Both arms keep going numb...

I just got my ASV machine yesterday. When I got home with it, I set it up by my couch so I could show/explain it to my 13 year old son. I decided to put the hybrid mask on to attempt to get used to it. After about 20 minutes, both arms were numb. Same thing all throughout the night last night. I kept waking up with both arms numb from my arm pits to the tips of my fingers. I sleep on my side and move a lot during sleep due to unrelated pain. So I was laying in my normal positions as usual. It is too early to call my dr, I was wondering if anyone has experienced this when first starting... I am a little worried.

I would like to add that this has never happened to me before. The numbness took about 15 minutes to go away each time I took my mask off because of it. Anything I should mention to my dr or possible suggestions to look into would be appreciated, to mention to my dr if anyone has anything at all that might help I would appreciate it so much. Thanks Kat

I sometimes wake up with my arms asleep, though usually from the elbow down. This is because I tend to sleep with my arms clenched. I've been doing that for 20 years. Maybe a few times a month, one of both hands or arms will be numb. Not so much now since I have been using the machine.

Considering that you were awake when it happened, I doubt it would be clenched arms since you would be aware of it. My only guess is that somehow a nerve is being pinched with your headgear. Can you try loosening the headgear? Or somehow moving the straps differently?

zoocrewphoto wrote:I sometimes wake up with my arms asleep, though usually from the elbow down. This is because I tend to sleep with my arms clenched. I've been doing that for 20 years. Maybe a few times a month, one of both hands or arms will be numb. Not so much now since I have been using the machine.

Considering that you were awake when it happened, I doubt it would be clenched arms since you would be aware of it. My only guess is that somehow a nerve is being pinched with your headgear. Can you try loosening the headgear? Or somehow moving the straps differently?

I was fitted really well yesterday by my RT, so it didn't occur to me that the headgear might be the problem, thanks for that suggestion. I guess I will fiddle around with the headgear and see if I can loosen it without losing my fit.

Another weird thing... I get a sensation, it feels like its in the brain in the forehead area, but it may not be the brain, anyway it's a weird cold sensation that hurts. No throbbing or shooting pain, just a dull pain that is persistent when I have had the mask on for awhile. Frustrating me

On the Liberty headgear, the bottom straps should be 1-2cm under your ears. These are the only ones I can think of that would be pinching a nerve.

FWIW, I had the same problem with the Mirage Quattro headgear. Gods forbid that ResMed would make interchangeable headgear.

You know, I had something similar happen to me during the sleep test (and early on in treatment) that I would like to share. I didn't really have numbness. I'm pretty sure it turned out to be my circulation starting to improve and oxygen flowing through my veins again. It was more of a tingling (paresthesia). Could it be that?

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DiverCTHunter wrote:On the Liberty headgear, the bottom straps should be 1-2cm under your ears. These are the only ones I can think of that would be pinching a nerve.
I will adjust those bottom straps for sure, thanks! Do you know which nerve(s) could be affected?

tattooyu wrote:You know, I had something similar happen to me during the sleep test (and early on in treatment) that I would like to share. I didn't really have numbness. I'm pretty sure it turned out to be my circulation starting to improve and oxygen flowing through my veins again. It was more of a tingling (paresthesia). Could it be that?

That is interesting also. It is certainly a possibility. Do you remember how long your symptoms lasted? Thanks!

Sometimes I awaken with numbness in some or all of the fingers in one or both hands.
If I sit up and do a slow, gentle range of motion stretch of my head and neck, it goes away almost immediately.
The stretch is nice to do at my desk, too. Never hurry.

Experiment to see if headgear is possible culprit. Since the numbness occurred while awake...just sit down and hold the mask up to the face and use it without headgear. Will be boring though. Would need to do it for maybe 30 minutes since past history showed numbness presenting at around 20 minutes of therapy.

chunkyfrog wrote:Sometimes I awaken with numbness in some or all of the fingers in one or both hands.
If I sit up and do a slow, gentle range of motion stretch of my head and neck, it goes away almost immediately.
The stretch is nice to do at my desk, too. Never hurry.

