Tingling and numbness can occur in any part of the body, but they are more common in feet, hands, arms and legs. You may experience tingling in the leg after sitting with your legs cross. You may experience tingling in your arm if you have fallen asleep on it. Tingling sensations exclusively in the right arm maybe the outcome of many issues.

What Causes Tingling in Right Arm?

As mentioned, you may experience tingling sensation due to numerous issues. Here is a bit more about some of the most common causes of feeling tingling sensation in your arm.

1. Pressure on the Arm

The most common cause of experiencing tingling after numbness is pressure upon the arm. You may have fallen asleep with your hand under your head. This puts pressure on vessels and nerves in your arm. Similarly, sitting with your arm hanging over a chair or carrying a heavy bag for extended time may cause the same feelings.

2. Cervical Disk Syndrome

You may experience tingling feeling in your arm when you have a bulging or herniated disc, which is usually the outcome of an injury or degenerative disc disease. You will experience movement dependent tingling, pain and numbness in the shoulders, neck, arm, upper back or fingers. Difficulty with fine hand moves, stumbling gait, and tingling in the body are some of the most common signs of cervical disc syndrome. Sometimes, you experience symptoms immediately after an injury. On other occasions, your doctor will order a CT or MRI to confirm the issue.

3. Injuries

Several types of injuries may result in tingling in right arm.

• Brachial plexus injuries: These injuries usually occur in car and sports accident. Bullet or life injuries are also included in this category. The symptoms you experience will depend on the nerves involved as well as the extent of an injury. You will experience different symptoms if you just have your nerve stretched but the symptoms will become severe when you experience complete nerve rupture. You are more likely to have severe pain and numbness in your arm–you may even have a paralyzed arm with numbness in the shoulders and neck.
• Thoracic outlet syndrome: The space between your clavicle, first rib, and corresponding ligaments is thoracic outlet that provides space for vessels and nerves to travel toward the armpit. These nerves may be compressed due to a motorbike, weight lifting or swimming accidents. The most common symptoms are feeling of pins and needles, numbness or pain at the base of the thumb. Your armpit, shoulder, hand and arm may also experience the same feeling. You will also notice pale arm with weakened arterial pulse.
• Cubital tunnel syndrome: Also called ulnar neuropathy, it involves the ulnar nerve that comes from the brachial plexus in the neck and moves along the inner side of your upper arm. An elbow injury may compress on the ulnar nerve and cause symptoms such as pain or electric shock sensation after touching the elbow, hand sensitivity to cold and limited movements of the ring finger. Your hand may become numb and fall asleep after bending the elbow.

4. Multiple Sclerosis

The exact cause of this disease is not clear but it affects the nerve tissue of the brainstem, spinal cord or brain. It causes symptoms such as numbness and tingling in right arm or both arms, weak limbs, double or blurred vision, and problem urinating or defecating. Tiredness and difficulty maintaining balance are also some of the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.

5. Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (CTS)

It is a painful condition in which a major nerve in your hand is compressed while passing over the carpal bones through a narrow passage at the front of the wrist. Usually caused by repetitive movements, it causes symptoms of pain and numbness in fingers and arms.

6. Peripheral Neuropathies

These disorders affect your nerves outside of the spinal cord and brain. This may affect sensitive, motor and autonomic fibers of your spinal nerves and cause symptoms such as tingling, numbness, or weakness in limbs. You may also experience problems with coordination, partial paralysis, and problems with finger movements. Other symptoms are heat intolerance, difficulty swallowing, problems with urination, dizziness at standing up, and male impotency. Below are some conditions that could increase your risk of developing peripheral neuropathies.

• Vitamin deficiencies: Some vitamins like vitamins B1, B6, B12, E, and niacin are important for healthy nerve function. A deficiency of vitamin B12 may lead to pernicious anemia that may lead to the development of peripheral neuropathy.
• Alcoholism: Drinking too much alcohol may lead to a deficiency of thiamine, which in turn affects the health of your nerves. Poor dietary habits may also contribute to this and cause peripheral neuropathy.
• Toxins: Getting exposed to heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, thallium, and mercury may affect your nerve health and cause some damage. Certain medications may also damage your nerves–the list includes chemotherapy drugs, antiviral drugs and drugs used for lung cancer.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

You should go see your doctor if you experience tingling in right arm and it becomes worse with time. Here are some of the situations when you should seek immediate medical help:

• You experience tingling after a back, neck, or head injury
• You experience tingling and numbness in your legs as well
• You have lost bowel or bladder control
• You have a change in vision, slurred speech, or difficult walking
• You have severe pain in your forearm, neck, and fingers
• You have muscle spasm, dizziness, or other unusual symptoms
• You cannot move your hand due to numbness