Thread: Nerves

Sometimes I wake up after having slept on my arm the wrong way, and it is completely numb. I can't even pull it out from under me. It doesn't happen often though. Couple of times per year.

When that happens I support myself on my other arm, and then flick the shoulder of the numb arm so that the arm flops out from under me. After a minute, the feeling is back. Nothing lasting.

Just a thought but if it is nerve impingement an anti-inflammatory might give you some relief. I have had a lot of luck with icing an area that is injured as well if you are sure of where the problem originates from.

Originally Posted by Blade Wielder

Has anyone here ever slept the wrong way on a limb and experienced lack of mobility due to a pinched or compressed nerve? Last night I awoke after three hours to a significantly reduced ability to extend the fingers and wrist of my right hand. My arm's in a splint at the moment.

Wielder,

I generally try to select the largest branch on the tree to sleep on. As we all know, sleeping on the forest floor can result in things much worse than temporary numbness and large branches are much more sleeper friendly than those small limbs.

Yes. With the symptoms you described, it sounds like you slept on your shoulder which caused compression of you radial nerve. It runs down the side of your upper arm and then runs on the top side(top side of hand side) of your forearm. THis is why you are having trouble extending you writs and fingers. The good news is it will get better, but sometimes it can take weeks depending on how long you compressed it. Try not to worry because it will get better. Just try to avoid re-injury by sleeping on your shoulder. A good tip that was given to me is to stretch out your arm and sleep on your ribs and it will help avoid this type injury.
Good Luck, and I hope it feels better soon.

I'm dealing with something very similar myself. Not sure if it's from mowing the yard or sleeping wrong. I've got a numb spot on my right forearm about 6 inches long and an inch or two wide. order. The numbness is very much like the nerve damage below my knee from ACL reconstruction. My sensei did some acupuncture with no effect, though one of the needles did excite the radial nerve quite a bit. I'm thinking a trip to my chiropractor may be in

Originally Posted by sensei_kyle

I'm dealing with something very similar myself. Not sure if it's from mowing the yard or sleeping wrong. I've got a numb spot on my right forearm about 6 inches long and an inch or two wide. order. The numbness is very much like the nerve damage below my knee from ACL reconstruction. My sensei did some acupuncture with no effect, though one of the needles did excite the radial nerve quite a bit. I'm thinking a trip to my chiropractor may be in

Sounds like numbness over a sensory dermatome. Dermatomes in the forearm are supplied by the cervical spine and upper thoracic spine. A patch of numbness, as you describe, may indicate some problem in those areas. Make sure your chiropractor rules out disk involvement, and other pathology, prior to spinal manipulation.

yea I used to know a guy who had alot of nerve until someone knocked that chip off his shoulder and he err..oh those kind of nerves.

I have major neck issues and what I have learned over the last few years is when nerves begin to be compromised you are in for a real and unending world of hurt.

It happens to me occasionally, and sometimes the tingles are painful, but it goes away in about 30 minutes.

Now, call me crazy or slow, but what can a plastic surgeon do for you? I'd think a chiropractor would be more appropriate.

Originally Posted by Quick Orange

It happens to me occasionally, and sometimes the tingles are painful, but it goes away in about 30 minutes.

Now, call me crazy or slow, but what can a plastic surgeon do for you? I'd think a chiropractor would be more appropriate.

I'm not sure, actually. The doctor I saw said he (or she? *scoff!* ) would take a look at the affected area.

I woke up one morning to find I had wrapped the duvet round my left arm and put pressure on it and I couldnt move it at all. I had to pick it up with my right hand just to get out of bed! It felt like it was made out of heavy rubber and you could have stabbed it and I wouldnt have felt a thing!

I was pretty concerned at first but it started to regain feeling after a half hour or so and started functioning again a little after that.

I hope your arm gets better soon!