Could sleeping on a couch cause muscle damage - General Health Message Board

Darksoul · 05-18-2009, 04:03 AM

I've been sleeping on a two seater couch since I was fourteen. I'm eighteen now. My bed broke when I was fourteen and my parents decided I could just sleep on a couch.

Basically, my issue is this: In order to sleep, I have to elevate my legs. Now, I'm not a genius or anything but elevating any portion of your body reduces blood circulation. Because of this, it also lowers the amount of oxygen in that portion.

I started working out when I was around sixteen, joined the swim team as well. I was never able to lift more then 160 pounds with my legs even though I managed to swim some 3600 yards a day.

Fastforward, dropped the swim team and stopped working out. I can hardly lift 140 now. After I started working out I've noticed my legs got even weaker, I could hardly walk one mile without noticing my legs starting to ache.

But the real problem would be that I started to play basketball again and noticed my legs wanted to cramp.. just from walking or running a bit. I haven't actually played any real games, I just shoot hoops and such.

I also noticed when I was playing a game of two vs two, around fifteen minutes into the game my legs started to tingle and my feet were getting numb. Not fully numb, but it was the general sensation of blood loss.

That's a good example of lack of circulation.

I noticed a few days or a week ago that my brain sent a myoclonic jerk to my legs before I was fully asleep.

I've been noticing that for a while actually, but it wasn't really a myoclonic jerk before. I was sitting down and noticed pulsing in my legs. I think it was actually a muscle spasm, not sure. I know it meant something about circulation though.

Sorry, I know its a long post and probably not exactly how I wanted to say this, I'm just concerned about this and would like some advice on what to do. I would like to know if this would go away if I did get a bed or if its progressed to a point I actually need medical attention.

herekittykitty · 05-18-2009, 09:27 AM

I do think you need to sleep in a bed at night. Your body and muscles need to stretch out and you need to be able to turn at will. If you are too long for the couch, which it sounds like you are if you have to prop your feet up on the end, that would not be good for you either. That also causes your knees to be under pressure.

Could you tell your parents you are having some physical issues that you think are coming from not sleeping on a bed at night and see if you can get a bed. Even if you just put a mattress on the floor, I think you would be better off.

Kiasmama · 05-19-2009, 05:18 PM

The first thing I would check is your nutrition. That probably has much more of an impact on your muscles and their development than your sleeping position. If you don't feed your muscles and body properly, it can result in what you are describing. See how you are after a few months of a proper diet. I would guess you will see a good improvement.