Arms Numb when Sleeping

[rmexico]

A few months after I started lifting (in Nov 06), I gained a lot of weight, and my arms started getting really numb when I slept. Whenever I woke up, both of my arms would be completely asleep. Now, I'm starting to get some pain in my right arm at night whenever I sleep on it or put my head on it. I used to sleep on my stomach with my arms under the pillow, but now I have to sleep on my back with my arms at my sides. If I roll over in the middle of the night, I wake up with arm pain. Both arms feel 100% normal during the day or during exercise.

Does anybody have any idea what's going on?

[NWMUSCLE]

Are you taking GH?

Sometimes when you are training hard you can develop a nerve impingement, a certified massage therapist may be able to pinpoint the location for you.

[T-Cake]

This is crazy -- the talk show host on our radio station today was saying the EXACT SAME THING! He knows he has a shoulder problem from sleeping on his side -- it used to not bother him for years, but now it does. He said he'll wake up in the night and shoulder down to elbow is numb.

The people that called in were asking him about his mattress, saying pillow-top mattresses can help. They were also suggesting a pillow between the knees because this will help to straighten your vertebral alignment to how it is when you are awake and standing, thus (hopefully) lessening the chance of a nerve impingement.

I second the suggestion of NWMUSCLE, btw. But I just think it's hilarious this is the 2nd time today I've heard this. Radio is useful!!! :)

[bluetwistedsteel]

very normal when you're growing. Not sure exactly what causes it - I'm sure Ulter will chime in. But, anytime I bulk my arm gets paralyzed when I sleep. It feels wierd that's for sure.

[bigdamray]

Weight gain, AAS and GH can all cause this.

[Scooter]

Increased fluid pressure causes the small veins in the nerves to collapse increasing intraneural pressure and spontaneous firing of the neuron.

B2 and B6 @ 100mg each, two times per day often times decreases the increased hydrostatic pressure in the extremities.

[Blut Wump]

Typically it's due to compression of the ulnar nerve which runs down the arm to the pinky and adjacent finger. I get it the same effect whenever I sleep in a tshirt. Being bigger means you have more flesh which increases the chances of everything getting squished.

[rmexico]

Thx for the replies. I'm not taking GH, AAS, or anything like that. I'll try the pillow and the vitamins.

I could probably lose 20-30 lbs of fat. Does anyone think that'd help?

This might be the best sentence ever written on this board:


Being bigger means you have more flesh which increases the chances of everything getting squished.

[P Bo]

Do you have lax shoulder joints? ie instability, the capsule feels wonky or loose etc. Lacking technical terms, if your shoulders are loose they may not sit correctly and stuff can get squished including nerves. Obviously, this is worse if you are laying on your side or stomach when the shoulder roles forward but it can happen on your back. Ask your doc for a nerve conduction study. They slip needles into various position from your shoulder to your hand to ensure your nerves are working properly. I have ridiculously lax shoulders and one of the issues is numb arms if I'm sedentary (sitting, typing, sleeping etc) and not moving the joint around. Hopefully your issues will go away as you continue your weight loss journey as others suggested!

[Killer]

So you can sleep on your back with your arms at your sides with no problem? If no, then you may be looking at a nerve situation and you may need to wear night splints to stop you from flexing your wrist while you sleep. If yes, then....

I would bet that most people here cannot sleep on their side very long at night - if someone does, they wake up with a numb arm. Think about it, your shoulder is being squished under your body.

Some of us cannot sleep on your stomachs (without shins elevated) as our chest is to big and it puts strain on our low back.

Sleep on your back and like it! haha If you must sleep on your side, try to roll to your back when you wake up.

Welcome to the game!

BTW - Big Machine - if your shoulders are that lax, you doing some cuff/shoulder stabilization rehab?

[GTLifter]

Sleeping on my back actually hurts my shoulders more then if I'm on my side. I'm not sure why but it does and also is harder to breath.

[Blut Wump]

I find comfort when sleeping on my side by ensuring that the lower shoulder is slightly forwards. I guess that places me partially onto my back but it still feels like sleeping on my side.

[rmexico]

So you can sleep on your back with your arms at your sides with no problem? If no, then you may be looking at a nerve situation and you may need to wear night splints to stop you from flexing your wrist while you sleep. If yes, then....

I would bet that most people here cannot sleep on their side very long at night - if someone does, they wake up with a numb arm. Think about it, your shoulder is being squished under your body.


Now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure it only happens if my arms are bent. If I sleep on my stomach, I usually put my arms under the pillow, so I have to bend them. If I sleep on my back, I think I tend to keep my arms more straight. The problem with sleeping on my back is that I snore, but that bothers my wife more than it bothers me lol.

[Killer]

Jaleena, my wife does the same thing. That is how her carpal tunnel symptoms first started. She know wears night splints.

GTLIfter - you are a freak !! haha Goes to show that we are all different.

[GTLifter]

I find comfort when sleeping on my side by ensuring that the lower shoulder is slightly forwards. I guess that places me partially onto my back but it still feels like sleeping on my side.


that's exactly what I do

[Killer]

Jaleena, if you are not doing any repetitive wrist flexion during the day, I would think the impingment you are getting at night is more of a pain that anything.

You could wear splints at night that do not allow you to flex the wrist and you will be good to go.

[Big Sky Guy]

I find comfort when sleeping on my side by ensuring that the lower shoulder is slightly forwards. I guess that places me partially onto my back but it still feels like sleeping on my side.

This is how I sleep also

[IliekFude]

Being big, will do that to ya.
Sleeping on yr side doesnt help for me. That does it bad. I hafta sleep on my back. I get it driving too but i have legit diagnosed carpal tunnel too tho so its not just being big in my case.