Numbness in hand and arms

[kimber2442]

I am 18 weeks pregnany and for the last couple of weeks I wake up every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the night with tingling and numbness in my arms. It is mostly my right arm but occassionally in my left. I had the same thing about 2 years ago, but lost 60 pounds and the symptoms went away.  Could this just be from the weight gain from the baby or the way that the baby is positioned or could there be something more seriously wrong?

[xdawnx]

please help me! im going out of my mind. For a year now i have felt dizzy, nausea, headakes, weakness in my arms, legs, face and head, Tingly/numb weird feelings in eyes, face, legs and arms. My eyes feel puffy(although dont look it), akey, drowsy and get sharp stabbing pains in the corners. My head feels strange, akey, dizzy and heavy.
For about 8 months i was getting chest pains and slight b reathing trouble which started about a week after having a tonsilectomy. 7 months later i was diagnosed with a left lung infection and treted for it. now 3 months latere the chest pains are getting worse again and my breathing shallow and fast again. Pains in my stomach, chest, ribs, left arm and shoulder especially are all other symptoms including strange bowel movements...constipation/dirreah all the time. ive seen various doctors who have treated me for all ear conditions and migraines and none of it works! i cant help feeling i need to see a neurologist and this could be seriouse? everything just keeps getting worse. Im 16, female and 7stone by the way and not pregant, aniemic or diabetic or athmatic.
Sorry for such a long comment but it would really be appreciated if someone could help me?

[Craig Brooker]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to obtain a full history from you and examine you, I cannot make a definitive diagnosis.  That said, they symptoms you relate are very likely from swelling compressing a nerve.  When you lost weight, this compression likely decreased and that's why the symptoms resolved.  When women get pregnant, not only do they often put on a little weight, but they often have additional swelling in their tissues (edema) that can also cause compression.  This is most commonly the case at night because your blood basically slows down in your veins when you're not moving for long periods of time and some of the water component of the blood can then leak out and accumulate.  Common areas for this to occur are below the wrist to include the thumb and first 2.5 fingers (usually seen in carpal tunnel syndrome) or less commonly below the elbow on the portion of arm that would touch your side if your palms are facing forward.  Assuming you don't have other reasons for this numbness, it should go away after you delivery your baby and regain your prior figure.  If it doesn't go away then or if it's current causing a significant disturbance, you should see your doctor.