Numb, Asleep Arms

[astrojetred]

So I've had issues with my arms becoming numb or "asleep" while I'm actually sleeping, and the pain waking me up. I stopped getting it for a while, but I just contributed it to eating better. It's back. I don't get it every night, but enough to worry me. I'm not eating super healthy, but I've cut the grease, sugar, and fat, for the most part. I'll eat deli cold cut subs, and cheese, tomato, jalapeno omelets, and sometimes fruits. A family member who is a doctor told me it may be nerve damage, and that it will just stay numb one day. Total downer. She's been completely wrong, and has underestimated my body before. Not to test fait...

Anyone else have this issue???

[chop163]

Try using the search.

[mightyjoe]

I used to have this problem too.

When I started using club bells to warm-up with, it stopped

completely. Now I use a Mace and club bells. It may have something

to do with tightness or lack of circulation in the shoulder arm connection

region.

Hope this helps.

[djukac]

Probably you are lying on your arms while you were sleeping and that stopped the blood flow to the arms.It happened to me couple of times.

[Cannon]

Most people will tell you this happens to them. Whether they train grip or not, eat well or not, exercise or not... It seems to just be a human anatomy thing.

[Guest Bullitt]

I wake up most nights with one or both arms numb. Have since i was a kid. Pretty normal I think.

[astrojetred]

I'm sitting here right now, and I just got up. My hand is tingling and going numb, and I'm not even sleeping. It's like the blood flow is cut off just from resting my arms on my legs while I type. I'll try the link, later. I have to get ready for work. Ugh

[djukac]

Try beetroot.It's good for the blood flow.

[bobbrown]

Is the tingling in BOTH hands. If so, It is coming from your neck. Tilt you head back and leave it there and see if you hands go to sleeps. Then move your head forward and see if they wake up. If this is it you probably have a pinched nerve between vertebrae 5-7. Which means the problem will come a go. See a Chiropractor.

Or when you hand falls asleep, what part of your hand.......Thumb and 1st 2 fingers or Pink and ring finger. If on one hand and pinky and ring. you have problem in the MCL area. This will also come and go.

Good luck.

[Lazi]

It happens sometimes to me too, not enough pain to wake me up but still...It seem to be aggravated when I am in the mass period, gaining weight.Of course sleeping on one sided over your arm will put pressure on the arteries,cutting partially the blood flow.Beetroot juice and fish oil daily to keep the blood as thin as possible should help a little.

[astrojetred]

It's happening throughout the whole day now. I was pretty bad this last week(s), with moving to a new place, and bending and crushing and lifting with no rest period. I've just been doing it to be happy and relieve stress, you know? It's been a super tough month. I've stopped everything completely, and I'm hoping that will help, but it hasn't yet. The numbness is mostly in my thumb and thumb muscle pad, and index/pointer and ring finger. It travels around, but likes it there. There is dull pain inside the lower inner part of my forearm. The part that would rest on your knees/legs if you were leaning forward while sitting in a chair. My neck does hurt sometimes on my left back side.

[kyle102887]

maybe change positions often while sitting or working to help alleviate any stress your feeling and rotate through different positions so you don't get these over use issues all the time.

I see your training a lot or were.....have you done any opposing muscle work? Like working the muscles that open your hand in conjunction with the muscles that close it. Same with all muscle groups.....imbalances and improper rest and recovery can cause a host of problems. Sometimes strength training can be more destructive than constructive to the body, and you shouldn't forget this. Massages, stretching, proper diet.....some of these things may help.

[bobbrown]

I went to the Chiropractor yesterday. I have a slight tingle in my right thumb and indexfinger and also ring finger and only my right. He said that would come from carpal tunnel in the wrist. If it is BOTH hands its the neck. If its ONE hand and includes the middle finger it is in the wrist if its only the Thumb and index finger its is still probably from the neck.

Good luck

[fightertrainer]

In the palm of your hand when you bend your palm forward you will see the hollow area. That is the pressure point of your palm. You can massage it with your thumb you may feel a bit of discomfort from doing that but keep massaging it. But best way is use a small rubber ball (1 inch diameter)that kids play with, and just put it between your palms and press each other palm in circular pattern for 2 min. and twices a day. Press hard enought to feel tight pressure on both palms. Then put the ball on the hard floor under the hollow of your foot and give it another 2min. of circular motion with the weight of your legs. In acupressure these are the major points of engery flow of your body. Don't hurt to try it

Edited November 18, 2009 by fightertrainer

[astrojetred]

maybe change positions often while sitting or working to help alleviate any stress your feeling and rotate through different positions so you don't get these over use issues all the time.

I see your training a lot or were.....have you done any opposing muscle work? Like working the muscles that open your hand in conjunction with the muscles that close it. Same with all muscle groups.....imbalances and improper rest and recovery can cause a host of problems. Sometimes strength training can be more destructive than constructive to the body, and you shouldn't forget this. Massages, stretching, proper diet.....some of these things may help.

