Question
I recently began a new job where I am sitting at a desk all day.  I noticed in the first week of work my left arm and leg felt like it was falling asleep, it is a slight numb feeling and a slight ache.  The first time this happened, the strange feeling in my arm and leg lasted on and off for about two days.  Then it went away and everything felt normal so I assumed it was related to my body adjusting to being at a desk all day.  Now, I have been at this job for about a month and the numbness/aching in my left arm and leg have started again.  This is the second day that I am feeling these symptoms again.  I am only 22 years old and have no history of health problems.  My question is what could these symptoms be indicating?  

Answer
Dear Amelia,

The feeling of limbs falling asleep is probably due to nerve impingement (probably in your neck and low back), the result of the combination of tension and working position.  Without more detail about your desk job, I can't say more.

Nerve impingements come from a nerve being trapped between a tight muscle and bone, between tight muscles, or between vertebrae pulled too closely together by tight back muscles.

See the article on Sensory-Motor Amnesia at somatics.com/page4.htm for more detailed explanation of how it happens.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold