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Numbness in hands during sleep
I am a 55 year old male who is apparently in good health. My blood pressure at home is frequently as low as 95/65 with pulse from 47 to 55 when at rest. In the doctors office my blood pressure is 110/70. I exercise on a tread mill for 15 minutes at a time several times per week, snow ski twice a year and was very athletic when I was young. I recently had a complete physical including blood work, x-rays, and a cardiac stress test on the tread mill. My internist said everything was great. My problem is frequent slight numbness in my hands when I awake in the middle of the night. I have used Rogaine on my hair since it was approved but have recently stopped because after a few days of using it as directed, the numbness in my hands can extend to the whole arm. Hanging my arm off the side of the bed causes feeling to return in about a minute. A couple of beers at night also seems to make the problem worse. My doctor says its the way I position my hands while I sleep that is the cause of my problem. What is your opinion? Thanks.
I saw my internist in November 1999 for a regular exam. He discovered that I had high cholestrol and put me on Lipitor. By mid-December, I started developing numbness in my arms and hands that would wake me several times during the night. I would awake in the morning with pain and stiffness in my fingers. After six months or so, I mentioned this to my doctor. Although "unusual," he said to stop the Lipitor. The numbness stopped immediately. After a month or so, I started on Zocor. It has now been six weeks and the numbness has started again. I see a connection! Can anyone else relate this to medication?
I suffered from nighttime numbness in my left hand also. It went on for a very long time and eventually turned into a painful situation that woke me several times a night and also started effecting my arm. Like you, when i hanged my arm over the bed side it relieved. My dr. at the time thought it was a pinched nerve. He said that massages would help but that I needed a neruologist cuz he couldnt possibly begin to tell me which nerve it was. My husband bought me a massager, it has two large rotating knobs. You put it possitioned with the knobs on both sides of the spine (not to hit the spine). The first time he used it on my back he went accross a spot near my left shoulder blade and it sent a sensation down my left arm that I can only explain as like lighting. He went over the area a couple times and believe it or not, I have never had the problem again. It is called Shogun Shiatsu kneading massager, a smaller version of the ones used in chiropracters offices. I cannot believe that I suffered for so long (over a year) when all it took was $50.00 and a caring husband, but one that cant give a good massage to save his (or my <g>) life. It's worth a try. Good luck
Hi,
Hope you don't mind me butting in, but I have the same nagging problem. I'm female, in my 40's, and lately have been waking up with my left hand totally numb! Like you, if I hang my arm over the side of the bed, the feeling comes back after about a minute or two. Sometimes I get numbness in my right hand. Do you happen to get this symptom when you're awake (working, for example)? I get small twinges of it in my hands once in a while. My doctor has told me it's probably a pinched nerve and also like you, and it's they way I have my arms when I'm sleeping. I hope you get a answer to your question from the Forum, because I'm curious too.
dah
Hope you don't mind me butting in, but I have the same nagging problem. I'm female, in my 40's, and lately have been waking up with my left hand totally numb! Like you, if I hang my arm over the side of the bed, the feeling comes back after about a minute or two. Sometimes I get numbness in my right hand. Do you happen to get this symptom when you're awake (working, for example)? I get small twinges of it in my hands once in a while. My doctor has told me it's probably a pinched nerve and also like you, and it's they way I have my arms when I'm sleeping. I hope you get a answer to your question from the Forum, because I'm curious too.
dah
If you have had a normal cardiovascular and neurological examination by your doctor, I cannot think what may be causing your symptoms, other than your doctor's suggestion. If it gets worse or other associated symptoms develop, probably you ought to vistit your doctor again.
I normally feel tickly below my knees down to my feet. And my elbows to my hands. My bp drops to 90/68 at night which wakes me by a pounding heart, and feeling of falling. I have not checked my bp during the day when I feel dizzy, but my usual bp is btween 105-112/70's. I have been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks. I barely started eating two days ago as well as drinking water. I wonder if I could b anemic. I know I probably have some vitamin deficiencies, so I am going to buy multivitamins. I am scared though. I am a 25 yr old female, wife, and mother of 3. I suffer from anticipatory anxiety and obsessive thoughts (fear of dying,somethin is wrong). Any ideas or advice?
A related discussion, Suggestion was started.
