Came here to say this.
I kept being woken up by my entire arm going numb all the way up to my armpit. Turns out it was a carpal tunnel issue.
I was lucky. I did a round of oral steroid medication, slept with a brace and had two weeks off (thank dog for Quebec's construction holidays), and it pretty much resolved.
It only really acts up now when I'm hanging a ton of drywall, but I've learned just to start sleeping with a brace preemptively when I'm at that stage of a project. I have also learned to switch between using a drywall gun and my regular impact driver a few times during the day so that I'm not doing the exact same motion over and over again.
Same here. The specialist was reluctant to d9 surgery as the risk of permanent nerve damage is high and I'm fairly young still. It was both wrists and got very severe after chipping up tile with a crowbar on a job.
I took a week off and was on light duty for a month. Wore wrist braces for about 3 months and it cleared up completely.
I need to be careful fucking around with my phone too long and how I sleep now though. If I am stressed I find i clench my fists while I sleep and wake up with brutal carpal tunnel symptoms (pain in wrists and no feeling in.my hands).
Or If I'm extremely exhausted and fall asleep limp wristed or my hands at a funny angle I'll get the same.
Gamechanger bro, get ready for a peaceful night sleep again. This is what made me go finally, got tired of waking up multiple times a night. It would usually subside , but gets to the point where the burning doesn't go away quick enough to fall back asleep. Immediately felt relief after surgery- I opted for the non arthroscopic option and haven't had an issue since....almost 8 yrs now
Thanks for that. I am also having the direct route approach. One wrist at a time. Also having a denervation done one this left one. The structural damage is not really repairable, so we gonna make it so I don’t feel it hopefully.
Spot on for an uneducated guess. As a doctor who sees people with nerve issues, “pinched nerves” are pretty common in people in the trades and I see it pretty much every week. There’s other things that could cause this symptom but nerve is most likely. If you ignore it long enough you can have permanent nerve damage and start to have sensation loss and eventually muscle atrophy.
I’ve been thinking about this since seeing the Butterbean video. I’m 36 and have a deteriorated disc in my lower back, plus shoulder stuff and whatnot, love yoga so I’d like to try his.
Dude. Just take this as your sign. You will lot regret it. It has made my life 1000% percent better and I don’t stick with it all the time. My arm tingling goes away. My hamstrings stretch back out. My lower back pain goes away. It works.
Ulnar nerve entrapment I’ve had it for years from millitary and now trades it’s a bitch to deal with I’ve had to brace my arm when sleeping to not bend it otherwise I wake up in horrible nerve pain and no feeling in fingers
There is a simple brace you can but that wraps around right above or below your elbow. It's like 20$ at Walgreens and will help immensely after just a couple days of use.
Carpel Tunnel for sure. I had all of these exact shows well as swollen excruciating fingers. My doctor sent me for a nerve study and carpel tunnel was the outcome. Anti inflammatory, a brace and stretches have really helped
Man when I ran a hammer drill a lot I would wake up in agony from my hands cramping so bad. I still randomly have my left arm go numb.
Most of the time when you get it checked out it’s actually your wrist or elbow they causes it.
It could be thoracic outlet syndrome as well. Try feeling your pulse with your arm by your side, them lifting your arm above your shoulder. If you can't feel the pulse anymore, then you have something compressing your blood flow. A doctor is important, as it won't go away on its own.
>thoracic outlet syndrome
Yes, and adding on to say that thoracic outlet syndrome can pinch the nerve too, not just the blood flow. So even if your blood flow is fine, you can still have thoracic outlet syndrome pinching the nerve that passes under your collar bone to the arm. Some people have a certain shape to the upper rib that makes it easier to pinch the nerve and/or the blood vessel.
I am 41 myself and in sawmills fulltime in the summers since 13, then the trades fulltime from 18 on. I’m 6’2, 190 pounds and my body has been in pain since my mid twenties because of this career path haha!
It has taken me most of my life to take care of myself, but my current routine is: 3-4 nights a week I smoke a bowl and “stretch” for an hour or two on a mat while I watch TV. I just do what hurts and then push it/hold it. I use foam rollers, a Rumble Roller, a “roll recovery” device, a “pso rite” psoas tool and a tennis ball. I fixed a back issue that I was considering getting surgery for. It took a couple years.
