Doctor issues warning to anyone who sleeps in the 'T-Rex position' and claims it could lead to painful condition

When it comes to getting a bit of shut eye, many of us will opt for a variety of different positions depending on what feels most comfortable.

Some might curl up on our side in a fetal position, or simply splat out on our back arms and legs splayed out like a starfish, possibly to the irritation of anyone we might be sharing a bed with.

One option is the so-called 'T-Rex' position, which has been called that colloquially on social media, though doctors don't refer to it that way.

This is where you bend your arms and tuck them into your chest while you're asleep.

It's been named after the famous dinosaur because it looks a bit like someone impersonating a T-Rex, with its tiny, ineffective arms that could barely even scratch its own chin.

But a doctor has warned that taking on this position may end up creating more health problems.

The position is named after the T-Rex's tiny arms (Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

Dr Raj Dasgupta is a doctor specializing in sleep medicine and is the chief medical advisor for Sleepopolis.

He told HuffPost: “When you sleep with your arms bent and tucked in, you can press on the nerves in your elbows or wrists.

“This can slow blood flow and make your arms feel numb or tingly. If you do it often, it can also strain your shoulders and make them stiff or sore.”

But what are the warning signs this particular sleeping position might cause?

Well, this might put pressure on the nerves in your arms, which in turn may lead to some irritation in your wrist, according to board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr Matthew Bennett.

You might notice some symptoms such as a shooting pain down your arm, dropping things such as phones more often, or finding it difficult to grip objects.

People have a variety of sleeping positions (Oleg Breslavtsev/Getty)

While it's easy to dismiss these as clumsiness, they may in fact be a sign that you are experiencing some nerve damage and it's getting worse.

“If your arms or hands go numb every night, stay numb for a while after waking up, or start to feel weak during the day, it’s time to see a doctor,” said Dr Dasgupta.

So, how can you stop it?

Well, luckily if you spot the signs early enough then simply changing your sleeping position may be enough.

Dr Dasgupta said: “It’s usually temporary and goes away once you change your sleeping position.”

However, Dr Dasgupta warned that this pressure on the nerves 'can cause lasting nerve damage' if it is sustained over weeks or months.