Do you have a back injury? It sounds like nerve damage, but if you have no injury it sounds like poor circulation, but I don't see it as circulation problem since you only have it in 1 arm...

Could be stress on a nerve in your neck. The nerve between c6 and c7 vertebrae, if pinched, can cause tingling, numbness, or even severe pain all the way down your right shoulder, upper arm, elbow, forearme, and hand. Are you sleeping with more than 1 pillow? Try cutting down to 1.

Hi there,

i too suffer from the same ailment you do. I will wake up during the night with pain radiating from my right shoulder down to my hand. I have noticed that the cold night air sets it off. If I keep the shoulder, arm and hand covered with a blanket, I usually don't awaken from the pain. I am a diabetic and have neuropathy, and this may be why I have this condition. My mother does the same thing; she too is diabetic, but she also has rheumatoid arthritis. She doesn't know why she awakes with this pain in her right arm and hand - her shoulder usually isn't sore. After one of these episodes, the muscle between the shoulder and elbow is very sore to the touch. I also have difficulty lifting my arm to brush or blowdry my hair. These episodes take place more often in the winter because of the cold air. When it first happened, it was constant, every night, for about six months. Over the last 10 years, it has decreased in frequency. However, I just had a bout this week due, I believe, to the cold night air. (i live in california where it has been pretty warm at night, but recently the temperature dipped to around 40 degrees.) while I can usually get up from bed and walk around with my arm hanging down by my side to relieve the pain, it didn't happen this time. Every time I tried to lay down to go to sleep, it would start hurting again, which leads me to believe that it is a combination of the cold night air and pressure on the nerves in my arm. Anyway, the next night, I made certain to keep that arm covered with a blanket and warm, and I have had no problems since then. Maybe that will help you too.


Try keeping the arm warm at night--it has definitely helped me.

Yes i have pain in my right arm from a fall i took a few months ago.Everytime i lift on anything i feel the pain in my forearm and especially at night trying to get to sleep and getting in a position to do so.Well i hope that you feel better and not have so much pain.

I have carpol tunnel from work, you might also have this, the symtoms are exactly what you said. The dr. needs to run a nuralogist test to really deturmine if you have C.T.

I had an vehicle accident xmas of last year at which point I placed both hands on the dash and the airbag deployed. I damaged both hands was told I was fine. However I have tremendous pain when picking things up and now my right arm goes numb from my shoulder to my elbow at which becomes very painful, then my elbow to hand are numb and my hand gets ice cold, and my fingers curl up. After about an hour it subsides but my arm feels very heavy and fingers swell and are stiff. When I pick things up like a wet towel it causes a sensation that makes my hand react where I have to drop it. What could be the cause, I am desperate and I'm not getting any help or answers? Another thing that happens is between my shoulder blades it will start hurting and my shoulders will draw backwards and I can't straighten or move it excruciating. PLEASE HELP!!!!

help! i've been having this right upper and elbow area pain and numbness for a week. i never had this problem before and went to see an acupuncture. it seemed to help somewhat but the pain is still there. he suggests to change my posture using computer. i cannot lift my arm with heavy object and bending the arm inward is particularly painful. Any suggestions? i don't have any known ailments.

I suggest all of you go to the doctor instead of asking here for something like this.

I would assume its some sort of nerve problem, but the cause of it can be many. You guys might be getting carpel tunnel just from being on the computer all day, or it may because you sleep in such a way that cuts off circulation from your arm, etc. It is hard for us to ascertain the possibilities as to why you are experiencing these things.

Go to the doctor.

Speleo, did you have your arms towards the upper part of the steering wheel when the crash occurred? I assume that is how you injured them, when the airbag hit your arms from that position. Even though it is merely a bag, it apparently pops out at 200 miles per hour, quite a painful slap.