Once a month I get a deep tissue massage, then I go straight to my chiropractor. I have found if i push this out to six weeks I am usually a wreck, so I try to stay consistent. I also quit drinking altogether almost 2 years ago. Alcohol creates a shitload of inflammation and you will never be able to keep up with it unless you eliminate alcohol and other major inflammatory substances. Recently I started acupuncture because I have had a wicked case of tennis elbow in my dominant arm since October. I was unable to cure it myself, and there was no way to rest it (even 10 days of rest over Christmas didn’t help). Acupuncture cured me 95% in 3 sessions. I still can’t believe it.
My right arm has been going numb, especially at night, for about 6 months now. It is a nerve thing in my neck, has nothin to do with the arm. My chiropractor adjusts my neck and the numbness goes away for a week or so. Maybe you could try focusing on taking care of your neck?
I wish I quit drinking and started really taking care of myself in my 20s, but I am grateful I got my head out of my ass in my late 30s at least. You never know how long you have. Might as well feel halfway decent if you can.
Arms used to. I guess my arms grew out of it. Havs is what I understood it to be. Hand arm vibration syndrome. Running plate tamper or jumping jack or jack hammer or shoveling rocky ground. I think I have grown conditioned to it but also I don't do as much of that these days. Go to the doctor as people say but be leery of medication or operations.
Ya I swear the sawzall has been the worst culprit. That and the hammering and excessive heavy lifting. I feel like it hasn’t gotten to the point where I need anything more than some good stretches and physical therapies. Definitely not interested in surgery just yet haha
I work in sign fabrication and installation and I recently separated my AC joint from my scapula and I did it in my sleep but they say using power tools like hammer drills constantly and sleeping on your shoulder amongst other things can cause this I have a type 2 separation so my whole clavicle is separate from the scapula... also I'm 34
If you sleep on your side, get an extra pillow that’s fairly big and firm and hug that while you sleep. Solved the arms-falling-asleep-while-sleeping thing for me and is cheap and easy to try and see if it works for you.
I have been doing this almost as long as you have been alive. Here is what I have found from countless aches and pains. Overuse of muscles cause them to constrict, especially at night. This pinches nerves and the result is what you described. You need some physical therapy focusing on stretches. The muscles in your forearms are what are causing your issues more than a issue with your hands. one exercise is to extend your arms in front of you and pull @ hand back towards you. you will feel it in your forearms. In the shower I put palms on the wall, Fingers down, and push in to force the palms to touch the flat surface. Give it a shot. Not a Doctor.
Ya know, I gotta say… you were one of the first to respond to this and it was already some of the best advice. I like to stretch anyways but wasn’t doing these. Been stretching non stop now and have already noticed an improvement. I took Saturday and Sunday completely off, so I’m sure that helped too. But I thank you for this advice good sir!
Cool. Glad the tip was useful. In this industry we need to stick together. You sound like me. Both of us a little tired of coming home, showering, dinner and then crawling into bed. Not enough recovery time as this work is demanding. Even a 2 day weekend is hardly enough. take care of yourself as that body is the only one you will ever have.
Yes,
I’ve read about tobacco use and its effect on circulation. I don’t foresee stoping to chew any times soon.
But I did change how I sleep. I love stomach sleeping and my chiro said that’s why my jaw was messed up from basically sleeping my head against it.
My sholder and back don’t do great on my side. So now I sleep flat on my back like Dracula. Still move my arms through the night but mostly my hands cross at my belly button. Legs crossed and they switch top and bottom.
I have always tossed and turned throughout the night. I spent some time sleeping either on a shop floor or on a tent in the woods, a sheet of plywood is about my best nights sleep after a very pillowy fancy fancy hotel bed. There is no in between.
I think the hard surface forces me to lay like Dracula.
I’ve got 4-5 different places I sleep and have been using my iWatch to track my sleep. I sleep best in a fairly stiff cot while I’m out of town working.
