The myth of the autopsy - when arms and legs fall asleep

Strong tingling, itching and numbness when your arms or legs fall asleep are quite unpleasant for a short time. But what is behind this sudden "sleep" and how does it happen that we lose control of our limbs for a short time? We explain why our body parts sometimes fall asleep and what really happens in our body when we do so.

Table of contents

1. What is obdormition?
2. Typical symptoms of obdormation
3. Causes and triggers of falling asleep
4. What you can do about it
5. Conclusion

We all know the feeling when our arms, legs or even individual fingers and toes go numb: It tingles, itches and doesn't really hurt, but is still very uncomfortable for a short time. Especially when we sit cross-legged or with our legs crossed or overnight when we have been in bed for a long time. lay, our arms and legs often fall asleep. But do our limbs really "fall asleep" during this time or how does it happen that we lose feeling in our arms or legs for a few moments?

1. What is obdormition?

The technical term obdormation describes a widespread phenomenon that we know in everyday life as the limbs "going to sleep". What we understand by this is basically sudden discomfort and numbness in individual parts of the body, so-called paraesthesia. In the affected part of the body, there is an unpleasant tingling, burning, stinging or pulling sensation and a pronounced feeling of numbness. For a short time, we are usually no longer able to control and move the affected part properly and have to endure the tingling or pins and needles feeling under the skin. In principle, all parts of the body can be affected by obdormation, but the most common is the external extremities, i.e. our arms and legs or individual fingers and toes, going to sleep.

With our nightly restful sleep However, this has little to do with it, because obdormation is not a phase of rest and regeneration, but a short-term neurological dysfunction.

2. Causes and triggers of obdormation

The "falling asleep" of limbs is basically due to an impairment of our nervous system. Our nerves are responsible for transmitting stimuli and information from all areas of the body, which we perceive through our senses, directly to the brain, where they can be processed and evaluated. This happens primarily via the nerve pathways that run through our entire body.

The typical symptoms of failure, which we refer to as a body part "going to sleep", occur when the nerve pathways are affected by incorrect pressure, bottlenecks or bends and the transmission of stimuli is interrupted - for example, because our legs or arms remain in a bent or uncomfortable position for too long. The brain then no longer receives any information and can no longer properly control the affected part of the body. This leads to the typical numbness. When we then move again, the blocked nerve is released and the supply of the nerve pathways starts again, which means our brain is literally flooded with stimuli. This causes the typical pulling, stabbing or burning sensation, which usually subsides after a short time.

Although arms or legs falling asleep is extremely unpleasant, it is usually harmless and quickly subsides.However, in rare cases, health problems can be behind frequent obdormation, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or restless leg syndrome. So if you often suffer from numb or tingling arms, legs or fingers, you should definitely consult a doctor.

3. Typical symptoms of obdormation

deafness

If the transmission of stimuli is interrupted by an unsuitable posture, this can also lead to reduced blood flow to the affected parts of the body, meaning that they cannot receive sufficient oxygen and nutrients. This also limits the general function of the numb arm or leg, as both the control via the nerve pathway and the supply via the blood are blocked.

tingling, stabbing, pulling

The tingling, itchy feeling under the skin is a kind of warning signal from the nerves to change our position and move the affected part of the body so that the flow of stimuli can be opened up again. As soon as we move and the nerve pathway is exposed again, the brain is flooded with the multitude of stimuli, whereupon it reacts with the unpleasant pins and needles feeling under the skin.

4. Quick help against numb arms and legs

As long as our foot or arm is "asleep", we don't actually feel any real pain. When we change our posture, the supply to the nerve pathways starts again, the body part "wakes up" and the unpleasant feelings like tingling or stabbing start.

If your leg or arm has gone numb, the first thing to do is to move! Change your sitting or lying position to relieve the pressure on the affected part of your body and release any compressed nerves. To help the blockage of the nerves and blood vessels to be released more quickly, it can also help to activate the muscles and blood circulation in the affected part of your body by gently rubbing and stretching, so that your hand, fingers, legs or toes are supplied with oxygen and nutrients more quickly and can return to their healthy function.

Attention: Remember that your body needs a few moments to regain full control of numb parts. For example, you should not step directly on a numb foot to avoid risking injury.

5. Conclusion

• The myth of obdormition or the falling asleep of limbs refers to short-term discomfort in individual parts of the body that is caused by a blockage of the nervous and conduction system.

• Arms and legs that have fallen asleep are not really asleep, but the disrupted connection to the brain makes them temporarily numb and difficult to control.

• In addition to direct pressure relief and movement, gentle rubbing and massaging can also help to combat unpleasant symptoms such as tingling, stinging, itching or pulling.