Asleep or Numbness?? - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

Midge130 · 06-03-2003, 07:29 AM

For the past (about) 3 weeks, I've been sleeping with my arms above my head while I'm on my back. I've never done this before. Anyway, I always wake up with my arms partially asleep, every time!! Do you think they are really going to sleep, or could it be numbness coming on? I've never experienced numbness before.

Thanks,
Midge

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-Born a premie in 1964-8 wks early
-C-section 1990
-C-section 1992
-C-section 1995
-Shoulder pain since 2000
-C4-C5 bone spurs causing central canal stenosis. Annular tear.
-C5-C6 mild narrowing of canal.
-C6-C7 disc bone spur and annular tear.
-C7-T1 bone spur and annular tear.
-Myelogram 6-5-03
-Surgery-unknown yet, probably in 7-03

Memer · 06-03-2003, 07:44 AM

Hey Midge,

That exact same thing happened to me before surgery, where I would sleep with my arms above my head and wake up with tingling down my arms and hands and sometimes the whole hand feeling dead. Everything would stop in a matter of seconds once I moved. I think we put pressure on the nerves with our arms like that, but there's something about putting the arms above the head that eases the neck pain--and that's, I guess, why we do it.

As far as numbness, I got several spots after surgery. These are spots on my leg where I can't feel the razor and an area in my palm that I can't feel when I'm washing my hands or putting on lotion. It's really strange. I tested to see if these spots were really numb by putting an ice cube there, and I couldn't feel the ice in any of the places for several weeks. I have one spot on my thigh where I still can't feel an ice cube. It's also very sensitive, meaning I can't stand to touch that area or have my husband touch it. The other areas still feel numb, but I can feel an ice cube now.

Hope this is helpful.

[This message has been edited by Memer (edited 08-05-2003).]

janie francine · 06-03-2003, 08:15 AM

Hi Midge,
Yes, I get numbness in my arms about a minute after I've put them over my head. I never even get a chance to go to sleep that way. I also get numbness if I'm lying on my side and my arms are lying on top of each other. It's the pits. I haven't had surgery yet, so I don't know if it will get better after or not. Don't know if that helps or not.
Jeanine

BamaPeach · 06-03-2003, 09:03 AM

I too am numb...I could only wish. My arms hands and neck sometimes are all numb(this is a good day). When I lift my arms over my head they go numb in minutes now. Surgery is coming up soon but after reading that mans post about having that tube for three days I am beginning to have second, third and fourth serious qualms now. I hope this resolves itself for you and maybe just knowing others are having this will help.
Have a pain free day.
Peach

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ACF June 18, 2003 C4-5, C5-6, and C6-7 with bone donor

[This message has been edited by BamaPeach (edited 06-03-2003).]

franjo · 06-03-2003, 09:48 AM

BamaP~

I think that the post about the tube is the exception and not the rule. Most people, from the posts I've read, do not even remember the tube at all. Try not to worry too much about that. More than likely you'll wake up with a sore throat, that's it, and that goes away quickly. If I had to choose the things I'd worry about, this would be WAY down there on the list. His story is rather unsettling, though.

Akuna Matada,

~Teri