Acute pain and numbness in arms & hands when sleeping.

[vkrue]

Hi, am new here... will try not to sound dumb.

I've been reading several of the posts regarding numbness while sleeping but, none really resemble my experience.

I experience severe pain and numbness in my arms (especially my elbows) and hands when sleeping. Sleeping is difficult as a result. I can sleep as little as 15 minutes before the pain wakes me or sometimes a couple of hours... (this is when the pain is the worst). I usually just change positions and feel relief after a minute or two allowing me to return to sleep.
This happens repeatedly all night... every night.
This has been happening for several years.

I am 44 yr. old male, 6'2" - 300 lbs.
Heart rate in mid 60s
BP 110/80
Non smoker
Became very sick this past winter (2006-2007) had bronchitis for 6 weeks... went through 3 types of antibiotics before recovering.
Family Doc suggested a Pulminary Function Test.
Recently failed PF test...(miserably) I passed out before finishing the test and later (10-20 minutes) had some kind of seizure or attack which lasted approx. 30 minutes.
Family doc has scheduled several other tests to find problem with passing out during PF test.
TEE indicates:
1- Mild mitral regurgitation with normal left atrial size.
2- Trace Tricuspid regurgitation
3- Intra-Atrial septal aneurysm
4- Small low septal (septum premum) defect with predominantly left to right shunting, but right to left shunting was seen on the bubble study during valsalva and coughing increasing maneuvers to increase the right-sided pressures.

Am concerned with the pain & numbness while sleeping...
Any suggestions ?
Any conections with other symptoms ?

Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Vic

[idesofmarch]

Google carpal tunnel syndrome to see if it matches your symptoms.  I believe it will but I am not sure if it is also a symptom of your "heart" problem.  If you find it to be carpal tunnel it would be my suggestion to get 2 braces for CTS or repetative strain injury.  You will find them at Walgreens, Walmart, CVS etc. They cost about $20.00 avg. and if you buy them do not take the metal splint out.  It is there for a reason.  Just wear them at night.  If you start having the pain & symptoms during the day you should see a surgeon, Neurosurgeon or Orthopedic. If poosible don't do anything repetative for long periods of time. Advil at bedtime might help too.  Only if it is safe for you to take it.  Ice if swelling or alternate with heat.  See what helps.  Good Luck with everything.

[Workhorse]

I noticed your question and I also have severe pain and numbness in my arms and hands at night when I sleep.  I clean houses for a living and this involves using a vaccum cleaner constantly as well as scraping lots and lots of windows.  It developed after I had been cleaning houses for a while and I notice that when I take time off or don't vaccum  or scrape windows for a few days or more that my arms and hands don't go numb as much.  On the flip-side, however, if I spend a few days in a row of vaccuming and scraping lots of windows the pain is bad enough that it wakes me up throughout the night.  I have not seen a doctor but many people have suggested to me that it is probably some form of carpal tunnel.  Ibuprofen sometimes helps a bit.  When it is really bad I have to get up and walk around my room to until I get the feeling back.  I have found that I sleep better if I lie on my back with my hands folded across my stomach.  Hated it at first, but eventually I got used to it and sleep that way most of the time now.

[Miss Pickles]

I have had similar numbness problems while sleeping.  I went to a chiropractor for months for adjustments and now no longer have the problems.  In addition, I have a mitral valve prolapse and the accompanying low blood pressure which I think contributes to the numbness due to poor circulation.  It looks like you have a mitral valve issue according to your med report.  The mitral valve prolapse, in addition to some pinched nerves, may be your problem.  If I were you, I would try a chiropractor.  Good luck.

[vkrue]

Idesofmarch:
Thanks for your suggestion.  The doctors have suggested in the past that I do not have Carpal Tunnel... I used to wear the braces too... still have them somewhere.

I do not do anything repetitive as I am a truck driver locally... In and out of the truck throughout the day and plenty of odd things to do besides drive.

Many years ago though... I did work in a machine shop for about 12 - 18 months.  Very repetitive work.

