Most cases of arm numbness should only last a few hours to a day or two at most.
If the arm numbness gets worse or does not go away within a few days it can be a sign of a serious condition that should be checked by a doctor.
The signs that your arm numbness are serious are you have arm numbness that lasts more than a few days or gets worse or does not go away.
Or if you have any slurred speech, weakness or inability to move, loss of consciousness, confusion, difficulty walking, pain in your chest, neck, back, face or should, paralysis in your arm, hand, face or leg, trouble breathing or swallowing or swelling anywhere on the body which include the hands or feet.
Other signs that your arm numbness are serious or could be serious include.
The arm numbness spreads quickly to other areas of the body.
The arm numbness occurs below a certain level in the body like below the chest.
The arm numbness affects an entire arm, leg or any side of the body or if the arm numbness comes on suddenly or you have a history of cardiovascular disease.
Most arm numbness is not very serious and goes away on it's own within a few hours to a few days but you should seek medical attention if your arm numbness doesn't get better, occurs with other symptoms or interferes with your work or life.
Many different treatment options are available for arm numbness, depending on the cause.
Other conditions that can cause arm numbness are nerve compression such as a pinched nerve, carpal tunnel syndrome, poor circulation, injury, sleeping on your arm, herniated disc, stroke, multiple sclerosis, migraines, and even some medications.
An underactive thyroid can also cause arm numbness and peripheral neuropathy which can also lead to tingling and numbness in the arms.
A herniated disc can press on a nerve and cause numbness.
Poor circulation causes reduced blood flow to the arms and can cause numbness which can be caused by plaque buildup, blood clots or even narrowed blood vessels.
The cancers that cause arm numbness are brain tumors, lung cancer, myeloma, prostate cancer, acute lymphocytic leukemia, lymphoma, pancoast tumors and small cell lung cancer.
Small cell lung cancer and lung cancer in general can cause arm and or leg numbness, arm and or leg weakness, bone pain, dizziness and headaches.
Pancoast tumors can cause sharp pain in the shoulder or arm as well as numbness, muscle weakness and tingling sensations in your arms or hands.
Lymphoma can cause pain, numbness and tingling in the arms or legs due to the enlarged lymph nodes pressing against nerves.
Acute lymphocytic leukemia can cause facial numbness which can indicate the cancer has spread to the spinal cord and brain.
Myeloma is a rare blood cancer that can cause numbness in the legs and may cause numbness in the arms in some cases.
Other symptoms of myeloma include bleeding gums, bruising, nosebleeds, infections, fever, brittle bones, tiredness, weakness and pain.
Lung cancer especially in it's advanced stages can cause arm and leg numbness if it spreads to the brain.
And small cell lung cancer can cause leg or arm numbness as the tumors grow and spread.