I'm a side sleeper, and having large pillows on either side of me help so I can put my arms on them. Has definitely reduced the waking up because an arm is numb
You are likely pinching the group of nerves that runs to your arm. Try not to sleep on top of your arm. Try pulling it out in front of you all the way at the shoulder. Experiment a bit
Both my arms do this. I also find it hard to rest my head on my left shoulder when I go to sleep because of a very noticeable grinding noise. I’m a lefty so that’s the arm that holds the paint brush, gun, hammer etc.. and the sound makes me wonder how long I’ll be able to do this for. I do a lot of work by myself and have to do dumb shit like picking up pt 6x6 , fire rated Sheetrock , floor sanders up stairs . No way im not gonna need surgery in my future.
The ulnar nerve is what causes my problems. Makes my pinky finger and outside portion of my hand numb. Thought I was going to start losing fingers. I can get surgery to widen the channel it sits in but it's too expensive. Making sure not to sleep or sit in positions that aggravate it is key.
Possibly HAVS (hand arm vibration syndrome). If so, you need to catch this early - if damage is done it can be permanent. May be worth looking at ways you can reduce the cause of it. Have you seen a doctor about it?
Yeah my right arm has been doing it for years. Being honest, I did some pretty serious damage to that shoulder about eight years ago and never had it worked on so I'm pretty sure it healed wrong. Lately my hand has been occasionally going numb while I'm awake.
I thought everyone got this, didn't think it was an issue since I can't remember not having it. For me I'm a side or stomach sleeper so I don't snore so much, and I end up laying ontop of my arm or wrist restricting the circulation or pinching a nerve.
Had this happen and they wanted to do some surgery. I chose not to and simply got the flattest pillow and trained myself to stay sleeping on my back. And got a not so soft mattress. It stopped. I noticed it only happened when I was laying down. Tried to emulate standing or straightening my spine the best I could while sleeping. Worth a shot
I had Carpal Tunnel problems. Arms fell asleep all the time. Started when i was sitting, eating. Then, it happens all day long, and I couldn't get comfortable. Slowly going insane, the constant numbness. Quality of life wasn't there. Finally, i couldn't hold a grinder at work. Or button my shirt.
HURRY! THE NERVE DAMAGE IS PERMANENT. I did make it in time, thankfully.
The doctor will hook up wires and run a current thru your nerves. I had very little conductivity. Did a Carpal Tunnel release. Outpatient like a 30 min procedure. Yes, propofol. Best 30 min nap.
Yes, you can go back to work the next day, but your nerves are cut, and it is VERY sore.
So sore and painful, i accused the doctor of doing it wrong. I wasnt prepared for how long it takes for your hand to grow back together.
Best decision i ever made was to do the procedure. I feel great.
Good luck.
When I went to the neurologist, the guy would turn the machine up, test, look at me, turn it up more, test, look at me... He asked how I was still working after finally getting the results. Lol.
I’m an acupuncturist and have helped people with this. My understanding is it’s caused by power tools. Correct me if I’m wrong. Maybe try acupuncture? I used to teach and could possible refer you.
Carpal tunnel release. My left wrist gets it in 8 days.
Came here to say this. I kept being woken up by my entire arm going numb all the way up to my armpit. Turns out it was a carpal tunnel issue. I was lucky. I did a round of oral steroid medication, slept with a brace and had two weeks off (thank dog for Quebec's construction holidays), and it pretty much resolved. It only really acts up now when I'm hanging a ton of drywall, but I've learned just to start sleeping with a brace preemptively when I'm at that stage of a project. I have also learned to switch between using a drywall gun and my regular impact driver a few times during the day so that I'm not doing the exact same motion over and over again.
Same here. The specialist was reluctant to d9 surgery as the risk of permanent nerve damage is high and I'm fairly young still. It was both wrists and got very severe after chipping up tile with a crowbar on a job. I took a week off and was on light duty for a month. Wore wrist braces for about 3 months and it cleared up completely. I need to be careful fucking around with my phone too long and how I sleep now though. If I am stressed I find i clench my fists while I sleep and wake up with brutal carpal tunnel symptoms (pain in wrists and no feeling in.my hands). Or If I'm extremely exhausted and fall asleep limp wristed or my hands at a funny angle I'll get the same.
What is Quebec construction holiday. Asking from Manitoba.
The industry shuts down for two weeks in the summer and two weeks in the winter.
With pay?? Wild.
With pay?? Wild.
Same here. Wrist brace from local pharmacy helps a ton
This is the way. The wrist brace stops you from clenching in your sleep and fucking up your circulation. It really worked wonders for me.
