# Dead Arm **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 14, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998 "2012-11-14T16:54:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mkelly4275](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@mkelly4275](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkelly4275)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/1 "2012-11-14T16:54:16Z")
I have been suffering with a dead arm when I wake up in the mornings now on and off the last few years. Recently my arm is totall dead in the morning and feels like the blood is rushing to my fingers and ready to explode but had nowhere to go. Has anybody else experienced this feeling and if solved the problem? Ive heard it could be a nerve problem but am cracking up now with this severe pain waking me up and 5 nd 6 in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/2 "2012-11-14T16:56:44Z")
Go to a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/3 "2012-11-14T16:59:45Z")
Have you been lying on your arm while you sleep? Sounds like you just cut off the blood supply for a while. If a few minutes later your arm isn’t feeling better, go see a doctor. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/4 "2012-11-14T17:02:39Z")
I’ve experienced it, but not since I was a kid/teenager. I put it down to sleeping on the arm on a firm bed and cutting off the circulation. My arm was cold, lifeless, and the blood rushing back was like thousands of electrical shocks to the fingers for about a minute or so. I experienced this maybe a half dozen to a dozen times over a number of years. I had to pick my arm up with my other arm in order to move it. ETA: Yeah, what **TriPolar** said. ---
**Author:** ![tallcoldone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@tallcoldone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallcoldone)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/5 "2012-11-14T17:13:08Z")
IANAD, but I think it’s a nerve that is getting pinched, not blood flow being cut off. I get this once in a while too. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/6 "2012-11-14T17:16:24Z")
> [@tallcoldone](#): > > IANAD, but I think it’s a nerve that is getting pinched, not blood flow being cut off. Yes. If it was blood flow the arm would rot off, not be temporarily paralyzed. And I suggest trying changing your sleeping position; I had similar if less severe problems that went away when I started sleeping on my right side instead of my left. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/7 "2012-11-14T17:22:13Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Yes. If it was blood flow the arm would rot off, not be temporarily paralyzed. > > And I suggest trying changing your sleeping position; I had similar if less severe problems that went away when I started sleeping on my right side instead of my left. You think the arm’s going to rot off from a temporary restriction in blood flow? Y’okayyy. ---
**Author:** ![mkelly4275](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@mkelly4275](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkelly4275)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/8 "2012-11-14T17:24:18Z")
I slept on my other side last night and woke up even worse this morning and the arm has been sore all day. My fingers seem to go a different dark colour and my hand has been cold all day ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/9 "2012-11-14T17:25:41Z")
> [@mkelly4275](#): > > i slept on my other side last night and woke up even worse this morning and the arm has been sore all day. My fingers seem to go a different dark colour and my hand has been cold all day **go see a doctor** ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/10 "2012-11-14T17:27:18Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > **go see a doctor** At this point, most definitely. ---
**Author:** ![mkelly4275](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@mkelly4275](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkelly4275)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/11 "2012-11-14T17:31:31Z")
Have been to doctors and had tests but noone can seem to find out exactly what it is so have given up on doctors ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/12 "2012-11-14T17:33:16Z")
> [@mkelly4275](#): > > Have been to doctors and had tests but noone can seem to find out exactly what it is so have given up on doctors That makes no sense. A doctor wouldn’t see this as some harmless symptom. What did the doctors tell you? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/13 "2012-11-14T17:35:51Z")
You’re only going to get opinions on a message board, not diagnoses, even from Dopers who are actually doctors, as they cannot physically examine you. If you want to save your arm, go to a doctor for professional advice. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/14 "2012-11-14T17:37:58Z")
Medical advice is best suited to IMHO. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/15 "2012-11-14T17:55:24Z")
> [@mkelly4275](#): > > Have been to doctors and had tests but noone can seem to find out exactly what it is so have given up on doctors So you’re asking some people on the Internet at a message board you just joined? Go back to the doctor. You could have an aneurysm or another serious problem. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/16 "2012-11-14T18:35:42Z")
IANAD The major blood vessels and nerve to the arm pass through a narrow space called the thoracic outlet. If the nerve and/or blood vessel get pinched then [thoracic outlet syndrome](http://www.eorthopod.com/content/thoracic-outlet-syndrome) can result. Sounds like you may be managing to compress these blood vessels at that point. Go to a doctor. And, in my experience, go to about 15 more doctors before you get diagnosed correctly. ---
**Author:** ![chargerrich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chargerrich/32/5399_2.png) [@chargerrich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chargerrich)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/17 "2012-11-14T19:26:21Z")
> [@tallcoldone](#): > > IANAD, but I think it’s a nerve that is getting pinched, not blood flow being cut off. I get this once in a while too. Definitely not circulation. Going all night with no blood to any appendage would end with an amputation! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/18 "2012-11-14T19:30:53Z")
Does not have to be totally pinched to cause symptoms. And, freakier, if the pinch is sufficient you may end up with a [subclavian steal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subclavian_steal_syndrome) - the arm pulling a blood supply by reversing flow through the vertebral artery. The OP needs to get to a doctor. A good one. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/19 "2012-11-14T19:41:26Z")
> [@chargerrich](#): > > Definitely not circulation. Going all night with no blood to any appendage would end with an amputation! :eek: Well, yeah, but you’re not entirely cutting of the blood flow; you’re temporarily restricting it. And it’s not for the entire night anyway, only a few hours typically. You think if you put a tourniquet around your arm for a three hour ambulance ride you’d end up with an amputated arm? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2012, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998/20 "2012-11-15T11:08:23Z")
Besides going to a doctor again, another thing to try is a sleep study. Sleep apnea may be a factor here. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dead-arm/640998.md?page=2)