Thanks to all,
Vic

[cherishnkaiden]

I too get numbness and tingling in my arms and hands. Mine is due to pinched nerves. It could be your problem also. Have you ever been in a car accident?

[vkrue]

cherishnkaiden:
Hi, yes I have been in an accident.  I actually fractured one of the vertibrea in my back.

Saw a Dr. a few weeks ago... said that my heart and it's issues are probably not to blame.

Saw another Dr. today and he wants me to have a sleep study.  Then perscribed med's for asthma and acid reflux... I do not have acid reflux and I can't figure out what he's thinking :(   but, I'm not the Dr.

[Mic11]

Just read all of your feedback........... I too have hand numbness..... Started in left hand (pinky and ring finger), progressed to whole hand....... after about five weeks, hand first occurance in right hand. that was my first call to my doctor. This all started about June 2007, Now it is mid august and I cannot sleep one night without having my hands completely numb each night. I wake up to shake and rub them......... they come back and a try to go back to sleep. It seems to be getting worse as time passes, one night it took almost 10-15 minutes for me to get my left hand back.........  My other issue is that it seems to be causing me to have fatigue or some weird feelings during the day....... muscle ache or just not feeling normal. I had some minor feet numbness in mid-july, but it has always been my hands at night.......
My issues during the day are scaring me abit....... I have had an MRG to rule out carpal tunnel, MRI's on my head and cervical spine, showing minimal things my Primary care can see....... i have an appointment in mid sept. with a neurologist to go over my MRI's and symptoms, but it seems too long.......... I dread 9:00 oclock because I know sleep is coming soon....... which means waking up around 12:30 totally numb ........... then 2:00ish,  about 3:30ish ........... and once more around 5..... then i give up and just get going for work.......
I am a male, 37 years old, 6' 2" 240lbs, little heavy.....but in with an athletic build, always been, and still play sports, High Cholesterol, but my blood work has come back OK........... for sugars and white cell.......... I original thought my issue was vascular........ circulation was what I thought was my issue, but the clinic doesnt seem to think so......... Nerve issues scare me more.............Any feedback would be great.........

[[email protected]]

I have the same numbness as you have described here.  I am 39 years old a little heavy but besides that in good health.  Everything you said is happening to you is happening to me.  Its 2am right now and I can't sleep my arms ache too much.  
Have you found anything that gives you any releaf ?

[Mic11]

Today is Wens morning and I had a real rough night.......... Left hand went so numb and I must not have woke up soon enough...... because when i finally did wake up my hands were so tight and stiff, it took so long to get them back............ My PCP does not have any sence of urgency..... Made a list of Chiropractors and going to call a few to see if they have ever heard of my situation.......... Kepp me informed..........

[mikeowtby]

Mic,

Every single symptom you've described has been happening to me over the past year or so.  I have seen a nuerosurgeon and had an MRI.  The MRI showed some disc bulging in the C2 - C5 area of the spine.  A rhumatologist did blood work on 11 vials of blood and it all came back normal.  The nuerosurgeon felt that the minor spine issues were of no concern and recommended some physical therapy.  The rhumatologist now wants me to undergo a sleep test for sleep apnea.  Based on what I have read  along the lines of these posting, there are a lot of people who are experiencing these symptoms.  If any doctor helps you please post it here.  I have about had it with the sleepless nights.  I did have my primary prescripe sleeping pills (ambien).  They work great but then my arms tend to be in pain during the day.  I've found that to be easier to deal with than to have the sleepless nights.  One other comment, a orthopeadic doctor told me I had tendonitis in my elbows but did nothing to actually diagnose it, other then make me move my arms one way or the other.  Good Luck, hope someone can help.

[josie34]

I too get numbness on my hands and fingers when I am sleeping.  I get up in the middle of the night, I feel the numbness especially around my fingers and it take awhile to get back to normal.  I only notice this happens during the winter.   Any suggestions.  I have not gone to the doctor yet, but if it persist, I will need to...

