I am 32 weeks pregnant and yesterday my arm started to feel weird. From the top of my arm by my shoulder all the way to my fingers felt really warm and kind of numb and tingly. This started around 8pm and lasted until I woke up. Today it has happened a few times on and off. I have never had anything like this happen before, even with my last pregnancy so I am just wondering if this is pregnancy related or not...from what I have looked up I see that it could be carpal tunnel, as it is common during pregnancy and our dishwasher has been broke for the past 2 months and I have been handwashing dishes every day since, so that is something that could maybe trigger it. Has anyone else had this happen? Does this sound like carpal tunnel or something else? Thanks!!
Edited: Okay so as I am sitting here I am now getting this same feeling in both of my feet! So obviously it is not carpal tunnel...any ideas at what it could be!?
I had that happen at the end of my last pregnancy and was told by the doc that it was probably baby pressing on some nerves causing it. I'd notice it more in bed when all that extra baby weight was pressing on my spine.
Sounds like some neurological changes are happening. Discuss it with your OB.
Increased fluid volume and new pressure points could be responsible. Probably nothing to worry about and something that will go away after delivery.
I read that its fluid retention that causes 'carpal tunnel' while pregnant. The same fluid retention causes 'restless legs'. I have had the restless legs but not the carpal tunnel symptoms, but my SIL had it and it went away after she gave birth. Our bodies go through the wringer while pregnant, for sure!!
Hang in there...
Yes, it could be (and probably is) carpal tunnel. What you're experiencing in your feet is probably tarsal tunnel (the feet version of carpal tunnel). I had both severely with both pregnancies. It took a while for the foot issue to go away, even after baby was born. If you're retaining a lot of fluid that might be contributing to the issue. I retained about 20-30 pounds worth of fluid with my second. Lost 40 pounds in first 2 weeks after my 7 pound baby was born! I don't know what to suggest to alleviate the problem other than hang in there...it'll go away, like so many issues, after that baby is born!
As I always suggest, go see a chiropractor! ;) You are probably out of adjustment and you have some pressure on your nerves. I received adjustments up until the day before I went into labor with my second and believe me, I wish I would have done it with my first. I slept better, no swelling in my ankles, and my labor went so much easier/quicker. Most insurance plans cover it, too! Good luck.
My doctor has a website with pinters and tips and this was on there:
"It`s not uncommon for women in their latter phases of pregnancy to have occasional feelings of tingling or numbness in their fingers and hands. In pregnancy, it is often caused by a women`s changing posture. As your uterus grows heavier, you may offset your weight by holding your shoulders farther back and flexing your head forward. Comfort measures for this include:
Raising the affected hand above your head, then flexing and slowly extending the fingers upward.
Maintaining good posture."
Good luck!
I used to work for an orthopaedic hand surgeon. I don't think what you are describing is carpal tunnel syndrome, because that usually only causes numbness and pain in the fingers. However, I'm sure what you are experiencing is caused by your pregnancy. With all the increased blood volume causing extra pressure, numbness is common in your extremeties during pregnancy. With both of my pregnancies, I experienced numbness in my legs all night long while I tried to sleep, for the last month or so that I was pregnant. My doctor told me that it was completely normal. Make sure you stretch the areas that are bothering you and you can use warm compresses such as heating pads. If you are really uncomfortable and nervous about the numbness, you could call the nurse at your doctor's office, or talk to your doctor at your next appointment. Good luck!
I also experienced this when I was pregnant and thought it was carpal tunnel too. I got a massage and the massage therapist said my muscles were tight in my pectoral area (above your breasts) and she gave them a good massage and no more numbness! Go treat yourself and get a massage from a professional. Congrats on the baby!
Huh. . .now that I think about it, that happened to me while pregnant. I don't think handwashing dishes would give you carpal tunnel. From wheat I remembered, I only had that happened to me once and I was fine. If it happens again ask you dr at your next appt.
Carpal tunnel usually affects the hands and or the arm from the elbow down. Usually if your first two finger go numb the blockage is in the wrist, the last three and the pinch is in the elbow. If its the whole hand or arm it a pinched nerve in your spine or a disk issue. Either way you need to contact your doctor.
My last pregnancy was like no other I had before, my fingers, arms, feet, and legs all went numb a lot. The dr. told me that because of the excess water in the tissues I got carpal tunnel. He also told me that after I had the baby it would go away but it never did. I know it is very uncomfortable to have your body tingling. There are a couple of different things that you can do. You can go to a message therapist and get a message and be sure to tell them about your arms and legs. You can also get arm bands from a drug store to help relieve carpal tunnel. I wore them at night and just dealt with it during the day. You may have a touch of tendonitis along with the carpal tunnel because I did also. I got the message to relieve my pain after the baby was born because I did not know about the message until then.
Probably not carpal tunnel, which is limited to wrist and hand. But it's common for a nerve in the shoulder or elbow to get squeezed during sleep because of the position you lie in. I have this happen from time to time (in fact today), and it is annoying, but usually goes away in a day or two.
