Arm Numbness
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Tingling in the arm
Numbness in the shoulder
A pinched nerve
Hands are numb after sleeping in an awkward position
Arms are numb
Numbness from elbow to wrist
Sleeping position compressing the nerves
Neck movement causes hands to tingle
Numbness from the shoulder to the elbow
Prickling and tingling in the hands when turning my neck
My elbow feels numb
Arm goes dead when I move my neck
About the Symptom
Arm numbness is best described as a loss of sensation or feeling in the arm anywhere between the shoulder and the hand. It can sometimes be described as a "tingling" or "pins and needles" sensation.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- Numb arm
Possible Causes
Generally, Arm numbness can be related to:
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Compression of nerves and/or blood vessels at the base of the neck, causing symptoms like arm numbness. Symptoms worsen or occur when arms are raised, as this action increases pressure in the base of the neck. Causes include tumors, increased muscle or fat in the region, and abnormal ribs at the top of the ribcage.
- Cervical Spondylosis
A condition in which the neck bones (cervical spine) become damaged due to wear and tear. Risk factors include long periods of desk work and driving, previous neck injuries, and aging.
- Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) or chronic relapsing polyneuropathy happens when the immune system attacks the myelin sheaths (protective fatty coverings) around the nerves. The exact triggers are unclear but could be systemic conditions like liver disease, diabetes, infections, cancer, immune system disorders, etc.
- Spinal Cord Intramedullary Tumor
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Syringomyelia
- Neuropathic Pain
- Spasticity
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Arm numbness may be related to these serious diseases:
- Cerebral Infarction
Cerebral infarction refers to damage to brain tissue resulting from a stroke. It occurs due to decreased blood supply and oxygen delivery to the brain, causing brain cell death and brain damage. It is typically caused by a blood clot or fatty/cholesterol plaques blocking a blood vessel to the brain, but can also occur if a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain.
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you have numbness or tingling in your arms?
- Do you have numbness in your arm?
- Do you have numbness from shoulder to elbow?
- Did you compress your nerve(s) by sleeping in a specific position?
- Do you have neck numbness when bending?
Reviewed By:
Benjamin Kummer, MD (Neurology)
Dr Kummer is Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (ISMMS), with joint appointment in Digital and Technology Partners (DTP) at the Mount Sinai Health System (MSHS) as Director of Clinical Informatics in Neurology. As a triple-board certified practicing stroke neurologist and informaticist, he has successfully improved clinical operations at the point of care by acting as a central liaison between clinical neurology faculty and DTP teams to implement targeted EHR configuration changes and workflows, as well as providing subject matter expertise on health information technology projects across MSHS. | Dr Kummer also has several years’ experience building and implementing several informatics tools, presenting scientific posters, and generating a body of peer-reviewed work in “clinical neuro-informatics” – i.e., the intersection of clinical neurology, digital health, and informatics – much of which is centered on digital/tele-health, artificial intelligence, and machine learning. He has spearheaded the Clinical Neuro-Informatics Center in the Department of Neurology at ISMMS, a new research institute that seeks to establish the field of clinical neuro-informatics and disseminate knowledge to the neurological community on the effects and benefits of clinical informatics tools at the point of care.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- I have numbness in my right arm
- Pins and needles after sleeping in an awkward position
- I have numbness in my left arm
- Numbness in the hands if I turn to look left or right
- Numbness from shoulder to elbow
- Pinched nerve in the elbow
- Numbness in the right arm
- Pins-and-needles in my hands when I move my neck
- Sleeping position caused my hands to tingle
- Pinched nerve in shoulder
- Pinched nerve in the arms
- Numbness in the left arm
- Sleeping position caused my arm to go dead
- Tingling in my hands if I move my neck
- Ulnar nerve entrapment
See full list
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FAQs
Q.
Waking Up with "Pins and Needles"? Is It Circulation or Sleep?
A.
Pins and needles on waking are usually from temporary nerve compression due to sleep position, not poor circulation, and they typically resolve quickly after you change position or straighten the wrist. There are several factors to consider, including common causes like carpal tunnel or ulnar nerve compression and less common issues like peripheral neuropathy or neck problems. Watch for red flags such as symptoms that persist into the day, weakness, color changes, severe pain, or any stroke signs; see the complete details below for prevention tips and when to seek care.
References:
* Basavarajappa S, Jha A, Khwaja O. Nocturnal Paresthesia: Etiology and Treatment. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2017 Jul 27;19(4):17nr02167. doi: 10.4088/PCC.17nr02167. PMID: 28753232.
* Ramin R, Ghaffari M, Aghamolaei T, Zare S, Afshari M. Sleep position and the development of carpal tunnel syndrome: A systematic review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2018;31(2):179-184. doi: 10.3233/BMR-170792. PMID: 28826135.
* Al-Shekhlee A, Al-Shekhlee B, Katirji B. Peripheral nerve entrapment during sleep. Muscle Nerve. 2013 Aug;48(2):292-8. doi: 10.1002/mus.23724. Epub 2013 May 27. PMID: 23712711.
