I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

[elsy]

Hi all! Does anyone else have this problem?

I'm not sure if this is related to being overweight or not but here it goes. I've noticed that the heavier I am, the more my arms and hands go numb at night while I'm sleeping. It usually happens when I sleep on my sides so logically, I assume that it's all my body weight that causes it. I constantly wake up with pain.

As my weight lowered, the numbness was less and less, sometimes not even there. I've already lost more than 80 lbs and only 14 pounds away from my goal. So then, why is the numbness coming back then? Why do I still get it?

Some nights (like last night) was the pitts. I woke up so sore.

I haven't lifted weights lately so I cannot blame it on that. I am eating low sodium foods and drinking an average of 168 oz of water a day, so it can't be retained water. Any ideas????

[biogeek]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

Sounds like you have some sort of neuropathy, peripheral perhaps? Have you ever been tested for diabetes or have issues with high blood sugars? I realize you've lost over 80 pounds (woo hoo!!!!!), but it is still possible that you were affected somehow while you were heavier. A visit to your doctor is a great place to start.

Best of luck to you!!! *hugs*

[hrgillespie]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

Elsy I know exactly what your referring to and yes I have it too .....I had been afraid to mention it to my doc because I didn't want to know it was anything that might need any sort of treatment that might effect my eating adn excercise plans ....... I get the numbness when I sleep and also when I drive in the arm sitting on the arm rest ........ I have no clue what itis but it drives me crazy.


Heidi

[dream]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

It could be something like carpel tunnel. I have cubital tunnel, which is the same thing only it comes from the elbow instead of the wrist. If I sleep with my arm bent under a pillow it causes my arm and hand to go numb. Any movement that puts pressure on my elbow can make it flare up.. even driving with my elbow bent and leaning on the window or armrest can do it.

[elsy]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

Biogeek, I've never had diabetes, not even at my heaviest weight. I get tested once a year and NO, Never that. I do however have an appointment for a physical exam next week. That concern is definetly on my list. Thanks.


hrgillespie, it also happens to me when I'm driving and talking on my cell phone. I was forced to buy a bluetooth cuz holding the phone for too long would make my hand and wrist numb.

Dream, I developed carpel tunnel when I got pregnant in 05. That was a nightmare and a half. I had to wear my brace all the time. Especially at work for the computer. A couple months later, after the delivery, it went away. I was doing fine until recently. It's been a couple of months now that this numbing at night has started. When I was pregnant I was advised to sleep on my left side so I did the entire time. After the baby was born, I tried sleeping on the other side or on my stomach and I can't anymore. Sometimes my hip hurts and my arms go numb. It's really scary. Now I'm forced to just sleep on my back all night long.

[misplaced southerner]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

hi elsy!!! i had trouble with my right arm and numbness that traveled down to my fingers. my chiropractor explained to me that if a nerve in the neck or back is pinched (that affects the arm) the pain and/or numbness will travel, the longer you have it and the worse it is, the further down the arm it goes. so once it was down to my fingers it was pretty bad. chiropractic treatment fixed me right up. just a thought

[elsy]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

Betsy, that sounds scary too. I'm getting to a point where I'm really concerned that there is something really wrong with me. Maybe it is a pinched nerve. I hadn't even thought about that. All along I've been thinking that it's related to my weight or what I eat.

Has anyone else had this happened to you?

[Robin's Nest]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

Hi Elsy.. There are so many possibilities.. I had the thought it was carpal tunnel once since my job takes me on the computer 99% of the day (Financial), but was mistaken. Went to a hand orthopaedic doctor and what it was was inflammed tendonitis. Does that pain move UP your arm? or DOWN your arm?

He gave me a shot of cortizon, and it went away. I get it every blueeeeeeee moon.. take ibupofen for it before I go to bed.

Feel better! Robin

P.S. Numbing and tingling of your hands/feet happens when sugar is high. Does not shoot up your arm.. so agrees that it most likely is not diabetes. Glad to hear you are seeking the advice of your doctor.

[biogeek]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

Elsy, I hope you get some answers from your doctor as to what you have, what caused it to prevent it from recurring in the future, and to start healing now.

If you do have some sort of peripheral neuropathy, whether it is caused by diabetes, pressure on a nerve, or some other reason, the pain can start in your hands & feet and CAN shoot up your arms and legs. Here's a link to the Mayo Clinic's website about it:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/peripheral-neuropathy/DS00131/DSECTION=3

Hope you get some sleep tonight! Hang in there!

[sheddingflab]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

i have a similar issue...i wake up and the side i'm sleeping on, the arm will be totally dead! like i can't lift it and move it at all and i can't turn over because of it...i have to try to lift it with the other arm and when the feeling starts coming back in it it really hurts sometimes! so i'll get onto my other side, and i'll wake up with the same problem in the other arm! i'm guessing this could be weight pinching on the nerves...its freaky because the arm will be like totally dead-weight...

[Motivated 1980]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

Hi Elsy, I have to say that I go through the very same thing. I sometimes think it's hereditery because my mom developed ct and so did I. But, the weird thing is that my husband is a very healthy man and very lean may I add, still many times at night he also wakes up telling me that his arms are numb , so, I don't know, maybe it's the way we are sleeping that's causing this. Still, it's interesting to know how many of us are going through the same thing.

Hope the best for you!

[SunnySmile501]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

I had that problem and it was caused by degeneration in my cervical spine, spinal stenosis and spurs. It got worse when I lost a lot of weight, but I lost none in my breasts, and my huge breasts were pulling on my neck, especially when I exercised. They made me stop exercising completely until I had a breast reduction. I also had a series of epidural steroid injections to help until I had the reduction. The numbness is completely gone now.

[sheddingflab]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

hmm i wonder if my breasts have something to do with my numbness?? i'm 5'2 with DDs....glad you had the reduction you must be a ton more comfortable now!

[elsy]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

RoxyRobin, biogeek, sheddingflab, Motivated 1980, SunnySmile501....

Thank you so very much for your concern, ideas, suggestions, opinions, etc. It's actually been better the last few days. It's really weird. I wonder if it could be that I still have a little bit of carpel tunnel left and carrying my 22 pound toddler around doesn't help.

Anyways, I'm going to go see my doctor on Thursday and I'll tell her about it. Maybe it is just carpel tunnel. If it's not, then I hope she refers me to a specialist. Whatever I find out, I'll come back and tell you guys.

Again thanks!

[elsy]

Re: I'm worried about numbness in my arms lately

Hi you all. I just wanted to give you an update of what the doctor said. She's not a specialist but did refer me to a Neurologist. She said more than likely it's nothing to worry about. She thinks it's just my carpel tunnel creeping back on me. There's always the surgery alternative. YIKES


Anyway, we'll see what the neurologist has to say. My appointment it's not till June so i won't hold my breath and you don't either. LOL!

The weird thing is that some days it's not there at all and other's it just won't go away. Grrr. What a pain!