#PinsAndNeedles #Numbness #BodySensation #NervousSystem
Have you ever experienced the strange sensation of your foot or hand “falling asleep”? 🤔 It’s a weird feeling, right? Like a million little needles poking your skin or a numbing sensation that makes it difficult to move the affected body part. But have you ever wondered what’s actually happening in your body when this occurs? Let’s dive into the science behind this strange phenomenon and understand why it happens and how it resolves.
##What Causes the “Falling Asleep” Sensation?
When a body part falls asleep, it’s actually due to the compression of nerves or reduced blood flow to the affected area. Let’s break it down further to understand the science behind it:
###Nerve Compression:
– When you sit or sleep in a certain position for an extended period, the pressure on your nerves can lead to the “pins and needles” sensation.
– Nerves are responsible for carrying signals between your brain and the rest of your body, and when they’re compressed, they can’t function properly, leading to the tingling or numbing sensation.
###Reduced Blood Flow:
– In some cases, the “falling asleep” sensation can also be attributed to reduced blood flow to the affected area.
– When blood flow is restricted, the tissues in that area may not receive enough oxygen and nutrients, leading to sensory abnormalities.
###Nervous System Response:
– The nervous system plays a crucial role in detecting and responding to changes in the environment, including pressure, temperature, and blood flow.
– When the nervous system detects compression or reduced blood flow, it can trigger the “falling asleep” sensation as a protective mechanism to prevent further damage to the affected area.
##How Long Does It Take for the Sensation to Subside?
The duration of the “falling asleep” sensation can vary from person to person and depends on several factors:
###Severity of Compression:
– The degree of nerve compression or restriction of blood flow can determine how long it takes for the sensation to subside.
– Mild compression may resolve within a few minutes, while more severe compression may take longer to resolve.
###Individual Sensitivity:
– Some individuals may be more sensitive to nerve compression or reduced blood flow, leading to a prolonged “falling asleep” sensation.
– Factors such as age, underlying medical conditions, and overall health can also influence how quickly the sensation resolves.
###Restoring Blood Flow and Nerve Function:
– Simple movements, such as shaking or massaging the affected body part, can help restore blood flow and alleviate the “falling asleep” sensation.
– As the pressure on the nerves is relieved and blood flow returns to normal, the sensation gradually resolves.
##Preventing the “Falling Asleep” Sensation:
While the “falling asleep” sensation is often temporary and harmless, there are steps you can take to prevent it from occurring frequently:
###Avoid Prolonged Pressure:
– Be mindful of prolonged pressure on specific body parts, especially when sitting or sleeping in one position for extended periods.
– Adjust your posture or change position frequently to relieve pressure on your nerves and maintain adequate blood flow.
###Stay Active:
– Regular physical activity can promote healthy circulation and reduce the risk of nerve compression.
– Incorporate stretching exercises and movement breaks throughout the day to prevent the “falling asleep” sensation.
###Check Your Workspace:
– If you spend long hours sitting at a desk or using a computer, ensure that your workspace is ergonomically designed to support proper posture and circulation.
– Make use of supportive chairs, ergonomic keyboards, and adjustable desks to reduce the risk of nerve compression and reduced blood flow.
##When to Seek Medical Attention:
In most cases, the “falling asleep” sensation resolves on its own without the need for medical intervention. However, there are instances when it’s essential to seek medical attention:
###Persistent or Recurrent Symptoms:
– If you experience frequent or prolonged episodes of the “falling asleep” sensation, especially without apparent pressure on the nerves, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional.
– Persistent or recurrent symptoms may be indicative of underlying nerve or circulatory issues that require further evaluation.
###Accompanying Symptoms:
– If the “falling asleep” sensation is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, such as weakness, loss of coordination, or severe pain, seek medical attention promptly.
– These symptoms may indicate more serious underlying conditions that require immediate medical assessment.
In conclusion, the “falling asleep” sensation is a peculiar yet common occurrence that results from nerve compression or reduced blood flow to a specific body part. Understanding the underlying mechanisms and taking preventive measures can help minimize the frequency and duration of this sensation. Remember to stay mindful of your posture, stay active, and seek medical attention if you experience persistent or concerning symptoms. With these insights, you can navigate the “falling asleep” sensation with greater awareness and take proactive steps to promote overall well-being.
It’s nerves getting squished, which confuses the message to the brain. That’s why we get the pins and needles; that’s literally your brain being confused and sending the wrong signals to your nerves.
Once the pressure on the nerve is released it goes back to normal.
If you think about it, it’s pretty clever. If we had no way of knowing when we’re doing damage to our nerves and no motivation to rectify the issue, we’d be pretty screwed.
What is happening when a body part falls asleep is for a period of time it has been robbed of oxygen in the form of blood. So the blood has been restricted, and the nerves are robbed of oxygen as a result.
The nerves don’t hurt while we’re sitting on the body part because there’s no oxygen/blood being sent to the nerves. Then when we stand up or move around, the oxygen/blood starts to go back to the nerves and “wakes” the nerves up. The feeling we perceive is the nerves waking back up because they have oxygen again.
Your nerves are getting pinched and send random signals, kinda like static on a radio, that why it feels like a tingling
You are experiencing a low grade neuropathy and the beginning of cell injury. Without blood flow and oxygen, tissues begin to die very quickly. When you restrict blood to your extremities, your nerves are some of the most delicate structures that begin to die first. Diabetes destroys your tiny blood vessels. This is why diabetics develop neuropathy in their feet (first) because it is the most dependent position furthest from your heart. Sitting on your foot or laying on your arm starves those issues of blood and oxygen, causes low grade damage. When you begin to move, the blood is quickly restored and no serious harm done. If you were to remain in that position long enough, or you weren’t able to move, such as large boulder on top of you, then you would likely have permanent cell death in that extremity.Â
Edit: This is also why we naturally toss and turn at night.Â
Blood has left the building (area that has pins and needles) and it took all the oxygen with it too. Now your nerves feel weird cos they really like oxygen.
Loss of blood flow- nerves in muscles deprived of oxygen cause pain as the muscle itself spasms
Anaesthetist here. One of our jobs is to look after the nerves of your body. If you are having a 4, 6 or 8 hour operation, you are going to be lying in one position for that whole time. If you happen to put pressure on a nerve for that time, you may compromise the blood supply to that nerve and cause permanent damage. We call this a neuropraxia.
The most common nerve for this to happen to is the ulnar nerve. It runs in a groove on the inside of your elbow. That’s the spot that really hurts when you hit your “funny bone”. If you are lying flat on your back and your palms are down (“pronated”), you will put pressure on your ulnar nerve at the elbow. So we make sure that when you are lying on your back, your palms are facing up (“supinated”). This position means your elbow is resting on the bone at the back (the “olecranon”) and not on your ulnar nerve. Try it for yourself.
This is just one of the many ways we look after the whole person during an anaesthetic.