Numbness???

[kg0936]

I have seen this posted a few times so I thought I would ask.  

At night time when I am sleeping my arms (from the elbow down) go numb/fall asleep.  Every single time.  I usually sleep with one arm bent under  my pillow and can no longer do this.  Also, if I am laying down on my belly and have my head propped up with my hands, again my arms will start to fall asleep.  This started about two months ago.  It is just annoying, but I am wondering if it could be related to the thyroid? I know it is far fetched, I just feel silly bringing it up to my Doc.  One time I told him my legs go numb when I lay down on my stomach, he told me not to lay on my stomach.  So I am more reserved about bringing things up.

[Barb135]

No, I wasn't looking at you like you were stupid.  lol  Since I have cubital tunnel syndrome, I know how badly it can hurt and how annoying the numbness/tingling can be.

Sometimes, the logical answer is "if it hurts when you do that, don't do it".... whether it seems like a smart a** or not....... lol

[kg0936]

Thank you for the advice!  I do have high blood pressure due to poly cystic kidney disease (which I am on med for)
lol, no that makes sense.  I am sure you were not sitting there looking at me like I was stupid. lol. I will try to not bend my arm(s) while I sleep.
Thank you for the advice!

[Barb135]

There's a condition called cubital tunnel syndrome, that can cause pain/numbness in your arms/hands....... The ulnar nerve that runs from the shoulder, past your elbow and down into your hand sometimes "slips" off the bone at the elbow.  This nerve controls the pinky and outside portion of the ring finger.  It's quite common in people who drive a lot, because they tend to rest their elbow on the window ledge, keeping it in a constant postion.  It's also common in people who tend to keep their arms in a certain position for extended periods of time, such as the bending whey you sleep.

At the risk of sounding like a smart a**, the treatment is not bending your arm into that position.  I used to have a job that required several hours of driving every day and I did spend a lot of time with my elbow resting on the window ledge....... I have cubital tunnel syndrome and there are times that I have to keep my arm completely straight and still in order for the pain to go away.  I have a brace that I sometimes wear to keep my arm straight.

You might also have carpal tunnel syndrome, which is similar in that the median nerve that controls the rest of the fingers, gets pinched at the wrist.  It also occurs when the hand(s) are kept in the same position for long periods of time, such as when typing.  Some people have associated carpal tunnel syndrome with thyroid.

[Stufftie]

"Don't lay on your stomach"  That is so rude for the doctor to say.  I had a lump in my throat that hurt and throbbed. Was worse when I touched it...I got the same smart a** remark. Weird a couple of years later we found a thyroid problem...hmmmmmmmm  
Same doctor - I also was having a hard time getting pregnant (over a year of trying) and the doctors advice was to try when I felt "frisky" Yeah, that worked....(I am rolling my eyes)  Never carried full term after my first. What an idiot. But that is a whole other medical forum LOL

I wonder if it is actually blood pressure.  For me low thyroid caused my heart to beat slower.  

Do  you have a pulse ox that you can see your normal heart rate and oxygen and then see what it is while you are having these numb feelings?

The numb feeling for me was constant-whether standing up, sitting, laying. Not to say that yours is not thyroid.  All of our experiences with symptoms and thyroid hormone preferences differ greatly. Our bodies all our different :)

I think we have an intuition that something is wrong.  I know you are feeling something is off and it might take an understanding doctor to run a few tests?

Sorry that is all the ideas I have.....

Do you have any other symptoms.