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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Severe Numbness And Cold Sensation In Arm?

I often wake from a sound sleep during the night due to my right arm feeling numb and cold to the touch. I do not think I am cutting off the circulation since my right arm, which is the arm that is numb, is not underneath any of my body. What could be the cause?
Wed, 23 Sep 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
Thank you for writing at HCM.
There are several causes of the numbness and cold sensation in the arm. Every pressure on the nerve or circulation can cause it. It might come from compressing the nerve while in a a sleep position where the arm is under the body weight and might effect the circulation of the arm and also the nerves. Another cause is the compression of the nerve at it's origin at the vertebra in the neck, sometimes at sleep these cases can be worse. if you can wake up and move the arm and the numbness goes away in a few minutes this is a good news and tells us that the nerve is not damaged. Some positions you can try to help with it is with you laying on the bed on your belly and the arm hanging at the side of the bed, this might help prevent the numbness and relieve it in case it starts so you do not need to go out of bed. You might need to see a physiotherapist which might give you some exercises that might be a help. If symptoms are not better or progress you will need to see a doctor for definite diagnosis and treatment.
Hope this is helpful to you and answers to your question.
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What Causes Severe Numbness And Cold Sensation In Arm?

Hello, Thank you for writing at HCM. There are several causes of the numbness and cold sensation in the arm. Every pressure on the nerve or circulation can cause it. It might come from compressing the nerve while in a a sleep position where the arm is under the body weight and might effect the circulation of the arm and also the nerves. Another cause is the compression of the nerve at it s origin at the vertebra in the neck, sometimes at sleep these cases can be worse. if you can wake up and move the arm and the numbness goes away in a few minutes this is a good news and tells us that the nerve is not damaged. Some positions you can try to help with it is with you laying on the bed on your belly and the arm hanging at the side of the bed, this might help prevent the numbness and relieve it in case it starts so you do not need to go out of bed. You might need to see a physiotherapist which might give you some exercises that might be a help. If symptoms are not better or progress you will need to see a doctor for definite diagnosis and treatment. Hope this is helpful to you and answers to your question.