Is it common in the middle of the night to wake up with a numb arm,…

I had my first stroke not quite three months ago on the 3/4/17. At the time I was a fit, healthy 33 year old and the doctors have been able to give me any answers as to why it happened to me. I have no family history. Thankfully due to a fantastic medical team they were able to retrieve the clot from my brain and I am fully functioning. After completing rehab I have been back the the personal trainer and back working 20hoirs a week. However during the last two weeks I have been awoken in the middle of the night due to my arm on my affected side being completely numb. It doesn't last for long and I am able to move my arm, as the feelings come back I get pins and needles. Is this normal or is this a symptom of another possible stroke? I didn't recognize the symptoms of my first stroke which scares me if it happens again.

Hi Emily,

Thank you for getting in touch with us.

Did you experience some changes in sensation in the same arm (e.g. numbness/pins and needles) following the stroke in April? If the symptoms you describe are new or have worsened, this could be a sign of another stroke. I’d strongly recommend having a conversation with your doctor as soon as possible, to find out the cause. If the symptoms return or worsen please ring 000 for urgent medical help.

Being scared of having another stroke is something that many other stroke survivors experience. Being aware of FAST signs as well as other less common signs of stroke is a good place to start: https://strokefoundation.org.au/About-Stroke/Stroke-symptoms. You may also want to look at our fear of a second blog: https://strokefoundation.org.au/blog/2015/05/19/the-fear-factor

If we can be of any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact StrokeLine on 1800 787 653 (Mon-Fri 9am-5pm AEST),

Wishing you all the best,

Lisa (StrokeLine)

Is it common in the middle of the night to wake up with a numb arm, like it has gone to sleep?

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