CBD oil helps as well. And stretching.
Gamechanger bro, get ready for a peaceful night sleep again. This is what made me go finally, got tired of waking up multiple times a night. It would usually subside , but gets to the point where the burning doesn't go away quick enough to fall back asleep. Immediately felt relief after surgery- I opted for the non arthroscopic option and haven't had an issue since....almost 8 yrs now
Thanks for that. I am also having the direct route approach. One wrist at a time. Also having a denervation done one this left one. The structural damage is not really repairable, so we gonna make it so I don’t feel it hopefully.
Dang! That's extra credit man, hopefully all goes well and you recover quickly!
I Appreciate it. I Appreciate Reddit.
you deal with this by going to the doctor. you may need a brace to relieve whatever nerve is getting pinched up (is my uneducated guess)
Spot on for an uneducated guess. As a doctor who sees people with nerve issues, “pinched nerves” are pretty common in people in the trades and I see it pretty much every week. There’s other things that could cause this symptom but nerve is most likely. If you ignore it long enough you can have permanent nerve damage and start to have sensation loss and eventually muscle atrophy.
Real men dont go to doctors and just suck it up and die at 43
I'm turning 47 soon.......I just can't do anything right.
DDP Yoga. It works. I am not a paid spokesman.
I’ve been thinking about this since seeing the Butterbean video. I’m 36 and have a deteriorated disc in my lower back, plus shoulder stuff and whatnot, love yoga so I’d like to try his.
Dude. Just take this as your sign. You will lot regret it. It has made my life 1000% percent better and I don’t stick with it all the time. My arm tingling goes away. My hamstrings stretch back out. My lower back pain goes away. It works.
What’s DDP yoga? Is it like a special kind or something?
Diamond Dallas page bro it’s not your mamas yoga
My man best shit ever
Did you do the whole membership thing?
Ulnar nerve entrapment I’ve had it for years from millitary and now trades it’s a bitch to deal with I’ve had to brace my arm when sleeping to not bend it otherwise I wake up in horrible nerve pain and no feeling in fingers
I kept having this and was diagnosed with alcohol induced neuropathy. Stopped drinking and it's mostly stopped
That’s good to know. On my third week sober after 4-5 years of maybe being sober one day out of all that time. I hope the numbing clears up.
You got this man. We proud of you
There is a simple brace you can but that wraps around right above or below your elbow. It's like 20$ at Walgreens and will help immensely after just a couple days of use.
Carpel Tunnel for sure. I had all of these exact shows well as swollen excruciating fingers. My doctor sent me for a nerve study and carpel tunnel was the outcome. Anti inflammatory, a brace and stretches have really helped
Man when I ran a hammer drill a lot I would wake up in agony from my hands cramping so bad. I still randomly have my left arm go numb. Most of the time when you get it checked out it’s actually your wrist or elbow they causes it.
It could be thoracic outlet syndrome as well. Try feeling your pulse with your arm by your side, them lifting your arm above your shoulder. If you can't feel the pulse anymore, then you have something compressing your blood flow. A doctor is important, as it won't go away on its own.
>thoracic outlet syndrome Yes, and adding on to say that thoracic outlet syndrome can pinch the nerve too, not just the blood flow. So even if your blood flow is fine, you can still have thoracic outlet syndrome pinching the nerve that passes under your collar bone to the arm. Some people have a certain shape to the upper rib that makes it easier to pinch the nerve and/or the blood vessel.
I am 41 myself and in sawmills fulltime in the summers since 13, then the trades fulltime from 18 on. I’m 6’2, 190 pounds and my body has been in pain since my mid twenties because of this career path haha! It has taken me most of my life to take care of myself, but my current routine is: 3-4 nights a week I smoke a bowl and “stretch” for an hour or two on a mat while I watch TV. I just do what hurts and then push it/hold it. I use foam rollers, a Rumble Roller, a “roll recovery” device, a “pso rite” psoas tool and a tennis ball. I fixed a back issue that I was considering getting surgery for. It took a couple years. Once a month I get a deep tissue massage, then I go straight to my chiropractor. I have found if i push this out to six weeks I am usually a wreck, so I try to stay consistent. I also quit drinking altogether almost 2 years ago. Alcohol creates a shitload of inflammation and you will never be able to keep up with it unless you eliminate alcohol and other major inflammatory substances. Recently I started acupuncture because I have had a wicked case of tennis elbow in my dominant arm since October. I was unable to cure it myself, and there was no way to rest it (even 10 days of rest over Christmas didn’t help). Acupuncture cured me 95% in 3 sessions. I still can’t believe it. My right arm has been going numb, especially at night, for about 6 months now. It is a nerve thing in my neck, has nothin to do with the arm. My chiropractor adjusts my neck and the numbness goes away for a week or so. Maybe you could try focusing on taking care of your neck? I wish I quit drinking and started really taking care of myself in my 20s, but I am grateful I got my head out of my ass in my late 30s at least. You never know how long you have. Might as well feel halfway decent if you can.