Id I'm just sittin around or laying normally my legs and arms sometimes hands get numb for about 30-40 secs. And then goes away! I just wanna make sure I'm not gonna have a heart attack or diabeties. I'm only 32, and I'm scared as hell can someone please tell me what this might be.
Thank you!
Thank you!
For the past 6 months have had several problems with my neck, back, shoulder, arms and fingers. I have also had numbness in my head and pain that feels like and electrical shock. The doctors diagnosised me with a pinched nerve in my neck, carpal tunnel syndrome and a pinched nerve in my elbow. They also concluded that I had several bulging disk in my neck and a slight case of osteoarthritis. Their solution to my problem was to give me vioxx, nortriptyline and tylenol 3. This seemed to alleviat the pain. BUT after taken these medications for about 2 to 3 weeks, I had not slept all and was so exhausted that I slept approximately 14 hours straight. I woke up and my whole body felt like it had fallen asleep, tingling, numbness, even in my eyes, face, legs arms, rear end, back, everywhere. If I turned to one side it would be more severe on the side I was laying on. I should also mention that I had heart irregularities shortness of breath, dizzness and blurred vision the night before. The next morning the numbness was on my left side only. One week later I still have the numbness but not as bad and still only on the left side. I called the doctor. My doctor (neurologist) was not available so I called the neurosurgeon that I had seen before. Since I have a lot of allergies I assumed I was having a reaction to the medications. So I stop taking all of my medication. Three doctors and two pharmisists told me that they had never heard of any type of numbness throughout your whole body from any type of prescription drug. The neurosurgeon ordered an MRI on the brain. And told me if I have any more heart irregularities or shortness of breathe to go to the emergency room immediately. The heart palpations stopped. The other symptons did not. After receiving the MRI, my regular doctor came back in to town and was concerned, he ordered blood test.
I saw my regular doctor yesterday. My MRI and blood test were normal. But, he still suggested that I might possibly have MS. I had already looked up information on the internet about MS because I knew some people who had the same symptons. He suggested having another MRI, an EKG, a spinal tap and more blood test. I just kind of laughed because I have already had 3 MRIs, an EMG and several blood test in the past six months. He also suggested that I go back on the nortriptyline.
I took one last night. This morning, I had more numbness in my whole body, rear, left side of my face, lips tongue, arms and hands. I came to work and got on the internet and decided to look up drug reactions and allergies and found that all three of the medications that I have been on have RARE side effects of numbness, heart palpatations, sleeping problems, low blood pressure etc. (By the way my blood pressure is normally 110 over 60 or 70, but has been 90 over 50 in the doctors office.) I have not had any rib pain, but I have gas pain & indigestion which is alleviated somewhat with loose clothing. I realize that some of my symptons are not the same and/or I may have more symptons than some of you. But I just thought that any of you who are on prescription drugs, that you may want to make sure that you are not allergic to them, because they can cause heart attacks and other life threatening side effects. I realize I am not a doctor and I have not yet confirmed that I am allergic to these drugs, but it seems to me that my doctors seem to be guessing a lot and have not yet come up with a definite solution. I feel that most people know their bodies pretty well and when something is wrong, we know our symptons better than anyone.
So if you feel it could be your prescription please make sure you check out all side effects including the RARE ones. If anyone else has these symptons and feels I might be grasping at straws or has any other suggestions. Please let us all KNOW. Thank you.
By the way, I am female, age 38.
I saw my regular doctor yesterday. My MRI and blood test were normal. But, he still suggested that I might possibly have MS. I had already looked up information on the internet about MS because I knew some people who had the same symptons. He suggested having another MRI, an EKG, a spinal tap and more blood test. I just kind of laughed because I have already had 3 MRIs, an EMG and several blood test in the past six months. He also suggested that I go back on the nortriptyline.
I took one last night. This morning, I had more numbness in my whole body, rear, left side of my face, lips tongue, arms and hands. I came to work and got on the internet and decided to look up drug reactions and allergies and found that all three of the medications that I have been on have RARE side effects of numbness, heart palpatations, sleeping problems, low blood pressure etc. (By the way my blood pressure is normally 110 over 60 or 70, but has been 90 over 50 in the doctors office.) I have not had any rib pain, but I have gas pain & indigestion which is alleviated somewhat with loose clothing. I realize that some of my symptons are not the same and/or I may have more symptons than some of you. But I just thought that any of you who are on prescription drugs, that you may want to make sure that you are not allergic to them, because they can cause heart attacks and other life threatening side effects. I realize I am not a doctor and I have not yet confirmed that I am allergic to these drugs, but it seems to me that my doctors seem to be guessing a lot and have not yet come up with a definite solution. I feel that most people know their bodies pretty well and when something is wrong, we know our symptons better than anyone.
