I Can't Feel My Legs Sometimes

[Rawr]

I've been having this problem for a while where if I fall asleep on my back I wake up and can't feel or move my legs for a while, it seems like forever but I'm not really sure how long it takes for feeling and movement to come back. If I sleep on my side or stomach my legs are fine (aside from the spasms) but I have those in my hands too and don't think much of it. Anyways do you guys think I should tell my doctor when I see her next or am I being over sensitive about it and it's probably nothing?

[CrystalKitten]

I would definitely see a doctor. Sleeping flat on your back can sometimes not be good for your back, especially if you have a pre-existing back issue.. It could also, I suppose, be a blood pressure issue. One thing you could try in the mean time (which I was advised to do for a back problem that sometimes travels down my legs) is to sleep on your back with a pillow under your knees. Putting a pillow between your knees when lying on your side is good as well.

I would maybe even not wait until next time, if this is a regular thing... It sounds like it could be either a nervous system issue (hopefully not!), or some issue with blood circulation being cut off or hindered. It could also, hopefully, just be something far less serious like when you sleep on your arm weird and can't feel your fingers (but even that is cause by blood circulation issues, and only cause you have full body weight putting pressure on it >.>), however, given that there could potentially be serious causes.. I'd get it checked out if it's an almost nightly (or every time you sleep like that) occurrence.

[Rawr]

Well I'm going in tomorrow so I don't have to wait to long, but about a month ago I went to see her for this cough I've had sense x-mas (no that still isn't resolved) and they had me do blood work. Now for anyone who has ever had blood work done in the U.S. (our health care sucks) it takes like 3 weeks to get back, I got a call 4 days later from the doctor's office telling me to make another appointment sooner (cuz they just got the blood work in) that kinda scares me (tomorrow was as soon as they could get me in). On top of that my grandma calls me (she gets all my legal paperwork and whatnot) and she (not sure how) got a hold of the blood work and says I have like no B12 or Vitamin D in my system. Not sure what all that means but B12 has something to do with blood and energy and may be why I haven't felt like getting out of bed (for anything but Lord Marrowgar) for a month or two. Well hopefully we can get this resolved tomorrow.

[CrystalKitten]

Well, vitamin D is needed largely for calcium mobilization. Without it, you'll be unable to absorb calcium into your blood stream properly, especially from your diet (trying to remember from my nutrition class, so forgive me if I'm wrong). I believe that it's also used to activate osteoclasts which also mobilize calcium from our bones. Calcium is a big part of ion balancing for our cells, and I believe is also used for nervous system electrical impulses. It seems however that the most noticeable effects from Vit D deficiency though are bone issues.

B12 deficiency can lead to certain types of anemia, which is where you'd run into energy problems. Severe, prolonged deficiency can also lead to neural issues.

All of that is pulled from what I remember of my nutrition class... I'd definitely mention your legs. Hopefully everything works out, and isn't too serious

[AdamSavage]

I've been having this problem for a while where if I fall asleep on my back I wake up and can't feel or move my legs for a while, it seems like forever but I'm not really sure how long it takes for feeling and movement to come back. If I sleep on my side or stomach my legs are fine (aside from the spasms) but I have those in my hands too and don't think much of it. Anyways do you guys think I should tell my doctor when I see her next or am I being over sensitive about it and it's probably nothing?

This almost sounds like partial sleep paralysis to me.