I have had lupus for about two years and have had this off and on for a long time but now it won’t go away and I can’t sleep. I wake up about every hour when I sleep at night with my arms asleep and hurting no matter how I sleep. I can’t just wake them up either I have to physically get out of bed and move around to wake them up. I go back to sleep and it happens again. The doctors say it’s just nerve pain. Am I alone in this. I’m getting really frustrated.
Lauren.
Is it your whole arm or lower arms If lower you could try sleeping with wrist splints on
I get that also, not as severe as you but I definately know the pain.
Hi,
I have had this too, when you say “the doctors” does that include a neurologist? A neurologist will do. Nerve conduction study and see if there is large nerve involvement.this could be caused in the neck or the nerve being pinched in the shoulders. This should at least be checked out, though lazy neurologist like to write it off to Lupus, the tests might show another cause. Some other possibilities would be HNPP hereditary neuropathy with pressure pallsy.with this condition the arm falls asleep when constricted like when you sleeping on it, or lean on your elbows while reading. The nerve induction study would rule that out.
Good luck!
Now n then I get restless leg syndrome so I probably shouldn’t interfere. I take Plaquenil n that helps a lot with all lupus symptoms. It has helped with raynards syndrome too. Sorry about spelling.
I've had that problem for quite awhile. Some night are worse than others. Neurologist found nothing. (Boy, that test was fun!!) Vascular doctor also found nothing. Cardiologist found nothing as well. Nothing helps my Raynauds much except for a topical Niphedipine compound. Maybe sometimes, it just IS the Lupus!!
I’ve noticed that, too. Sometimes I wake up and think, “I must have had a stroke. I can’t move my arm (s).” But, they are just numb. Not fun.
hugs I get it too, but not so bad that I have to get up.
I have it with my arms and legs. I got out of bed one time and collapsed because my left leg was completely numb. At first I thought it was our mattress and the fact that I needed a new pillow, but now I realize it is more. I have a lot of circulatory and nerve issues that I am trying to better understand. I really feel as if my doctors think I am a nut case most if the time. I do take ambian and a light pain pill at night to help get me through the night, otherwise I will wake up around 3am in pain and unable to go back to sleep. Have you tried a sleep aid? It still happens, but doesn’t wake me as much as it use to. I would love to know what causes this and if it is related to my nerve pain,and numbness in my legs. I also have periods of a burning in my thighs when I walk or stand for very long. Please keep us posted as you learn more and I will do the same. Praying you get a restful night sleep!
I had it mostly in my arms too. It would wake me in pain. I am on gabapentin which helped a lot. Then it started up again. Started on Lyrica. Between the 2 of them I’m doing pretty well. The doctors just said it was neuropathy. I had brain MRI to rule out MS. I have spinal issues including disc dehydration and stenosis among others I can’t recall at the moment due to brain fog. Ugh. But the drugs do help me.
It might be restless legs syndrome. A friend of my has it and it sounds like it.asia64.
Wow! Going through this would make anyone frustrated! I have never had my arms to do that, but my legs do this often , it wakes me up and sometimes I even have to jump up out of a good sleep because the Pain is hard and the pain just makes me want to cut the leg off! ( not hurting myself or anything just a figure of speech-smile). I don’t pay attention hardly anymore, but it still happens some mites . The doctor tell me to elevate my legs when I go to bed -that don’t work either ! So now I just deal with it . Hope that you get relief soon , and some sleep also take care…Beverly L.
I get that too but not as bad as you. If I'm laying on my right side, then it's my left arm that goes to sleep. It happens with the other arm too but not as often. My hands get icey cold. I think mine may be a neck problem because I often have neck pain. They say it's a slight bulge in the disks. So whatever. I feel like my telling the doctor doesnt do any good. Never get an answer. I take tylenol sometimes before going to bed. That helps my fingers from aching during the night. Doesn't do anything for the arms though. You're not alone. Feel better!
Sometimes I wake up screaming or hyperventilating because my arms are in pain so bad and it’s only at night when I’m trying to sleep. It does suck not only do I suffer but my partner does too. I just jump out of sleep because it’s so painful. Also my hands get frozen cold on their own out of nowhere, sore for no apparent reason, and numb. But I would say the pain is the worse. Do not feel alone
I just recently started having this same problem. And it just so happens around the same time I started to have really bad chest pain so when I went to the doctor they told me the chest pains were due to atrial fibrillation and told me I had to get an X-ray of my neck for the arm pain. But the pain keeps me up all night. I tried holding a pillow in between my arms to see if that would prevent me from sleeping on top of them, thinking maybe that was what was causing the pain. I’ve tried all kinds of different positions and pillows but nothing helps. Now I even get the pain when I use the phone, or do anything involving my hands. I love to write and this pain has been so bad that I am not even able to do that. Sorry for everyone who is suffering from the same thing, wish I had answers. Good luck!