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What Causes Arms To Fall Asleep With Extreme Aching And Throbbing?
Question: I had a discectomy over a year ago. For the past 3 nights, my arms have "fallen asleep" with such extreme aching and throbbing that is severely painful. Obviously it wakes me up, I stand to try to get the blood flowing, but it does not help. My arms and legs tingle all day long, or fall asleep when I am doing the smallest of tasks like putting my make up on. As I type this there is throbbing in my hands. I am a very active 42 year old female. I work out 3 or 4 times a week (usually in a lot of back pain), and my job requires me to be on my feet for 12 hours a day. Do you think I have reinjured my back or is this a pinched nerve in my neck? It is more prominent on my left side…
Brief Answer:
Several possibilities
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for contacting us.
It is possible that you are having some disc disease in your neck that is causing nerve irritation and pain. This type of pain is very difficult to treat with medications and it can be severe. There is also something called thoracic outlet syndrome where the nerves going to the arm get compressed in the chest wall sort of behind your collar bone and this can cause a lot of arm pain and tingling as well.
I suggest that you see your doctor for some xrays and maybe MRI of your neck to try and sort this out. You may need them to look at your low back as well since you are having back pain and leg symptoms also.
I hope they can find the cause and help you with your pain.
Several possibilities
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for contacting us.
It is possible that you are having some disc disease in your neck that is causing nerve irritation and pain. This type of pain is very difficult to treat with medications and it can be severe. There is also something called thoracic outlet syndrome where the nerves going to the arm get compressed in the chest wall sort of behind your collar bone and this can cause a lot of arm pain and tingling as well.
I suggest that you see your doctor for some xrays and maybe MRI of your neck to try and sort this out. You may need them to look at your low back as well since you are having back pain and leg symptoms also.
I hope they can find the cause and help you with your pain.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
You said that perhaps it's disc disease and that's difficult to treat with medication. ..so how is it treated?
Brief Answer:
what I meant was nerve pain is hard to treat
Detailed Answer:
Sorry, what I meant was that nerve pain (no matter what the source) is hard to treat with medications. We do use medications for pain but it is much better to try and find the source and repair it as this tends to work better. There are many things that may work to relieve nerve pain, for example surgery, chiropractic, physical therapy, electrical stimulation, and steroid injections.
I hope you get a diagnosis and treatment soon
what I meant was nerve pain is hard to treat
Detailed Answer:
Sorry, what I meant was that nerve pain (no matter what the source) is hard to treat with medications. We do use medications for pain but it is much better to try and find the source and repair it as this tends to work better. There are many things that may work to relieve nerve pain, for example surgery, chiropractic, physical therapy, electrical stimulation, and steroid injections.
I hope you get a diagnosis and treatment soon
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Another restless night. I wanna ask why is it so much worse when I am laying flat? I finally got smart and slept upright and the pain was not as intense.
Brief Answer:
pressure is worse lying down
Detailed Answer:
Hi again, Often the pain from thoracic outlet syndrome is worse with lying down because the pressure on the nerve is more. When standing the clavicle moves somewhat forward and takes pressure off the nerves. I am sorry you are in so much pain. Try some anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen until you can be seen by a doctor.
pressure is worse lying down
Detailed Answer:
Hi again, Often the pain from thoracic outlet syndrome is worse with lying down because the pressure on the nerve is more. When standing the clavicle moves somewhat forward and takes pressure off the nerves. I am sorry you are in so much pain. Try some anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen until you can be seen by a doctor.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
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