arm falling asleep at night?

[Zante]

For the last 2 or 3 weeks at night my right arm is falling asleep and getting a lot of cramp. I wake during the night and cant move the arm at all. To turn over I literally need to grab the arm with my other one and lift it up to turn over. I am sorry I know this must be difficult reading for those who cant move a limb at all, the panic of not being able to move my arm is horrid, but in the day time its fine again. This happens every night now. I don't have carpel tunnel, cant ask physio as she is off on long term sick. I am not sleeping in any different position.

Has anyone got any ideas as to the reason for this? I am not aware of any atrophy and to be honest don't know what that would look like. Sorry this is probably trivial compared to what most are dealing with, but its perplexing me.

Thanks for reading.

[Ellie]

Zante You should get professional medical opinion, but the most likely cause is nerve compression somewhere in your arm: in which position is the arm when you notice it's dead?

Btw, you've got to stop apologising for being 'you' - your issues are as relevant as the next person's issues, it's all relative 😘😘

[Piglet]

Zante it must be painful if you’re waking up with it. Are there no other Physio’s, surely there must be someone else covering.
It need checking out though as Ellie has suggested. Hope you get sorted.xx

[Zante]

Ellie sorry for saying sorry 😀 😁. I always feel guilty posting a question!!

The arm does this when I am lying on my back with my arm beside me. So it's down on the sheet next to me. Never had this issue at all before and never during the day. Its so asleep I honestly can't move it at all. It's like I can't feel where it is and feel I am moving the arm upwards but it ain't going anywhere. Xx

[Zante]

Piglet thanks for reply. I did have a letter from the community palliative rehab team to say physio off sick and if I need any physio advice then am to phone their office. I felt guilty doing this when it's not an urgent matter. But she been off for about 2 months now so I might need to call soon xx

[Ellie]

Zante In my case, I need to support the weight of my arms somewhere along the limb to stop my dead-weight arms compressing nerves - this happens because my muscles are very weak, and part of my arm would go numb and have pins and needles (both my arms are 'dead' anyway, so I've no idea if it'd move anyway)

Is it happening to your 'weaker' arm?

It could be circulation related, which is something entirely different, which is a reason to ask a professional's opinion. xx

[Zante]

Thanks Ellie. Yes this is my weaker side which is my dominant side. It's the arm which I tore a deltoid muscle from everyday tasks. It's the arm which shakes just to hold it up raised outwards as it's weak. It all frightens me to be honest. The entire mnd frightens me.

The mnd nurse called last week to confirm its not just the mnd clinic which are no longer doing regular reviews but also the consultants. Apparently now if we have an issue and want it raised with consultant then we contact mnd nurse and she will get me an appointment within a month. So it's not a regular review now.

I think I will try the physio administration people first and see what they recommend. They did say in letter they have other physio there . Just that I had a good report with my current one. I don't like asking for help and need to get passed that! My injury is feeling easier at times in arm and been 2 months now and the falling asleep issue wasn't there until recently. Xx

[Ellie]

Zante If you have a little soft pillow, you could pop it under the elbow to relieve potential pressure on the nerve(s). xx

[Zante]

Ellie I will try that tonight. Thanks. Hadn't given that a thought. Cheers Ellie xx

[Claireflo]

Sorry Zante, with Dad's progression being bulbar onset I have little knowledge of the physical or mobility aspects so far so have no useful suggestions.

I hope ellies suggestion helps but definitely ask for a review by a physio. You really shouldn't feel bad for posting or asking for advice or for help, you deserve support as much as anyone else. I hope you can get some advice from a physio and it helps x

[Zante]

Claireflo Claire u always have lots of useful suggestions and info on this forum so never doubt how much input u give people here.

Am currently half sat up in bed finishing Vera before switching off and have a small pillow at the ready!! I will also phone the rehab team tomorrow for advice and also try and find out if they know when lovely physio is back to work. Thanks Claire. Xx

[SAMMY88]

I also get a dead arm at night , I turn over in bed and my arm slaps me in the face xx

[Claireflo]

Ah that's kind of you to say Zante. It currently feels like I'm taking mental notes of everyone's suggestions as dad's physical deterioration seems to be becoming more of an issue.

Hope the pillow helps and you get a good sleep, it must be quite worrying to wake up and not being able to move or feel your arm x

[TinyLady]

Zante back last year I remember my arm was going dead a lot. In my case it was also the weaker arm and I found propping it on a pillow helped. I think I was trapping a nerve in my elbow because half my hand (fingers) was OK and half was pins and needles.

I ended up with a resting splint which I wore at night (also propped up on a pillow) and that really helped keep it in a comfortable position.

Now that arm is very much weaker. My resting splint needs adjusting as it has become painful (physio says wrist is unstable) and what I tend to do is have it on a long cushion with a hot wheat bag on top of my forearm. It stays like that all night as I can't move it against any weight and it seems to be managing the pain well (I get wrist pain rather than numbness now).

I would get a physio opinion definitely. I also hate asking but I'm so tired of muddling through too xx

[Zante]

TinyLady thanks for the information and advice with what you have found helpful. i did use a small cushion last night and it definitely helped as when I woke up during the night my arm wasn't asleep. With mine I only get it at night and only my weaker arm. I don't get any pins and needles either, I just literally cant feel it or move it at all, cant lift it off the sheet etc. Its a really strange sensation. I didn't get around to phoning the physio team today but that is the plan for this week. thanks. x