It seems like every treatment I try for various health issues end up causing a new set of problems. I guess I was just expecting to put on my mask, go to sleep, and wake up to my new energetic life. This is kind of a last resort to me. My quality of life is awful. I'm 33 and feel like I'm 100.
Sorry, I'm getting emotional. I'm so afraid this is going to turn into another nightmare.

Addercatter wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote:Sometimes I awaken with numbness in some or all of the fingers in one or both hands.
If I sit up and do a slow, gentle range of motion stretch of my head and neck, it goes away almost immediately.
The stretch is nice to do at my desk, too. Never hurry.

It seems like every treatment I try for various health issues end up causing a new set of problems. I guess I was just expecting to put on my mask, go to sleep, and wake up to my new energetic life. This is kind of a last resort to me. My quality of life is awful. I'm 33 and feel like I'm 100.
Sorry, I'm getting emotional. I'm so afraid this is going to turn into another nightmare.

No it will not turn into another nightmare.........you are asking for help and you are getting suggestions...relax, go through the suggestions one at a time until you find the solution. If you think "nightmare", then it will be a nightmare.......if you have good thoughts and concentrate on a solution, then you will be in a happy place with good results.
Keep trying with a positive attide ...you WILL get there!!!!!!!!
Good luck
Cheers
Nan

nanwilson wrote:

Addercatter wrote:

chunkyfrog wrote:

No it will not turn into another nightmare.........you are asking for help and you are getting suggestions...relax, go through the suggestions one at a time until you find the solution. If you think "nightmare", then it will be a nightmare.......if you have good thoughts and concentrate on a solution, then you will be in a happy place with good results.
Keep trying with a positive attide ...you WILL get there!!!!!!!!
Good luck
Cheers
Nan

Thanks Nan. I needed to hear that. I get so frustrated with my health that I almost feel hopeless. But I have too much to live for to give up. My job as a mom is to prepare my son for his future and I refuse to let all my health issues get in the way of that. Sometimes I would love to know why all this has happened to me. But I guess it doesn't matter why. What matters is getting as much fixed as possible. I know I will never have a "normal" life and I accept that. I just want to be able to LIVE life out of my bed. The sad thing is, my outings consist of doctors offices and drug stores.

Addercatter wrote:
Thanks Nan. I needed to hear that. I get so frustrated with my health that I almost feel hopeless. But I have too much to live for to give up. My job as a mom is to prepare my son for his future and I refuse to let all my health issues get in the way of that. Sometimes I would love to know why all this has happened to me. But I guess it doesn't matter why. What matters is getting as much fixed as possible. I know I will never have a "normal" life and I accept that. I just want to be able to LIVE life out of my bed. The sad thing is, my outings consist of doctors offices and drug stores.

You are teaching him the best possible things, that life is rarely fair and that you just have to keep preserving and making things work. Making lemonade and enjoying it together!

My father worked odd shifts and was going to evening school when I was young and rarely had time for us, trips to the car part stores are some of my best memories. A walk down the smelly car part aisle at Canadian tire is like trip down memory lane. Pharmacy trips maybe the same for him.

I get this sometimes, but I'm convinced it's due to arm position. If I hold my arms straight out such that I'm not pinching the tissue anywhere, the pins and needles go away. Unfortunately, I can't hold them out that way for long. If I can figure out how to lie such that they rest that way, the pins and needles go away.

I can't imagine any form of mask producing the symptoms that you describe. The nerves that provide sensation and motor control to the arms all arise from the vertebral column below C5 (C5 to T1). And I don't believe that any form of mask could put pressure on those nerves. And those nerves are pretty well protected as well.

There was obviously something wrong or you wouldn't have experienced the paresthesias in the arms. And whatever that cause may be, it should be investigated. More commonly it would have been pressure on the nerves, regardless of the source. Certain sleeping positions can cause paresthesias but more commonly on one side or the other. Sleeping on your stomach with both arms under your body can cause paresthesias on both arms. Any possibility that you may have been sleeping on your stomach in such a position?