This is called sleep paralysis, and it can be a frightening situation. But if you wake up during one of these phases, you can be conscious before your fully regain control of your limbs. The purpose of this is to keep you from acting out dreams (which occur during REM). During REM sleep, the brain sends a signal to cause a body-wide paralysis. So why does it feel paralyzed upon waking?ġ) It is actually, temporarily, paralyzed. The information that flows from your extremities back to your brain is temporarily disrupted. The radial nerve straightens out the arm and lifts your wrist and fingers.Īlthough Dyck says the exact physiology isn't completely understood, the effect of compressing any of these nerves in sleep - when you sleep on top of your arm or pin it underneath a partner - is like stepping on a garden hose. The musculocutaneous nerve bends the elbow. The axillary nerve lifts the arm at the shoulder. (It’s also true that numbness in the arm can also be a symptom of something more serious, like a heart attack.) "The more likely thing is nerve compression - nerves are being pushed on and squashed, and that causes these symptoms," he says. And it's actually a cool example of how the body can protect itself even during the paralysis of sleep.ĭyck explained there's a common misconception that pins and needles and numbness are caused by a lack of blood flow to the nerves. This phenomenon is really common, James Dyck, a neurology researcher with the Mayo Clinic, told me in 2016. But the feeling in my arm always came back. When this happened to me as a kid, I panicked, thinking I'd done something horrible to my body, anxious that I'd never be able to move my arm again. Paresthesia, 71-90 researchgate.Waking up in the middle of the night to discover one of your arms has lost all feeling is frightening.Īt first, the limb is limp and flops around like a useless bag of bone before coming back to life with a flood of "pins and needles" sensations. Sharif-Alhoseini, M., Rahimi-Movaghar, V., & Vaccaro, A.(2016, March 9) /disorders/peripheralneuropathy/detail_peripheralneuropathy.htm (2012, January 3) /home/symptoms/neurological/paresthesia Numbness (paresthesia and neuropathy).(2015, September 11) /disorders/paresthesia/paresthesia.htm What happens when your arm “falls asleep?” Retrieved from /2008/11/ask-hadhazy-arm-falls-asleep/ (n.d.) /health/conditionsandtreatments/Fluid%20retention?viewAsPdf=true (2016, January 28) /disorders/carpal_tunnel/detail_carpal_tunnel.htm You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. Tumors or growths, particularly those located in the brain or spine, may also trigger it. Other conditionsĬonditions affecting the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis and stroke, can also cause paresthesia.
This damage is called peripheral neuropathy, and is caused by persistently high blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes and are experiencing paresthesia regularly, it may be caused by nerve damage. Making the same motions repeatedly, such as typing on a keyboard or working with machinery, can trigger it. This happens when the median nerve is compressed or pinched. If the numbness or tingling is also affecting your hand, it may be caused by carpal tunnel syndrome. Sometimes this swelling can disrupt circulation and trigger a tingling sensation in the affected area. This can cause swelling to occur throughout the body or it can also be localized in certain body parts.
This is most common among:įluid retention can be caused by a number of things, including high salt intake and fluctuating hormone levels during menstruation. If you aren’t getting enough vitamin B, you may experience paresthesia. Although many people get enough B vitamins through their diet, some people may also need to take supplements to meet their recommended daily amount. There are many types of vitamin B, and they all help maintain cell health and keep you energized. Possible conditions might include: Vitamin B deficiency More chronic paresthesia may be a sign of an underlying medical issue. Your arm will generally “wake up,” and the tingling will stop.
If you wake up with this feeling, readjust to relieve this pressure. The nerves react to the lack of blood flow or pinching by causing momentary tingling. Poor positioning may also lead to pressure being placed directly on a nerve. This prevents the blood from flowing correctly to your nerves. It may happen if you’ve lain on your arm or otherwise put pressure on it. This pins and needles sensation is known as paresthesia.
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