By placing your arm under your pillow, putting an arm under can help stop you from sleeping on your back – an action which creates airway blockages which may lead to snoring and sleep apnea.
But, tucking your arms under a pillow may cause compression to the shoulders and neck area that could result in pins-and-needles sensation.
Arm Pain
Arm pain is a symptom of many conditions affecting skin, joints, muscles, nerves and veins; it could also be an indicator of other serious medical issues like a heart attack.
Overuse injuries such as sports injuries are the leading cause of arm pain. They include muscle strains, sprains and tendinitis. Other sources include viral illnesses like influenza or colds or diseases like cancer or lupus.
Sleeping with arms tucked under your pillow may also result in arm pain, as this restricts blood flow to the shoulder and puts additional strain on nerves. Over time this could cause tingling and numbness – and possibly indicate early stages of carpal tunnel syndrome which can be very uncomfortable.
Sometimes arm pain can be an indicator of something going on elsewhere in your body – this is known as radiating pain. If it moves around with other symptoms like tight chest discomfort or shortness of breath, call 911 immediately; this could indicate heart disease. Home treatments tend to work well for most arm discomfort issues; for any severe problems it’s wiser to visit a physician who will conduct physical exams and X-rays before providing guidance for treatment solutions.
Arm Circulation
Sleeping with one arm under the pillow can restrict blood flow between your heart and arms and hands, leading to poor circulation that causes pins-and-needles sensations in both arms. This may result in numbness and tingling throughout the night as well as energy reduction during the daytime.
Arm-pillow use may put undue strain on the stomach and kidneys, leading to more urine production during the night and more trips to the bathroom – plus it may create snoring patterns and lead to shoulder, hip, or neck pain in the long term.
Some individuals like to sleep with their chin on their hand in what’s known as the “thinker” position, known for facilitating dream analysis of important life questions. People sleeping this way tend to dream big questions in dreams and can be moody. Additionally, these individuals can be more sensitive than usual when receiving criticism.
Numbness in the arm may be indicative of numerous problems, from minor concerns like sleeping incorrectly to more serious medical conditions like herniated discs and cardiovascular disease. Persistent numbness should be investigated and treated quickly to prevent permanent damage or disability; alternatively, using your arm under your pillow position as a strategy to reduce snoring and increase breathing may also help alleviate it.
Arm Stiffness
Tucking your arm under your pillow while sleeping on your stomach may leave your arms stiff in the morning, as well as making your shoulders feel unsteady. By keeping them straight while asleep, keeping arms at neutral positions can reduce this stiffness and alleviate strain on rotator cuff muscles.
Sleeping with your arm under the pillow also isolates it against the acromion bone above, imprisoning and pinching the shoulder rotator cuff tendon between your upper shoulder joint and elbow joint, potentially aggravating existing injuries such as bursitis or partial/full thickness tendon tears.
If you prefer side sleeping, selecting an ideal pillow to support both the head and neck can significantly decrease arm stiffness and shoulder pain. A memory foam pillow may provide ideal spinal alignment as well as relief pressure on arms, wrists and hands. A neck pillow that supports your natural curve from earlobe to scapula will support its curvature while minimizing over extension/rotation that leads to neck pain. Alternatively, sleeping on your back may help relax jaw muscles as well as facial muscles that contribute to teeth grinding.
Neck Pain
Neck pain may arise for various reasons. An acute injury, such as whiplash, may elicit symptoms; alternatively it could be related to preexisting conditions like cervical degenerative disc disease or osteoarthritis of the facet joints in the upper spine (cervical spine).
Teen and adult neck pain can often be related to working while flexed down – a condition known as “tech neck”. Sleeping with one’s head flexed downward can further strain these muscles, and lead to tightening and ache in the neck region. Sleeping on an optimal pillow that keeps one’s head aligned in an ideal neutral position is one way of alleviating this pain.
Soft pillows, compressive pillows or cervical rolls may help relieve neck pain. Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or naproxen may reduce discomfort. If pain continues to persist, try applying a heating pad or wet cloth directly onto sore muscles for 20 minutes several times daily for 20 minutes at a time, stretching gradually over time with gentle stretches can also be effective. If this doesn’t alleviate symptoms within one week of self-care alone, speak to your physician; they may recommend physical therapy such as slow controlled range-of-motion exercises which stretch neck and shoulder muscles gently over time.