If you read most of my posts, you'll see that I'm all about extensors and opposing muscle groups. And as for eating well, i've completely cut out the grease. I'm eating a salad right now. You'll also see from my posts that I do well with lots of rest. Maybe it was because I wasn't myself this last week or so, from stress. I havent done anything since about sunday. Time will tell, I guess.

[astrojetred]

I went to the Chiropractor yesterday. I have a slight tingle in my right thumb and indexfinger and also ring finger and only my right. He said that would come from carpal tunnel in the wrist. If it is BOTH hands its the neck. If its ONE hand and includes the middle finger it is in the wrist if its only the Thumb and index finger its is still probably from the neck.Good luck

I guess It's my neck, then. But how? Why? My hands didn't go numb when I leaned my head back. I know a few of us guys on here are having this problem. Any one else car to TOFTT and go to the doctor/chiropractor and get a diagnosis?

In the palm of your hand when you bend your palm forward you will see the hollow area. That is the pressure point of your palm. You can massage it with your thumb you may feel a bit of discomfort from doing that but keep massaging it. But best way is use a small rubber ball (1 inch diameter)that kids play with, and just put it between your palms and press each other palm in circular pattern for 2 min. and twices a day. Press hard enought to feel tight pressure on both palms. Then put the ball on the hard floor under the hollow of your foot and give it another 2min. of circular motion with the weight of your legs. In acupressure these are the major points of engery flow of your body. Don't hurt to try it

I'll try it out. I do try and massage my hand/forearm when it happens, and it does help usually 90% of the time. Does that then rule out the problem being in my neck? Should I try a neck massage next time? Would that help?

[fightertrainer]

YOu can use the bigger rubber ball and put it on you back while you stand against the wall with it in between, and just move your back around it. It's better than a lot of pro massage. La Crosse balls are great for this. But for the palm and foot you need small rubbger balls, and remember this kind os palm/foot massage is something you should do 2 min every day for general well being

[astrojetred]

I had my girlfriend push her thumb in that spot this morning, and it actually helped. It was only a short time, but I could imagine how well it may work if I did it longer. Thanks, bro. I'll let you know if I get a rubber ball and try it out for real.

[fightertrainer]

I had my girlfriend push her thumb in that spot this morning, and it actually helped. It was only a short time, but I could imagine how well it may work if I did it longer. Thanks, bro. I'll let you know if I get a rubber ball and try it out for real.

Rubber balls can be bought at walmart for cheap. In Houston u can buy them in the little vending machine in some mall. Big one for body, small for palm and foot, much better than deep massage and cheaper too. For palm/foot health massage it will be a long process with it, since it's not medicine.

[kyle102887]

You should get a foam roller.......and one of those massage roller sticks. Works wonders for recovery and relaxation.

[gaster]

I think I know what the problem is. Read about Cubital tunnel syndrome here: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/02/cell.phone.elbow/index.html

It is also called Cell Phone Elbow.

" Cubital tunnel syndrome doesn't affect only cell phone addicts.

Elderly people who rest their elbows on the arm of a chair can develop the syndrome, as can truckers and people who use wheelchairs who lean on their elbow, Evans said. Some people who sleep curled in a fetal position with their elbows overly bent can develop the syndrome. Another factor could be occupational. People who type in front of a computer, with their elbows bent tighter than 90 degrees, could damage their nerves.

Bending the elbow tighter than 90 degrees for an extended period of time will stretch the ulnar nerve by 8 to 15 percent, Evans said. The remedies are simple.

# Avoid activities that require the elbow to be bent tighter than 90 degrees.

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# Fix workstations so the elbows aren't overly flexed.

# Don't lean on your elbows for an extended period of time."

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I get the tingling in my last two fingers if I'm on a cell phone too much, so I need to watch what I do too.

[GorillaSnatch]

This sounds a lot like median nerve entrapment. There are a bunch (at least 7) sites where it can get entrapped, and you'd really need to see someone in person to get it looked at to figure out where/how it's getting compressed/tensed.

I HIGHLY recommend you see someone. The human body's generally good at dealing with high levels of use and it is not fun (and rarely necessary) to repeatedly fall back on extra rest to temporarily resolve the same problem over and over when you're trying to progress. Also, the median nerve feeds your thumb pad muscles and some very important forearm muscles for crushing - so not dealing with the entrapment could cause big strength losses in your grip.

Also IMHO, I would recommend seeing a musculoskeletal specialist like a physical therapist (DPT) or a chiropractor rather than a physician. DPTs and chiropractors gear their entire degrees towards musculoskeletal stuff, while doctors have a lot of other things they have to put their studying time towards (drugs, cancer, viruses, internal organs, etc). That may just be my personal bias though - take it as you wish.

[astrojetred]

hmm.. The elbow resting thing is interesting. I do rest my elbows, a lot at home. Maybe at work, too. in fact, my hand is just now tingling, now that I rested it on my leg, to type this out. My computer desk is real low, say, knee height.

[astrojetred]

Hey guys, I think you should all look into anaemia via vitamin b12 deficiency. That is where I think my numbness is coming from. I pretty much have all the symptoms.

Thanks for all the help.