Thanks/Joyce

[topcatdancer]

I never put the numbness/tingling that started in my left hand in 'conjunction', so to speak, with the problems i have with my arms and hands now.  It started in my pinky and slowly spread across a couple of more fingers.  But then occasionally i would wake up with some pretty tough numbness in my arms and hands.  Sometimes one is worse than the other, but usually if it is happening at all, then there is numbness in both arms/hands.  Now it is every night, if not waking me up 2-4 times a night.  And the pain as the numbness goes away is enough to make me cry.  It's not just like when a foot or something "goes to sleep" and then there is tingling.  My neuro that I was seeing at the time (for epilepsy) did a couple of tests.  An MRI showed a mildly/slightly herniated disc in my neck.  But the kicker for me was the nerve conduction test/study.  This revealed mild to moderate carpal tunnel in the left and moderate to severe in the right.  Then he also said there was ulnar nerve entrapment.  That is what this sounds like when pain/numbnes/tingling occurs when the arm is bent at any time for a prolonged period, like talking on the phone or propping yourself up with your hands or resting your head on your arms.  I haven't gone back since the pain/numbness has gotten worse, but plan to asap.  It can take over 20 minutes to get feeling back, and it is painful the entire time.  Good luck to all, and Merry Christmas.

[markpain]

I knew it wasnt just me. Same stuff as you all. I'm 53 and have had it on and off for years. Winters are the worst. All the x-rays and tests. I think it's tendons. It happens when I have bursitis or tendonitis. It's happening right now using this keyboard. I hope you all can find relife. I think its just something we are stuck with. Find a good pain reliver and hope for the best. Now you know why all those old farts complain about arthritis so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Good luck, Mark

[GeeDee219]

Ditto, ditto, ditto to all of you.   This just started for me in the last couple of years.  I have the same nighttime problems with hand / finger numbness and sleeplessness.  So, I purchased a very expensive mattress cause I blamed it on the bed.  NOT!!

Also, add bruxism to the mix.  When I went to my dentist yesterday, he said I have symptoms of bruxism (grinding your teeth).  I keep telling him that I don't grind while sleeping, but now I know I do.    Upon investigating this dental issue today I read websites:  www.gimurphydds.com and American Academy of Head Neck and Facial Pain: www.aacfp.org.  

Now that I acknowledge the fact that I grind during sleep,  I also have other subtle symptoms which I ignored till now.  I wake in the a.m. with base of the neck headaches, my jaw is popping occasionally, ringing in my ear, tooth sensitivity.  My new theory.....I want to find out if temporomandibular joint disorder, which may be contributing to neck problems such as the spasms or tightness, could in turn be causing my hand / sleep problems.  

You know....the muscle, nerve, neck therefore hand connection.   It is a shot in the dark, but we are all looking for answers.

[CMR_5]

I have had this exact same problem.......my doc did the tests for carpal tunnel and that came back positive. But, he told me that what was going on was that while I sleeping, I was pinching the nerves in my arms by bending my elbows and putting my hands up by my head. He told me to sleep with my arms straight. It works! I didn't read all of the posts on this but I just wanted to share my experience.

[medicmommy]

Hello!
Just to let you know...My sister began experiencing similar symptoms several years ago and they have gradually worsened...She was a team long haul driver (tiny thing, 4'11")...She has now been diagnosed with several herniated disks in her neck, and will soon be getting the disks replaced (not fused)...The disks are bulging into her spinal cord and she often loses sensation to a toe, a half of a foot, her hands, etc, and now is unable to lift her arms...Her neurosurgeon said that he often sees truck drivers and believes the constant vibration from driving weakens the disks and also creates arthritis and bone spurs...She has been told she has reached a point where the smallest injury involving her neck (a simple forward fall) could cause swelling and permanent paralysis...

[medicmommy]

I almost forgot...She said using a "boppy" pillow at night really helps her sleep...(It is a crescent shaped pillow that nursing mothers use to support the baby while breastfeeding...

[hibby]

over the last couple of years i had numbness in my hands/arms whilst sleeping mostly, also when holding telephone or other items for period of time.  started with pinkie and ring finger and now whole arms and sore elbows.  recently had nerve conductor tests for carpal tunnel but all came back ok.  do suffer from lower back pain and also towards the top. had shoulder op approx 3 years ago which was successful but problems seemed to start after that. any advice of what to do now?

