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January 05, 2024 7 min read

Everyone knows that a good night’s sleep is the foundation for a great day, but sometimes getting a good night of rest seems like a distant dream. From noise nuisances to uncomfortable mattresses and buzzing bedtime thoughts, many common offenders can come between you and quality sleep. Without a resolution, you could see a negative impact on your overall well-being.

If neck pain and arm numbness while sleeping are on your list of bedtime offenders, you’re in the right place. In this post, we’ll look at how a pillow for arm numbness can solve nighttime restlessness. Use the links below to navigate the article or read end-to-end for a comprehensive overview of the topic.

 

What is Neck Pain?

Neck pain is the discomfort felt in the structure of the neck. It’s commonlycaused by muscles strained by poor posture. Symptoms include the following: 

  • Headaches
  • Tightening of the muscles
  • Muscle spasms
  • Pain from holding your head in one position for too long
  • An overall decrease in the ability to move your head

What causes neck pain? 

As mentioned above, neck pain is often caused by poor posture, even while you sleep. In turn, poor posture while sleeping can be caused bythe position you sleep in and the pillow you use. While neck pain can occur in any position, sleeping on your stomach can significantly trigger discomfort by impacting the alignment and curvature of your neck and spine. Instead, sleep on your side or back to reduce the likelihood of neck pain.

The same logic applies to your pillow and how it positions your neck relative to your spine. A2016 study found that increasing the height of your pillow without adjusting the placement of your spine can cause neck pain. 

The material of your pillow can also play a role. In fact, a 2020 study found that memory foam and latex pillows are less likely to cause neck pain than traditional pillows. This is because some materials, like memory foam, are better at supporting your neck than traditional materials.

When to see a doctor about your neck pain

Sometimes, chronic health conditions, like fibromyalgia, can also cause neck pain. In cases where the pain is intense or persistent, contacting your doctor and seeking medical care is highly recommended. Seeking a professional medical opinion is advisable if:

  • Your neck pain is very severe
  • Your symptoms don't go away after a week
  • You have a fever or terrible headaches

What is Arm Numbness? 

arm numbness

If you’ve ever felt a tingling, pins-and-needles sensation in your limbs — like when you cross your legs for too long or hold the same position without moving — you’re probably familiar with the discomfort of arm numbness. When you’re sleeping, you’re likely resting in the same position for hours, which can cause pressure to build up on your nerve endings and lead to numbness. 
Generally, when your arms fall asleep at night, it’s because you’re applying extra pressure on your limbs by pinning your own arm down with your body or resting your arm underneath your partner’s body weight. This sensation can also affect other parts of your body, like your hands or legs.

What causes arm numbness? 

Arm numbness while sleeping can happen forseveral reasons, including the following:

  • Nerve impingement (excess pressure on nerve endings) can cause your arm to be numb. 
  • An existing peripheral neuropathy nerve issue can also trigger arm numbness. Conditions may include carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis or golfer's elbow, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and rheumatoid arthritis. 
  • Excessive alcohol consumption can result in alcoholic neuropathy and cause arm numbness.
  • Vitamin B12 deficiency can disrupt the functionality of your nervous system and contribute to arm numbness while you're active or sleeping.

When to see a doctor for arm numbness

In most cases, nighttime arm numbness is just an uncomfortable sleep disruption. But in some instances, it may signal a deeper underlying issue. If your arm numbness persists while you’re awake or significantly impacts your sleep quality, you may want to schedule a visit with your doctor.

At your appointment, your doctor will look at your medical history, discuss your symptoms, and likely perform a physical examination. With this information, your doctor can help identify your condition and direct you toward effective solutions, which may include a pillow to prevent arm numbness.

How to minimize arm numbness at night

If nighttime arm numbness is coming between you and a good night's sleep, it's time to consider your treatment options.

Depending on the severity and cause of your numbness, appropriate treatment options may fall into one of the following categories:

  • Medication: Anti-inflammatory medicine, anti-seizure medicine, and antidepressants can address nerve issues and reduce both daytime and nighttime arm numbness. 
  • Surgery: Though it's typically a last resort, surgery can resolve more severe cases of nerve damage that may be the underlying cause of your issues.
  • Physical therapy: Strengthening your wrists with basic stretches can reduce symptoms of carpal tunnel and other conditions that may be causing your arm numbness.
  • Sleep position: Adjusting your sleep posture or using a pillow for arm numbness can alleviate the pressure from your arm. As a result, this can reduce or eliminate symptoms while you sleep.

