After long, uncomfortable lying or sitting awkwardly – for example, with legs crossed or cross-legged – it happens that people talk about a fallen asleep foot or even a fallen asleep arm. Usually, all people react the same way to this symptom: they shake the affected body part and rub the tingling area. Usually a few minutes are enough and the normal sensation is back. In rare cases, it can even take up to an hour.
But where does this numb feeling come from?
The numb feeling or furry tingling in the feet, arms or hands does not have to do with pinched blood vessels – as is often mistakenly assumed. Instead, it is nerve bundles that are disturbed in their conduction flow. Stimuli that are conducted from the affected limbs via these nerve bundles to the brain now arrive there distorted, which leads to the insensitivity.
If this phenomenon occurs rarely, it helps to check your own sitting, standing and lying habits. Do not remain in one position for too long and move from time to time. If you suffer from the described discomfort more frequently and for no apparent reason, the problem could have more serious causes (possibly the spine may be involved), which you should definitely have clarified by a doctor.