* Jordão E, Mendes M, Viana A, Correia P. Numbness and Tingling: A Practical Approach to Evaluation. Acta Med Port. 2021 Mar 31;34(3):232-238. doi: 10.20344/amp.14023. Epub 2021 Mar 31. PMID: 33785125.
* Boulton AJM, Gropinath M. Peripheral Neuropathy: A Practical Approach to Diagnosis and Management. Clin Diabetes. 2018 Jun;36(3):245-251. doi: 10.2337/cd18-0027. PMID: 29880709.
Q.
Arm Pain? Why Cervical Radiculopathy Happens & Medical Next Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider. Arm pain, tingling, or weakness often stems from cervical radiculopathy, where a neck nerve is irritated or compressed, most often by a herniated disc, age-related degeneration, or foraminal stenosis; see below to understand more. Most people improve with rest, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and posture changes, while imaging, injections, or surgery are reserved for persistent pain or progressive weakness; seek urgent care for sudden severe weakness, bowel or bladder changes, balance problems, major trauma, or chest pain, and find the complete next-step guidance below.
References:
* Woods BI, Hilibrand AS. Cervical Radiculopathy: A Review of the Current State of Evidence. Spine J. 2015 Nov 1;15(11):2345-56. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2015.04.042. Epub 2015 Jul 17. PMID: 26197970.
* Choi J, Lee S, Song KS, Chung S, Lee CH. Cervical Radiculopathy: A Comprehensive Review with an Emphasis on Recent Clinical Research. Asian Spine J. 2021 Apr;15(2):294-307. doi: 10.31616/asj.2020.0076. Epub 2020 Sep 29. PMID: 32993179; PMCID: PMC8062973.
* Iyer S, Kim HJ. Cervical Radiculopathy: A Review of Diagnosis and Conservative Management. Clin Spine Surg. 2018 Sep;31(7):E349-E355. doi: 10.1097/BSD.0000000000000694. PMID: 29847525.
* Childress MA, Becker BA. Cervical Radiculopathy: Anatomy, Etiology, and Clinical Presentation. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2016 May-Jun;15(3):184-8. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000263. PMID: 27171811.
* Dydyk AM, Massa Soule B, Reeves R. Cervical Radiculopathy. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; January 1, 2024. PMID: 32644445.
Q.
That Weird "Vibration" in Your Thigh: Why Your Nerves Feel Like a Phone is Buzzing in Your Pocket
A.
A thigh buzzing or phone-in-pocket feeling is usually benign nerve irritation, most often meralgia paresthetica from compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve; triggers include tight waistbands or belts, prolonged sitting or standing, weight changes, and pregnancy, and it typically causes sensory symptoms without weakness. There are several factors to consider, including other causes and red flags that merit prompt medical care, and simple fixes like loosening clothing, posture breaks, and hydration can help; see below for the complete list of causes, what to try now, when to see a doctor, how it is diagnosed, and treatment options.
References:
* de Paula, A. R. P., Goulart, F. Q., & Pinto, W. B. R. (2016). Fasciculations: What do they mean?. *Current opinion in neurology*, *29*(5), 629-635.
* Kandimalla, R. (2013). Pathophysiology of paresthesia. *Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research: JCDR*, *7*(12), 2912.
* Cheatham, S. W., Kolber, M. J., & Salamh, P. A. (2017). Meralgia Paresthetica: A Review of the Literature. *Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy*, *47*(12), 990-1001.
* Manganelli, F., & Dubbioso, R. (2019). Peripheral nerve hyperexcitability syndromes: from diagnosis to treatment. *Neurological Sciences*, *40*(10), 2005-2016.
* Tavakoli, M., & Malik, R. A. (2013). Small fiber neuropathy: a focus on diagnosis, pathophysiology, and treatment. *The Lancet Neurology*, *12*(8), 776-786.
Q.
What causes numbness from the shoulder to the arm, and can it affect only one arm?
A.
Numbness from the shoulder to the arm can be caused by various conditions, and it can indeed affect only one arm. Understanding the potential causes is important for proper diagnosis and treatment.
References:
Smith SM, McMullen CW, Herring SA. Differential Diagnosis for the Painful Tingling Arm. Curr Sports Med Rep. 2021 Sep 1;20(9):462-469. doi: 10.1249/JSR.0000000000000877. PMID: 34524190.
Shugan A. A Case Study on Differential Diagnosis of Episodic Left Arm Numbness. Neurodiagn J. 2021 Dec;61(4):196-202. doi: 10.1080/21646821.2021.1993699. Epub 2021 Nov 15. PMID: 34780702.
Burton C, Chesterton LS, Davenport G. Diagnosing and managing carpal tunnel syndrome in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2014 May;64(622):262-3. doi: 10.3399/bjgp14X679903. PMID: 24771836; PMCID: PMC4001168.
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