So if you feel it could be your prescription please make sure you check out all side effects including the RARE ones. If anyone else has these symptons and feels I might be grasping at straws or has any other suggestions. Please let us all KNOW. Thank you.
By the way, I am female, age 38.
Carol & Me Too, I also had the numbness (in my right arm) while sleeping (during twin pregnancy). I too was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, about 2 weeks after giving birth. They blamed the numbness as carpal tunnel and the cardiomyopathy as peri-partum. That's wierd that I make the third person to have the arm numbness & then be diagnosed with Cardiomyopathy... a link?? Makes you wonder???
mike&***@****
mike&***@****
Janel, I have the exact same problems and it is really inferring with my ability to get a good night's sleep. I also have this sort of vague tickling feeeling in my left arm and in the tail of my spine. Haven't been to the doctor yet, but am considering it as I am concerned about heart problems.
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I am 44 yrs. old, and in the last year, I have had three heart attacks, CABG surgery (4 arteries), CHF, pneumonia and angioplasty with a stent insertion (5th artery). My hands are tingley numb almost every night, it wakes me up, and it's very annoying. Also, they "fall asleep" sometimes when I raise them above my elbows, like when driving, or putting on makeup, when I paint (on canvas), holding the paintbrush very securely, or even a pen. This has occurred only in the last year, and I believe it's either heart related, or prescription related. The doctors don't know anything. They say I am sleeping on my arms in some unusual way. Not True! Hanging them off the bed helps me too. I know I'm stumped, but it's comforting to know I am not alone.
I'm replying a 2nd time to address the low blood pressure idea. I've been taking a low dose of Atenolol for various types of heart palpitations for about 1 1/2 years now, and it has lowered my blood pressure over time. It never seems to go below 93/60, but my normal blood pressure was about 130/80 for many years (before I started the Atenolol). So perhaps the drop in blood pressure due to medication has now started to cause numbness in my hnds while asleep. This is a very interesting topic (and a very annoying problem) so it would be interesting to continue to hear what people's doctors have to say about this problem. Good luck, everyone!
I dont know what to say but I too was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy 1 1/2 years ago. I had these symptoms with my left arm about 4-5 years ago too. I have also recently been diagnosed with a condidtion called syndrome x, microvasscular spasyms. Go figure!!
Yes, Richard, I have low blood pressure and the same problem with my hands and numbness. My hands also get a bit tingly during the day occasionally. I'm on a medication that also lowers my blood pressure even further as a side effect. My cardiologist says not to worry. As long as I don't faint and hurt myself, that the low blood pressure isn't any problem. It's just a nuisance and one that I can live with. Good luck to you.
Thanks for all the replies. It appears that my problem is more widespread than I had thought and may have many causes. My personal opinion is that my numbness is caused by a drop in blood pressure while I am asleep. This would explain why it becomes worse when I use Rogaine which can lower blood pressure to some extent. My usual blood pressure is around 100/65 but I have measured it myself at home as low as 88/60. My internist insists that my blood pressure is fine and I never feel weak or dizzy. Do any of you have low blood pressure?
A related discussion, Sleeping hands, numbness sleepiness in the feet? And heart palpitations. was started.
Well to me I suggest u stop ur arm from working to hard or lifting or anyother thing which causes arms to tighten and see a docter ...stretch ur arms regular ,try muscle pain relief mint cream and visit ur docter.
I to have recently started having night pains. Mostly in my left arm but have also had them in my right as well. It's like a burning sensation shooting down my hand and into my middle and ring finger primarily. As with others on this thread I have to "rub them awake" for about five to eight minuits before I can use my hand(s). I use my hands a lot as I am a window tinter and 12 volt automotive mobile electronics installer as well as a home remodelers helper in my off time along with being a husband and father of three. I don't get much sleep as it is and the constant waking up and while I drive, talk on the phone, or anything involving the prolonged use of my lefty is a killer. Please respond or call me at 405-625-2059 with any suggestions as to what I can do. As with others on this post again I have been told it's everything from how I hol my hands to carpl tunnel. ( I don't know how to spell very adequately lol).
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