Dead Arms In The Morning

[c.t.,girl]

When I go to bed, I HAVE to sleep on my stomach or else I just can't sleep at all. Not only does it hurt my neck but when I wake up, I find that my arms are next to my head and have no feeling or life to them at all! I have to move my entire body, which is scary, because I don't know if i'm hurting them or moving them in a way that'll hurt later, just to move them back down to my sides to get the blood to flow back into them. I've tried sleeping on my back, but it just keeps me up and makes my limbs restless. I've also tried sleeping on my sides, but then my joints begin to hurt, even with a pillow between my legs!

My question is: How do I keep my arms from doing this without having to sleep on my back?

[Atria35]

Sounds like your arms are going to sleep. Unfortunately, since people move in their sleep (technically, in the higher states of sleep, where you're kind of concious but don't remember), there's not really a way to stop it. It's just something you do. And you don't remember doing it later.

I'd recommend finding proper support for your back. Learning to sleep on your back actually takes a bit of practice (it was unnatural for me until I got a bed that wasn't really big enough for me to roll around and curl up like I do). Make sure you have proper back support. Do relaxing stretches before going to sleep. Try sleeping on your back, but with your head turned to the side (don't ask, it's just something I do that seems to help).

[shooraijin]

Yes, unfortunately this is a positioning problem. What I suspect you're actually doing is pinching a nerve somewhere. Figuring out what you're doing as you sleep, however, is extremely difficult.

[c.t.,girl]

^_^;;; yeah they are going to sleep...i couldn't think of what it was called.

i do sleep on a twin air mattress...so there's not a whole lot of room for me to move around either...but i think i've always slept this way...but the arms thing has only just started...aaah so this is something that's going to take patience...

[K. Ayato]

If you've gotta sleep on your back, try putting a pillow under your knees. It takes a lot of the pressure off the lower back and should be a bit more comfortable.

[c.t.,girl]

i've tried putting a pillow under my knees...it always seems to end up on the floor. XD

[LadyRushia]

This happens to me pretty frequently and it scared the crap out of me the first few times it happened. Usually, I'll wake up suddenly and be like "OH CRAP MY ARMS ARE DEAD I HAVE TO MOVE THEM NOW." Something that helps is to not sleep with my arms above my head or lay on them in any way. If you can't sleep on your back, try sleeping on your side.

[ShiroiHikari]

I sleep on my side with one arm curled under my pillow, and sometimes I wake up and my hands are numb because I've been lying on them with my wrists bent and whatnot. It's kinda creepy. XD

You sleep on an air mattress, like the kind you use to go camping? Dude, I feel your pain, as I had to sleep on one of those for almost a whole year. Ended up buying like three of them because they kept springing leaks and leaving us flat on the floor before morning. Eventually some friends of ours gave us their extra bed and mattress that they no longer needed.

[c.t.,girl]

haha i've been laying on an air mattress since...since...i think 5 years now? or maybe 3...it's kinda hard to remember since it feels like i've always slept on one. @_@;

[Nanao]

You could try using one of those long body pillows and leaning some of your weight over on that. That way you're not completely on your stomach, but it might be enough to take the pressure off of your arms.

[c.t.,girl]

;A; aaah i use to have one of those pillows...so niiiice~! >_> and then my cat from long time ago peed on it...so i had to throw it away. T_T

THAT'S A GOOD IDEA NANAO!

[Midori]

I almost always sleep sideways. My bed is pretty crappy too, so I don't know how I manage it. Maybe that's the reason for my insomnia.

Often, when I'm half-sleep in the middle of the night, I end up curling into lotus position with my feet by my chin, which for some reason is really comfortable to me. But then I always wake up with asleep legs. I used to be able to sleep that way too. :< I'm sad.

[klomp123]

I used to have the same problem, until I realized that if I kept my arms by my sides they didn't turn into wood. It feels weird at first, but you get used to it pretty quickly.
If your neck is hurting, I suggest not using a pillow. It feels much better to have your head at a natural angle rather than tilted back all night.

[aliveinHim]

OH MY GOSH! I know how you feel! I have a giant stuffed Care Bear that I sleep with. I wrap my arms around him and put my head on his face as a pillow. It keeps my arms from feeling like they're rotting.

[c.t.,girl]

If your neck is hurting, I suggest not using a pillow. It feels much better to have your head at a natural angle rather than tilted back all night.

o_o no pillow...odd...but i'll try it...

[Warrior 4 Jesus]

Sleeping on your stomach is bad for both your back and your respiratory system. Why is it so difficult to sleep on your back? Actually the best way to sleep is on your side with your legs curled up a little.

[Arya Raiin]

Yes, unfortunately this is a positioning problem. What I suspect you're actually doing is pinching a nerve somewhere. Figuring out what you're doing as you sleep, however, is extremely difficult.

She could be pinching a nerve or she could be putting her arms in a position that they don't get enough blood. I've done that before since I had an odd habit of sleeping with my arms under me. Yes, in a hand-cuffed style... ROFL!

i do sleep on a twin air mattress...

Well, those don't tend to be good for support... at least that's what I've heard. My dad had one thought and it helped his back. :/

If I'm trying to sleep but one of my limbs go to sleep I prop my back up with a pillow or two. I don't know if you can sleep like that thought. I guess I'm lucky since I can fall asleep just about anywhere.