Thread: Numb Limbs

I hate when this happens. I think that my circulation sucks and it only seems to be getting worse. I used to only feel numbness, but in the past five years (since I was 19) I'll sometimes wake up and not be able to move an arm because the circulation's been cut off for a while. It's rather frightening. I think that sleeping with someone makes it worse too.

I don't have any solution other than discipline in your sleeping position. This only happens to me when I happen to be laying on an arm so I tend to position my arms away from my body. I don't think it'll cause any damage, unless you're drunk or something and sleep through it. I've learned to trust my body to wake if I'm in a physiological crisis. I wake if I'm having an asthma attack and can't breath and I'll also wake if the tissue in a limb is threated by lack of circulation.

I've often woken with one or both arms totally numb and paralyzed. Sometimes it even takes a whole day or two before my hands feel "right" again, so I actually worry that damage could be done by it.

I took note of what positions cause it though, and now try my hardest never to assume those positions, and rarely experience this anymore.

I have the same problem, even the problem that I can't sleep on my back. I Don't have an answer though.

Shame then, but at least I'm not alone. I can't tell which position I fall asleep in and if I make it my objective to stay in one it can make rolling over even more tempting. I do find I'm more satisfied if I'm exhaused, that way bed in general insanely comfotrable so I can sleep in better positions. Only problem is I can't be bothered to get much excercise and at this time of the year being outside all day gives me a miserable time with hayfever later even though it's fun. Do you at least reckon I can "train" myself to sleep on my back? Is it possible?

I was trying to train myself to sleep on my back a few years ago. I didn't exactly succeed, but I didn't fail either; I did get better at it. It would take work and some hours of lost sleep but it should be possible to train yourself. But it's also unnecessary because there are other positions which won't result in numbness.

I have the same thing with numbing my arms at night. It doesn't help that the sleeping positions I find the most comfortable put my arms at the greatest risk of numbing. You have to wonder if your arm has been deprived of the proper amounts of oxygen for such a great period, would there be some cell damage? I've been thinking more and more I need to try to learn to sleep on my back, but I feel so tense on my back. I basically have to do the full body relaxation method to get my muscles to shuttup before I can sleep, and if I mess up.. back to square one.

I remember hearing if you sleep with your arms/hands above your heart its harder to circulate blood to that spot. Or you may just be leaning on your arms.

Sometimes happens to me. I have very low blood pressure and I assume that the combo of lower blood pressure while sleeping and position of my arms does it. I guess you could just try sleeping in other positions and maybe over time they will become more comfortable? good luck

I get the same thing on occasion where i sleep on my arm and i can't feel it.

The only solution i can see is learning to sleep on your back with your arms by your side. You could maybe even get someone to turn you onto your back while your sleeping, although i don't know many people who would do that for me... .

Is it just numbness or do you get pins and needles too?
I've woke up with really bad pins and needles before. I would assume that complete numbness would come after pins and needles though, which would mean you would have to be a very heavy sleeper to sleep through the body's 'cut-off-circulation-to-limb' defense mechanism of severe pins and needles...

Also, Idolfan, the scares your referring to are probably folding lines of you skin when your lying on it, or are imprints of you duvet cover, mattress or clothes. I get them all the time!