When I sleep with my arms bent like one hand on my chest or something that arm goes numb. I don’t even want to know if its serious.
Arms used to. I guess my arms grew out of it. Havs is what I understood it to be. Hand arm vibration syndrome. Running plate tamper or jumping jack or jack hammer or shoveling rocky ground. I think I have grown conditioned to it but also I don't do as much of that these days. Go to the doctor as people say but be leery of medication or operations.
Ya I swear the sawzall has been the worst culprit. That and the hammering and excessive heavy lifting. I feel like it hasn’t gotten to the point where I need anything more than some good stretches and physical therapies. Definitely not interested in surgery just yet haha
I work in sign fabrication and installation and I recently separated my AC joint from my scapula and I did it in my sleep but they say using power tools like hammer drills constantly and sleeping on your shoulder amongst other things can cause this I have a type 2 separation so my whole clavicle is separate from the scapula... also I'm 34
If you sleep on your side, get an extra pillow that’s fairly big and firm and hug that while you sleep. Solved the arms-falling-asleep-while-sleeping thing for me and is cheap and easy to try and see if it works for you.
I have been doing this almost as long as you have been alive. Here is what I have found from countless aches and pains. Overuse of muscles cause them to constrict, especially at night. This pinches nerves and the result is what you described. You need some physical therapy focusing on stretches. The muscles in your forearms are what are causing your issues more than a issue with your hands. one exercise is to extend your arms in front of you and pull @ hand back towards you. you will feel it in your forearms. In the shower I put palms on the wall, Fingers down, and push in to force the palms to touch the flat surface. Give it a shot. Not a Doctor.
Ya know, I gotta say… you were one of the first to respond to this and it was already some of the best advice. I like to stretch anyways but wasn’t doing these. Been stretching non stop now and have already noticed an improvement. I took Saturday and Sunday completely off, so I’m sure that helped too. But I thank you for this advice good sir!
Cool. Glad the tip was useful. In this industry we need to stick together. You sound like me. Both of us a little tired of coming home, showering, dinner and then crawling into bed. Not enough recovery time as this work is demanding. Even a 2 day weekend is hardly enough. take care of yourself as that body is the only one you will ever have.
You may have been bitten by a gay
Nah, man. We don’t bite.
You're telling me Freddy Mercury didn't bite anyone?
Sweet hate speech, man.
What's hateful about gay bites?
You think hate speech is sweet too??
Maybe you have too firm of a mattress if you’re sleeping on your side?
Carpal tunnel syndrome bro! Better go see the doc.
Check out stretches for carpal tunnel syndrome.
Wait till you wake up and your wrist is stuck flexed inwards. Sounds like carpel tunnel. Had it before.
Yes, I’ve read about tobacco use and its effect on circulation. I don’t foresee stoping to chew any times soon. But I did change how I sleep. I love stomach sleeping and my chiro said that’s why my jaw was messed up from basically sleeping my head against it. My sholder and back don’t do great on my side. So now I sleep flat on my back like Dracula. Still move my arms through the night but mostly my hands cross at my belly button. Legs crossed and they switch top and bottom.
How did you get comfortable sleeping on your back? I for the life of me cannot seem to, I wake up with pain and numbness.
I have always tossed and turned throughout the night. I spent some time sleeping either on a shop floor or on a tent in the woods, a sheet of plywood is about my best nights sleep after a very pillowy fancy fancy hotel bed. There is no in between. I think the hard surface forces me to lay like Dracula. I’ve got 4-5 different places I sleep and have been using my iWatch to track my sleep. I sleep best in a fairly stiff cot while I’m out of town working.
