arm going numb?

20vturbo · 07-05-2008, 08:49 PM

Alright so I am 26 and have been training bjj for about 6 months about 3 times a week and just this weekend I have noticed that my left arm will go numb while I am laying down from the elbow down…it is kind of like I slept on it wrong or something but now instead of coming back to life like it used to the index finger and thumb stay numb….like now as I type this my index finger and the tip of my thumb are numb….everything else comes back like normal…but not the 2 fingers!?!?! What have I done?!

KenTheWalrus · 07-05-2008, 11:29 PM

You might have carpal tunnel.

"Many people that have carpal tunnel syndrome have gradually increasing symptoms over time. The first symptoms of CTS may appear when sleeping and typically include numbness and paresthesia (a burning and tingling sensation) in the fingers, especially the thumb, index, and middle fingers.[3] These symptoms appear at night because many people sleep with bent wrists which further compresses the carpal tunnel. If the median nerve is already under stress, the increased compression of the bent wrist results in numbness and tingling. Difficulty gripping and making a fist, dropping objects, and weakness are symptoms of progression. In early stages of CTS individuals often mistakenly blame the tingling and numbness on restricted blood circulation and they believe their hands are simply “falling asleep”. In chronic cases, there may be wasting of the thenar muscles (the body of muscles which are connected to the thumb)"

-ken

Acexwanderer · 07-06-2008, 12:59 AM

You might want to go to a doctor, limbs going numb isn't something you want to mess with.

JarMan · 07-06-2008, 02:53 AM

I had this about a year ago and was freaked out a little. What was causing it was that at the computer my forearm would rest on the edge of the desk while my hand moved the mouse. This was causing impingement of a nerve. I was sure it was from bjj, but as soon as I started restin my entire forearm from the elbow to wrist on the desk it went away.

slideyfoot · 07-06-2008, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JarMan

What was causing it was that at the computer my forearm would rest on the edge of the desk while my hand moved the mouse. This was causing impingement of a nerve. I was sure it was from bjj, but as soon as I started restin my entire forearm from the elbow to wrist on the desk it went away.

Yeah, my arm went funny last year, which initially I thought might have been from sleeping position, or possibly BJJ. However, turned out that it was easily solved: just changed which finger I was using to click the touchpad on my laptop. If you've got a desk job, definitely worth taking a close look at your body position, as that could be the root of the problem.

20vturbo · 07-06-2008, 06:00 AM

yeah that was my first thought since I do have a desk job but I started feeling the numbness around wed of this week and I work fri, sat, sun 7pm - 7am...so it seems to have come in the middle of my off time? I also thought I read somewhere that if it was carpal tunnel that it would just be numb from the hand down....hmmm. guess I have more reading ahead!

thanks for the input guys!

Throwing Dummy · 07-06-2008, 10:54 PM

This could be related to a tense or sprained neck as well. I often get numb hands, fingers or arm due to a pinched nerve at my neck.

If it doesn't go away, seems severe in any way, you should definitely see a doctor. A doctor would say see a doctor immediately if you have any unexplained numbness in your extremeties that does not resolve itself quickly.

ViceGrip · 07-06-2008, 11:10 PM

Numbness, especially spreading or repeating, is never a good sign my friend. Get that checked out pronto.

No Quarter · 07-07-2008, 08:45 AM

I experience this from time to time, and I was diagnosed with a pinched nerve in my back a few years ago which is the cause of my problem.

You should have it checked out further.

Green Monkey · 07-07-2008, 10:30 PM

I've had numb fingers on each hand for something like 15 yrs, but it's due to swelling in my shoulders pinching the nerve that passes through the joint.

Volleyball might not look like a tough-guy sport, but it surely has done a lot of damage to my knees, shoulders, one elbow, and fingers.

I did have it checked out years and years ago, but the doctor wasn't worried about it, so I have just let it slide.

Ice and anti-inflams should help, but GO TO THE DR. before you ignore it.