I have occasional problems with RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury). This one I get from my habit of sleeping with my left arm under the pillow and over my head. I quite often wake up with a numb arm, or a numb pinky and ring fingers. Then to add insult to injury, I spend all day resting my elbow on my armrests.
The end result is entrapment of the ulnar nerve at the elbow (cubital tunnel), causing my fingers to tingle a bit if I flex my elbow a bit too much, or bump the funny bone even slightly. In a sitting position with arms extended or slightly bent, I’m fine, but I can feel the fingers tingling if I work the elbow too much.
For the next few days, I’ll have to splint my arm at night so I can’t end up in that position, and lay off overusing and abusing my elbow at work. When I was younger, I used to get away with all this, but it seems getting old sucks.
I’ve only had a “numb arm” from sleeping a handful of times. It’s pretty annoying when it happens, though. I wake up thinking I’m partially paralyzed.
Go see Dr. A. Lee Dellon at John’s Hopkins.