[caddlover]

I would also like to say I have been experiencing pain and numbness in my left hand during the night and also some pain in forearm. My middle finger is the worst. It always hurts and is numb until i get up and move around but remains swollen. I am woken up by this every night!
Have not been to doc yet. Did try a wrist band--but no help on the finger.
thanks for hearing me..52yr.old female

[Gettingoldsucks]

I also have pain and numbness in my arms and hands at night. It runs from the top of both arms into my fingers. It happens every night no matter what I do. If I work, don’t work, watch TV all day, exercise, it doesn’t matter. I get the pain every night.
I do have carpal tunnel but reportedly just a mild case. Well, if it’s carpal tunnel causing all this pain at night, there is nothing mild about it. The pain wakes me very night, and I know how important sleep is. REM sleep is necessary for good health, personality, temperament, etc. Good restful sleep is something you cannot get if you wake every two hours in pain.
I have had this problem for seven years now. I have seen doctors, spent time in the hospital, tried the carpel tunnel gloves at night, take Advil before bed, I even received cortisone shots in both wrist, but nothing works.
In addition, after seven years of this torture, things are starting to change. Not only do I have the pain in my arms and hands at night, my face is now white as a ghost when I wake in the morning. I wish a doctor or an famous person would get this problem, so someone would care enough to find out what it is, and thus benefit all the rest of us.

52 year old female

[RDHSKM]

I am 45 years old.  I am a dental hygienist and a school bus driver.  I was in a car accident last November when a car hit me broad side.

I was in so much pain for months that I was unable to move my neck.  I saw a physical therapist for a while but she only made things worse.  Then I started seeing a massage therapist.  He actually helped!  But then shortly after the accident I started having pain in my shoulder and down my arms.  Mostly my right arm, which is also my dominate arm and numbness in my right hand.  This isn't good since I hold sharp instruments in peoples mouths with that hand.  I had the nerve conduction test done and had 60% nerve conduction from my shoulder to my elbow and only 30% from my elbow to my hand.  They took me off work.  I received two injections in my neck where the nerves innervate.  THe first gave me relief from my neck pain, the second hurt so much that I thought I would die.  Felt like lightning going down my arm and out my fingers.  My arm was numb for a week.  My relief was only temporary, maybe two weeks.  Then I began having numbness in my toes.  Started with my big toe on my left foot and spread to all the toes and ball of foot, then to the toes and ball of foot on my right foot.  But the doctor says, "You don't have neuropathy"  She took me off the nerve medication that I was on, thinking it might be from that.  I was only on that maybe two weeks and have been off it now six weeks, still have numb toes.  I have moved to a new area now and will be changing doctors.  I think I am going to go to a Chiropractor now.  The only true relief I have gotten was from one of the shots and from the massage therapy.  And yes, my arm and hand falls a sleep each night.  I can't raise my arm, and it hurts to bend my elbow.  The straightening elbow theory is that if it is tendentious, it will feel better if you keep it straightened and immobilized.  This does not help mine.   It only makes mine stiff and sore.

Has anyone tried chiropractic care and had success?
RDH

[melissap28]

I have numbness in my 4th and 5th fingers on both hands. My arms ache really bad at night. My doctor prescribed me amitriptyline. Tonight is my first night taking it. I will let you know what happens. I am also set up fr a EMG and an MRI. I hope this will give some relief.

[Jewel699]

I had the pain and or numbness in the right arm and many sleepless nights.  For starters, pile up your pillows so you can get in a more layed back position on your back, stack pillows on the sides to rest your arms.  The point is to get off your shoulders and give your cervical spine a rest.  Also, get an MRI and see if you have herniated disks or bulging disks in your neck.  Most often this is coming from your spinal nerves in your neck. Chiro is good but they can HERNIATE disks if they are close to herniation.  MRI is the answer to make sure it isn't coming from your neck.

Jewel

[Jewel699]

4th and 5th fingers normally means your C7 disk is blown or herniated.