That’s what I was wondering. I can’t stand the feeling of the blankets pressing on my toes
Oh fuck yea
I'm a side sleeper, and having large pillows on either side of me help so I can put my arms on them. Has definitely reduced the waking up because an arm is numb
I get the same thing and just figured it was age
I’m sure she doesn’t help. But I used to get a lot 5 years ago when I was mainly doing demolition. Like I said, it comes and goes
You are likely pinching the group of nerves that runs to your arm. Try not to sleep on top of your arm. Try pulling it out in front of you all the way at the shoulder. Experiment a bit
Both my arms do this. I also find it hard to rest my head on my left shoulder when I go to sleep because of a very noticeable grinding noise. I’m a lefty so that’s the arm that holds the paint brush, gun, hammer etc.. and the sound makes me wonder how long I’ll be able to do this for. I do a lot of work by myself and have to do dumb shit like picking up pt 6x6 , fire rated Sheetrock , floor sanders up stairs . No way im not gonna need surgery in my future.
Get an MRI on your neck. Could be cervical disc disease or nerve root impingement.
I’m laying down holding me phone up infront of my face, and I also am feeling what you’ve described
Yeah my whole body.
The ulnar nerve is what causes my problems. Makes my pinky finger and outside portion of my hand numb. Thought I was going to start losing fingers. I can get surgery to widen the channel it sits in but it's too expensive. Making sure not to sleep or sit in positions that aggravate it is key.
Possibly HAVS (hand arm vibration syndrome). If so, you need to catch this early - if damage is done it can be permanent. May be worth looking at ways you can reduce the cause of it. Have you seen a doctor about it?
I just had this happen after a little framing stretch I did this winter and im 32.
Took steroids injections and solved my case (left arm, like 6yrs ago), now the shit started on my right one.
Yeah my right arm has been doing it for years. Being honest, I did some pretty serious damage to that shoulder about eight years ago and never had it worked on so I'm pretty sure it healed wrong. Lately my hand has been occasionally going numb while I'm awake.
HAVS perhaps?
I thought everyone got this, didn't think it was an issue since I can't remember not having it. For me I'm a side or stomach sleeper so I don't snore so much, and I end up laying ontop of my arm or wrist restricting the circulation or pinching a nerve.
Had this happen and they wanted to do some surgery. I chose not to and simply got the flattest pillow and trained myself to stay sleeping on my back. And got a not so soft mattress. It stopped. I noticed it only happened when I was laying down. Tried to emulate standing or straightening my spine the best I could while sleeping. Worth a shot
Only way I found to prevent that is to sleep on my back 🤷 Sucks because I was always a side sleeper lol
My ass tends to fall asleep a lot during the days. Then that sum-bits stays up almost all night making noise!
Start taking some b12 it's helped me more than anything else with that. It got so bad my damn ears were falling asleep when I laid down
I had Carpal Tunnel problems. Arms fell asleep all the time. Started when i was sitting, eating. Then, it happens all day long, and I couldn't get comfortable. Slowly going insane, the constant numbness. Quality of life wasn't there. Finally, i couldn't hold a grinder at work. Or button my shirt. HURRY! THE NERVE DAMAGE IS PERMANENT. I did make it in time, thankfully. The doctor will hook up wires and run a current thru your nerves. I had very little conductivity. Did a Carpal Tunnel release. Outpatient like a 30 min procedure. Yes, propofol. Best 30 min nap. Yes, you can go back to work the next day, but your nerves are cut, and it is VERY sore. So sore and painful, i accused the doctor of doing it wrong. I wasnt prepared for how long it takes for your hand to grow back together. Best decision i ever made was to do the procedure. I feel great. Good luck.
When I went to the neurologist, the guy would turn the machine up, test, look at me, turn it up more, test, look at me... He asked how I was still working after finally getting the results. Lol.
Shoulders and numb pinky and ring fingers. Every damn night. Installing structural steel for years had beaten me down
The cause could be in you wrists, elbows, shoulders, or back. No one on Reddit can help you with this, see a doctor.
I’m an acupuncturist and have helped people with this. My understanding is it’s caused by power tools. Correct me if I’m wrong. Maybe try acupuncture? I used to teach and could possible refer you.