike) - and I was being treated for ulnar tunnel syndrome (look it up). It wasn't until months later - end of october - that i had sudden onset of SEVERE muscle spasms in my left shoulder blade area, down my left arm, elbow to my fingers with - you guessed it - numbness in my left ring and little fingers. I was in exquisite pain. MRIs were done showing bulges in the cervical vertebral discs - which explains the numbness on the right side (ulnar nerve), but right now there is no explantion for the pain/numbness on the left. With many therapies and about 2 weeks of bedrest/narcotics/muscle relaxers and anti - inflammatories the right side numbness is resolving - but the left - although I feel better pain wise I still have numbness and muscle spasms on the left... so take this as you want but you may want to look into your numbness problem - or not. But my life has right now been severely compromised.

[Brandi]

the numbness only happens when i am sleeping. It seems to help if i put a small pillow under my arm. There is no pain though and the secound I move it goes away. And it seems to be my hand that goes numb.

[Kimmyt]

I had an issue with this several months ago. Sleeping in the same position and I would wake up with a dead arm/hand. Always from the hand that I would curl up under my head/pillow. The weird thing was that I had been sleeping in that same position for my entire life.

It really bugged me, and so I tried to force myself to sleep on my back, but I can't do that.

After awhile it went away and I never really figured out what it was... (not saying you shouldn't get it checked by the doc though if it worries you)

K.