Help on finding name of nerve condition.?

Question

Sometimes when I wake up from sleeping, recline on a chair like at the dentist, or stand for a long period of time, my arm(more sensitive on the upper arm) begins tingling and numbing in a painful manner. Any ideas on what this condition this might be?

Answer 1

Debrac is right.
The most common causes of your symptoms are cervical disc herniation and thoracic outlet obstruction (often caused by a cervical rib) which can also cause circulation problems. Easiest way to exclude circulation problems: just feel your pulse at your wrist and see if it is diminished when you have the pain.
The cervical disc problem can be easily diagnosed with an MRI.
In rare cases I have seen arm pain as the first symptom of lung cancer (due to invasion of the brachial plexus).
As you were looking for names: upper extremity radiculopathy or brachial plexopathy.
Good Luck!

to Beverly R: Reynauds manifests itself with cold distal extremities due to vasospasm. This is clearly not what culture_k is describing.

Answer 2

Numbness of any nerve is the result of compression on that nerve.. circulation is not a cause of reduced nerve function but the reverse is true. The upper arm symptom suggests you have a brachial nerve compression somewhere. It could be found at the nerve root (where it exits the spine) There would necessarily be an accompanying inflammatory condition if the symptoms have been there for any length of time.. This is not an unusual symptom for someone having a whiplash type injury to the neck.

You may want to consider being attended by a doctor of Chiropractic.. they treat this type of condition quite successfully.

Answer 3

Sounds more like circulation problem than nerves.
Like compressing the capillaries nearest the skin by leaning on that part.

The other is that nexus of nerves right at the outside top of the elbow, the so called "funny bone"

Definitely ask the doctor first about the circulation part. Neuro issues are harder to diagnose, you have a waiting list just to see the neurologist, AND circulatory problems can kill quick, nerve problems take much much longer.

If it is circulatory it becomes a more immediate priority, and if it isn't, you then have crossed that off the list of possibilities. Sometimes diagnosis involves more finding out what it isn't first.

Answer 4

Just had ulnar nerve transfer surgery at my elbow. A neurologist did the EMG studies from neck down first to see where the entrapment began and it was my elbow. Had gone to the orthopedic doc first who ended up doing my surgery.
Reason for going all the way from neck down, since yours also is upper arm also is that I have had fusion of a disc in my neck and wanted to be sure wasn't a nerve being trapped from that area.....Good Luck btw...mine started first with tingling then a dullness feeling into my small finger and ring finger..If you do have this you can begin to have muscle wasting that can not be reversed so best you get going to that doctor

Answer 5

I have the same problem and mine is from nerve root compression from a herniated disc in my neck. The nerves from the spinal chord in the neck send signals to the brain and if compressed, cause tingling, numbness and weakening of the arm(s). I'm not suggesting this is also your problem, though. You may consider consulting a Neurologist. Feel better, I hope it's temporary.

Answer 6

The condition you speak of is known as "Reynauds Syndrome". Though it is primarily a circulation problem, it is also a symptom of other medical conditions, such as "Lupus" & "Fibromyalgia".
It can also be a symptom of severe "Carpal Tunnel Syndrome". Wearing a wrist brace at night to bed can help. "Tennis Elbow" can also cause the tingling in your arm from elbow to shoulder. A tennis wristband worn on the forearm just below the elbow can help.

Answer 7

Look up TOS syndrome ( thoracic outlet syndrome ) and nerve impingement of neck and shoulders.

Answer 8

maybe parasthesia