Nearly lost an arm

[Simpo Two]

Rather scary at the time. Woke at some time, maybe 5-6am, to find my right arm was completely limp and immovable. Sat up and lifted it on top of the bedclothes with my left hand. It was cold, absolutely no feeling, and totally paralysed from the shoulder down. In fact it was like picking up somebody else's arm. Tried to move my hand and arm - nothing. Starting vigorously rubbing it to try to get some circulation back - nothing. I was just wondering what life would be like with no right arm when at last, after maybe half a minute of furious rubbing (insert innuendo here), some sensation returned, some warmth and finally good old pins and needles let me know I still had a right arm.

Thing is - is it possible to lose an arm by sleeping on it for too long? If the circulation is cut off completely, wouldn't it die and have to be amputated?

[Jasandjules]

It's just gone dead due to your body cutting off the blood supply. It'll be fine.

[RemaL]

done the same a few times. great fun

[jeff m]

Heavy aren't they

Not sure what happens if it's ones head instead of a limb.

[kambites]

I've woken up and found myself completely paralyzed a few times - that's slightly worrying even if it does only last a few seconds.

[mickk]

RemaL said:

done the same a few times. great fun

[odyssey2200]

I woke up blind in one eye:

[Greeny]

I usually wake up on a Monday Morning - completly paralyzed and unable to get out of bed

[Rollin]

I think it would be pressure on a nerve that was making it feel numb, not lack of blood. Was your arm blue?








.....Did it feel like someone elses hand?

[Olf]

I get this badly about once a month. I've had it enough times not not to panic too much but it's a horrible feeling when you have to heave a useless arm around trying to kick start it back to life, especially when it's all cold. The pins and needles I get after are a killer.

[Simpo Two]

Rollin said:

I think it would be pressure on a nerve that was making it feel numb, not lack of blood. Was your arm blue?

No, still arm coloured. But the nerve thing would explain the total loss of feeling and paralysis I guess.

I knew a chap who had a motorbike accident and went over the handlebars, landing on his shoulder. It severed the nerve and his arm was then kaput, permanently.

Olf said:

I get this badly about once a month. I've had it enough times not not to panic too much but it's a horrible feeling when you have to heave a useless arm around trying to kick start it back to life, especially when it's all cold. The pins and needles I get after are a killer.

Ever sat in a chair awkwardly and your legs seize up? Trying to walk again hurts like hell and looks remarkably like Douglas Bader!

Edited by Simpo Two on Saturday 23 August 18:47

[sstein]

I don't think your body would let you do that sort of damage to your arm without you waking up?

-

Stuart

[Olf]

sstein said:

I don't think your body would let you do that sort of damage to your arm without you waking up?

-

Stuart

Exactly. You always wake up when this happens, I always presume that you body wakes you up in the nick of time. It is a circulation thing as well not nerves, hence the coldness and pins and needles when you get the circulation going again.

[Frederick]

It happened to me during one of my GCSE exams, I'd been resting my head on my hand while writing and my left arm went dead, I lifted my head up only for my arm to flop down!!

The sensation was unique, lets put it that way!!

[spikeyhead]

I went through a phase a few years ago where this would often happen.

What was worse is that I'd wake up lying on my front with both of my arms in this state. I'd have to flail my legs and body about to move the arms from under me and continue to thrash the torso for a few minutes until very painful pins and needles would start. It was never a pleasant experience, the first few times were very scary, but it stopped happening once I'd got used to it.

[Andy Zarse]

Simpo Two said:

Rather scary at the time. Woke at some time, maybe 5-6am, to find my right arm was completely limp and immovable. Sat up and lifted it on top of the bedclothes with my left hand. It was cold, absolutely no feeling, and totally paralysed from the shoulder down. In fact it was like picking up somebody else's arm. Tried to move my hand and arm - nothing. Starting vigorously rubbing it to try to get some circulation back - nothing. I was just wondering what life would be like with no right arm when at last, after maybe half a minute of furious rubbing (insert innuendo here), some sensation returned, some warmth and finally good old pins and needles let me know I still had a right arm.

Thing is - is it possible to lose an arm by sleeping on it for too long? If the circulation is cut off completely, wouldn't it die and have to be amputated?

It's often a sign of a forthcoming cardiac incident or trauma. Maybe you should get a check up?

[Olf]

Andy Zarse said:

Simpo Two said:

Rather scary at the time. Woke at some time, maybe 5-6am, to find my right arm was completely limp and immovable. Sat up and lifted it on top of the bedclothes with my left hand. It was cold, absolutely no feeling, and totally paralysed from the shoulder down. In fact it was like picking up somebody else's arm. Tried to move my hand and arm - nothing. Starting vigorously rubbing it to try to get some circulation back - nothing. I was just wondering what life would be like with no right arm when at last, after maybe half a minute of furious rubbing (insert innuendo here), some sensation returned, some warmth and finally good old pins and needles let me know I still had a right arm.

Thing is - is it possible to lose an arm by sleeping on it for too long? If the circulation is cut off completely, wouldn't it die and have to be amputated?

It's often a sign of a forthcoming cardiac incident or trauma. Maybe you should get a check up?

fk off. It's been happening to me for years. Don't try and scare people like that. It's because you slept on you arm, nothing more.

[Simpo Two]

Andy Zarse said:

It's often a sign of a forthcoming cardiac incident or trauma. Maybe you should get a check up?

Really, how? Any references?

[kingofdbrits]

I've had the same a few times, even managed to slap myself in the face once.

[Olf]

kingofdbrits said:

I've had the same a few times, even managed to slap myself in the face once.

Did you call yourself a bh and then slap yourself back?