sleeping on my side, waking up with numb arm

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 20:49

For quite a number of years my nightly routine is fall asleep on my side as unless I'm drunk its the only way I seem to be able to get comfy, then probably 3-4 hours later I wake with a numb arm. I move to get rid of the tingles, then go back to sleep and repeat the above a couple more times until its time to get up. Is this a part of getting older? I can't remember if it coincided with me going to the gym and putting weight on but its annoying at times.... going off on one here but does this process cut off the circulation to my arm causing stress to my heart which will finish me off when I get old??

edit. typing this on my pda with my arm on the settee arm with my weight on it has just sen my arm numb!!!

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 20:57

@Steedie reading yur edit just made me chuckle, ill have to try waving it around, lol

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 21:01

DB_SamX said:
Bordering on medical advice but I had the same. Personally, I went to see my GP and my consultant looking after my long term illness. The latter thought it could be a reaction to my long term medication but it wasn't and resulted simply from sleeping arkwardly with arms bent, possibly trapping a nerve. I was advised to sleep with straight arms and wrapping a towel around my elbow to keep it straight. I gave up on that after a few nights ad it happens from time to time...no big deal for me (I hope!).

I think I do sleep with my arm bent too. maybe ill just have to force myself to change

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 21:13

I'm sure it is lack of blood that does it. but does this lead to high blood pressure and the my heart going pop..... I'm laying on my back tonight!

edit my arm isn't normally fully numb, I seem to wake up the just take my weight off for a while then go back to sleep

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 21:17

Foo_Fighter said:
As soon as I saw the thread title I knew some one was going to make a reply like that.

so did I....

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 21:20

G|mp said:
Stolen joke !

I also must say GD has sunk to an all time low with this thread

"my arm goes dead when i sleep on it"

No **** sherlock

I never said "arm"

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 21:26

Doohickey said:
This isn't supposed to be medical advice, but I have to say that you'd have to be super hypochondriac to think that!

As for those saying that it's lack of blood supply, I disagree, I believe it's more nerve compression. If it was cutting off blood circulation, it would start to hurt pretty damn fast, and you'd wake up (or rather be woken up) with a painful arm, not a numb arm.

sounds plausible, don't worry all advice given on this forum will not necessarily be taken literally. I think I've spent too much time listenung to the ricky gervais podcast at work today and carl pilkington has got my brain thinking about things it doesn't normally

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 21:30

G|mp said:
Its in your title you numpty

I said I sleep on my side, wake up with numb arm, there is a difference, pedantic I know.....

k3v · 16 Apr 2008 at 21:45

Welshy said:
Exactly what I was thinking... medical condition my arse!

if I sleep on my back will I get a numb arse??