In this next section, we'll discuss how pillows for arm numbness work and how to find the best pillow for numb arms.

How a Pillow for Neck Pain and Arm Numbness Can Help

comfort sleep

A pillow for neck pain and arm numbness properly aligns your neck and spine. This alignment takes the pressure off your downside arm, allowing your arms to rest without restricting blood flow or applying extra weight to your arm's nerve endings while you sleep.

For example, MedCline'sShoulder Relief System offers a unique three-component solution that gently elevates your torso to take pressure off your muscles, joints, and nerves. At the same time, our pillow's patented pocket allows your downside arm to rest comfortably. 

Best Pillow for Neck Pain and Arm Numbness FAQs

When evaluating solutions to improve your wellness, it’s a good idea to research beforehand and consider all available options. This section will describe ways to help you find the best pillow to prevent arm numbness.

How to use a pillow to relieve neck pain and arm numbness?

Using thick pillows to take up the space between your neck and shoulder can keep your neck straight and your shoulders back to relieve neck pain and arm numbness. Regular pillows, however, don't offer the same side-sleeping support to keep you in position comfortably throughout the night. 

When using clinically proven methods, like our Shoulder Relief System, you'll have a symmetrical design for both right- and left-side sleeping. This flexibility lets you find a posture that best suits your sleeping needs. 

Using MedCline'sShoulder Relief System is simple. Here'show it works:

  1. Set Up: Put your Sleep System together by following the easy instructions provided with your order. Once you've put your pillow for arm numbness together, place it on top of your mattress.
  2. Get In:Allow your downside arm to drop into the provided arm pocket as you rest on your side.
  3. Find Your Comfort:Adjust your position until you find your ideal comfort. 

What is the best pillow for neck pain and arm numbness?

The best pillow for neck pain and arm numbness should keep your head and neck in the correct position, allowing your arms to rest comfortably by alleviating the pressure and pain you experience nightly. Ourshoulder relief pillow keeps your body in the right position. It eliminates arm pressure while giving you enough flexibility to find a comfortable sleeping posture tailored to your needs.

What is the best sleeping position to reduce neck pain and arm numbness?

Sleeping on your back with your arms at your side can help you avoid arm numbness, but it could also result in discomfort in other ways. This position can be especially uncomfortable if you suffer from back pain oracid reflux at night. That's why we recommend sleeping on your side.

If you deal with nighttime reflux and heartburn, consider trying ouracid reflux pillow, which uses the doctor-recommended sleeping position fornighttime heartburn relief.

Can using the wrong pillow cause arm pain? 

It could. When you sleep with pressure directly on your downside arm — like when your head rests on a pillow on top of your arm — you could experience arm numbness. By elevating your body and taking pressure off your arm, you can sleep more comfortably without shoulder pain or arm numbness.

Meet MedCline’s Shoulder Relief Sleep System

Here’s what people are saying about MedCline’s Shoulder Relief Sleep System:

"I bought this for a friend of mine with shoulder and neck pain, and they continually thank me as headaches, neck pain, and shoulder pain are gone with excellent sleep achieved." — Michelle C. 

"I love how the wedge is designed to not only allow my shoulder to rest under my body, but the pillow insert holds it comfortably. The wedge is also breathable, so I'm not sweating all night with it against me." — Matt H.

"I bought this for my pregnancy. I was having an awful time sleeping, and my arms would go numb from sleeping on my side. This pillow is a lifesaver! The slight elevation of the pillow helps with all the pressure on my torso and relieves it! And my arms have relief at night and no more numbness! Would totally recommend it for expecting mamas!" — Sarah M. 

"My shoulder pain has definitely gone down, and I can fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer since my shoulders are not experiencing much pain. Definitely recommended for people with rotator cuff injuries! — Bryce B.

To learn more about how our pillow for neck pain and arm numbness works,read more reviews, visit ourFAQ page, or speak with aSleep Specialist today.