I'm not sure what this topic is doing in fitness though. It has nothing to do with exercise and conditioning/etc.

martinax i have the same pain and it is aweful i have jus bought weights to tone up and as i did this started to happen and it is not good as i cant lift them because as u have explained clenching or stuff like that really hurts funny thought really its not the way you sleep on the arm as they are two different pains as ive notice i need to get this sorted i think you should visit the doctor

My pain is from handeling heavy machinery all day and lifting logs to cut and shape with chainsaws,grinders & various other sanders. I also work difficult horses.
The firm grip in my right hand and the strength needed in awkward positions to prevent injury and do the job, has caused pain in my right arm, elbow and hand at night. It seems to go numb and if I don't awaken in time, then developes pins & needles as well.
My wrist and hand has become weaker in this time and if I stretch my hand, it tingles and hurts. I suspect C.T, but cannot think of how to prevent any further damage & continue my work without medical intervention. However, will I still be able to continue a heavy work load if it needs surgical repair.
Work is my lively hood and I cannot afford time off; I am my own boss.

hey so this is my theory my arms use to do as you have stated and i started to pump weights at first lifting weights with this pain hurt but fight through the pain and the blood circulation in your arm is more greater for the exercise you have done by lifting the weights after this i kept the blood flowing and no problems now just great

Everyone needs to see a Doctor. The pain and numbness could be from one or a combination of things.

I have had pain in my right arm for just about 1 year now. I swear it started when I was making Potato Salad last year for the 4th of July. I have always workout and used to lift weights, until now. I can lift light weights if my arm is close to my side. If I hold my arm out and try to lift any weight is when the pain hits pretty good. Even holding the blow dryer causes pain. I sit at a computer almost all day at work and I get a dull pain running down the inside of my upper right arm, down to the forearm, and wrist. I had horses in the past and many accidents from riding. I had x-rays last year and it showed arthritis from an old injury between cervical c6 & c7. I have been going to Physical Therapy just this last week because the pain has not gone away and seems to be getting worse. My hands started getting numb today too. Don't know if this is all nerve damage, arthritis, carpultunnel,(spell??) over use of muscles or what. Can't sleep at night from the pain.. wakes me up. Anyway, hope everyone feels better... Go see a Doctor.

many of you describe ulnar nerve entrapment. occurs with injury,overuse of joints(sports, texting ,etc). go to a DOCTOR!, that,s what they,re for, diagnosis and treatment.

i had severe pain in my right shouder from vacuming the stairs that lasted about 6 weeks,then it went better when i kept my shoulder warm,it eventualy went away,and now i am left with a tingling sensation in my hand and lower arm ,i seen a pharmasist who said it could be nerve damage,its tingling when i lift my arm or when i rest my arm on a chair.i will see a doc soon and see how i get on ,christine liverpool uk.

I HAVE seen a doctor, I have had an MRI, I went to a Nurologist yesturday who was to do a Nerve conduction test and DIDNT because on his initial poking and proding, pulling and pushing he didnt find anything abnormal. Well when I wake up in the middle of the night with pain from my shoulder to my elbow and I can barely catch my breath or lift my lower arm and hand maybe you should try those tests THEN. I cant believe he went against my doctors request. So now what? The only option I have is to try to figure it out myself and looking into what others have found is step one. Thats why alot of the people here are asking. So STOP telling them to go to the doctor. Im sure they are bright enough to know that. If anyone has had the same problem as I have and been diagnosed I would appreciate knowing what you found. Thanks!

Don't give up, keep going until they find out what is wrong. Doctors are not GOD, even thought some things so. There may be more than one or two things wrong, it is a process of elimiation. I have pain in my whole right shoulder to my finger tips. My right hand gets cold like it is dead, it tingles, numb. There is pain no matter what position it is in. I had surgery to remove bone. That allowed me to lift my arm completely over my head and before surgery it was at best maybe 40%, 45% caused to much pain and I physically couldn't lift if higher on my own. Now they are checking to see if I have something wrong in my neck.

Help !!! My husband has been waking every night for the past week complaining about his right arm being numb. And do not tell me to take him to the doctor, I do not have insurance for him . Only my girls and I do. I am scared and am affraid it might be something very seriuos.

Right arm and sholder pain is often a sign of a GALLBLADDER issue. It seems hard to associate, but on the nights that you wake up with pain did you have something fatty such as ice cream, whole milk, or fried foods before you went to bed??

I have been having this problem nightly for several weeks.. not getting much needed sleep due to pain and tingling. Saw the Doc and he suspects Thoracic Opening Syndrome. Have been doing the exercises but still no relief.