# Can't feel my arms at night! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 12, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078 "2006-03-12T20:54:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![username\_taken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/c0e974/32.png) [@username\_taken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/username_taken)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/1 "2006-03-12T20:54:22Z")
I always sleep on my stomach, usually with one or both arms under my pillow. For about 3 months now both my arms loose circulation at night. In the morning my feet hurt to step on. I’m in good health (exercise reguarly) not overweight. I have a pretty good diet (drink too much at times). Any ideas on this? And not to worry- I am making an appointment tomorrow with my doctor. But I’d love any imput until I get in to see him. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/2 "2006-03-12T22:10:42Z")
> [@username\_taken](#): > > I always sleep on my stomach, usually with one or both arms under my pillow. For about 3 months now both my arms loose circulation at night. In the morning my feet hurt to step on. I’m in good health (exercise reguarly) not overweight. I have a pretty good diet (drink too much at times). Any ideas on this? And not to worry- I am making an appointment tomorrow with my doctor. But I’d love any imput until I get in to see him. Something about you position may be obstructing blood flow. Try some alternate position(s). I prefer to have the mattress pulled up toward the headboard so that my feet can hang over the edge when prostrate. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/3 "2006-03-13T00:11:27Z")
Form time to time this happens to me when I’m face down. My arms can go so far ‘asleep’ that I’m incapable of moving them at all and need to flop about to change position so they wake up. It’s not a pleasant situation. But there appears to be no long-term detrimental effects. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2006, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/4 "2006-03-13T01:36:43Z")
> [@username\_taken](#): > > In the morning my feet hurt to step on. This could be the unrelated condition of [plantar fasciitis](http://heelspurs.com/index.html). Ask your doc about it. ---
**Author:** ![ryobserver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@ryobserver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ryobserver)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/5 "2006-03-14T02:00:13Z")
This started happening to me several years ago, but only when I slept on my stomach. Luckily it only ever happened to one arm at a time–luckily because I would sometimes wake up and find the affected arm was effectively dead from the shoulder down and I couldn’t feel where it was. Before trying to roll over I would feel with my other hand, grab the wrist of the numb arm and pull the arm to my chest, so I could move without fear of dislocating any joints or tearing anything. The only solution I found was to give up sleeping on my stomach. ---
**Author:** ![charizard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charizard/32/4166_2.png) [@charizard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/charizard)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/6 "2006-03-14T15:59:14Z")
> [@username\_taken](#): > > **Can’t feel my arms at night!** … For about 3 months now both my arms loose circulation at night. > [@spingears](#): > > Something about you position may be obstructing blood flow. Not that it makes a practical difference in this case, but it might be noted that the numb sensation that we get in our limbs from sitting or laying in certain positions isn’t actually loss of blood flow; it’s more of a nerve-pinch effect. Your limbs are WAY too well-supplied with blood to let it be cut off by sitting or laying down. Otherwise, if you stayed in that position for very long you’d be at serious risk of losing your limb. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/7 "2006-03-14T19:05:20Z")
Well, there’s always [Saturday night Palsy](http://www.ncemi.org/cse/cse0919.htm) or complications from a [cervical rib](http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/40001959/). Your doctor should have a good idea where the problem lies after they’ve investigated and examined you. ---
**Author:** ![Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/779978/32.png) [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/8 "2006-03-14T19:51:32Z")
My ankles hurt pretty badly in the morning, often so much I limp for a bit after I get up. It always goes away after about 20 mins. When I saw my doc about it, she said the problem is a combination of being on my feet all day and wearing cheap shoes. She wants me to get orthotics (which’ll happen someday - at $300 a pop I can’t afford it yet). She thinks that will help a lot. FTR, I spend over an hour a day just walking to & from work and between the shops where I work, plus I’m lifting heavy stuff like lumber and bricks of clay on a regular basis, usually items anywhere from 20-50lbs. Do you spend a lot of time on your feet or do heavy work throughout the day? As far as your arms go, sounds like the weight of your head on top of them is putting pressure on the nerves. Maybe try one of those memory-foam pillows or a thicker pillow? Changing sleep position might not work, as you could roll back out of habit while you’re asleep. ---
**Author:** ![KiwiQueenslander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba9def/32.png) [@KiwiQueenslander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KiwiQueenslander)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/9 "2012-12-17T01:29:33Z")
I have been so scared and shocked by what happened to me last night! I woke up during the night, lying straight on my back and both of my arms were totally dead, totally asleep. I felt like all I had was a head, torso and legs. I hoped that this wasn’t a freak thing and I could get them moving. Slowly I thought hard and lifted and shook my left arm them once a bit of feeling came back I used my left arm to lift and shake my right arm to get feeling back. I was so scared and still am thinking about it. I’ve woken up twice this week with my left arm asleep but never both before, and I wasn’t even lying funny trapping nerves! Any advice or assistance please! Annette (Queendland, Australia) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/10 "2012-12-17T02:19:59Z")
> [@KiwiQueenslander](#): > > Any advice or assistance please! Annette (Queendland, Australia) See your doctor. Just don’t tell them you were seeking advice from a zombie thread. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/11 "2012-12-17T04:10:33Z")
Yeah. I wonder if username\_taken survived. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/12 "2012-12-17T04:12:34Z")
Good news, 94 posts over the years. I guess if it was spinal trouble it was handled more or less OK. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/13 "2012-12-17T06:05:18Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > Good news, 94 posts over the years. I guess if it was spinal trouble it was handled more or less OK. Only 94 in 6 years? Yeh, probably typing with his/her toes. ---
**Author:** ![Sister\_Vigilante](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@Sister\_Vigilante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sister_Vigilante)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/14 "2012-12-17T21:09:39Z")
This happens to me in my legs when I lie flat on my back or stomach. My thighs both go numb. I also can’t sit with my legs stretched out, it feels like my thigh bones are coming out of the sockets. A medical assistant asked me once if I’d ever dislocated my hip. Nope. ---
**Author:** ![s0meguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@s0meguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/s0meguy)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/15 "2012-12-17T21:26:32Z")
I don’t get how people find it comfortable to sleep on their stomachs. I find it impossible… ---
**Author:** ![Learjeff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/94ad74/32.png) [@Learjeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Learjeff)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/16 "2012-12-17T22:34:05Z")
Pay attention to how much of your arm is numb or “asleep”. For example, if it’s mostly the pinky side of your hands, up to your elbows, it’s probably “cubital tunnel syndrome”. So, how far up your arm does it go, does it include your whole hand or just part, do you feel tingling, and are your muscles paralysed too? I have cubital tunnel, but not too bad, and I have to avoid certain sleeping positions – no big deal. As mentioned above, it’s more likely a neural thing than a circulation thing. I do remember waking a couple times with my arms numb and paralysed. One time I awoke very startled to find someone’s hand on my face and jerked, only to find it was MY hand after all. Ick. Another time I awoke from a very deep sleep by a ringing phone that due to the preceeding dream I felt was very important to answer. Both my arms were numb and paralysed, and I couldn’t actually get up, but instead rolled off the bed and sort of crawled to the phone, which was in another room. It was an unsolicited sales call. Imagine my delight. (For the careful reader, yes, some life came back into my arms to answer the phone.) Those were unrelated to cubital tunnel, though: very different symptoms, and a long time before I developed it. ---
**Author:** ![benbo1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@benbo1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/benbo1)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2012, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cant-feel-my-arms-at-night/348078/17 "2012-12-18T11:41:56Z")
Possibly, Peripheral Artery Disease. Some symptoms only show up if the body is in a certain position, or a certain area is compressed.