Does your arm get better sleep than you do? Find out what causes those tingling sensations

Did you ever wake up with a tingly sensation in your arm or leg? Can’t feel a limb on your body? Your first reaction may be to panic, especially you we become aware of numbness in the middle of the night after being awakened from a deep sleep. So what causes these strange sensations in our body when we are sleeping? And how can keep them from happening and disrupting sleep?

Discovery Health explains: Usually, you feel this familiar sensation after you’ve been putting pressure on part of your body - sitting on a foot, sleeping on an arm, etc. When you apply this pressure for a prolonged period of time, you actually cut off communication from your brain to these parts of your body. The pressure squeezes nerve pathways so that the nerves can’t transmit electro-chemical impulses properly. In laymen’s terms, we say our foot fell asleep! In order to help the mind and body rest peacefully, sleep positions come into play along with some plain old patience.

If you tend to sleep with one arm above the head, feet up, on your side, or on your belly with an arm underneath, you may experience reoccurring numbness and tingling sensations. Try consciously making an effort to fall asleep in a position where limbs and body parts are spread out evenly on the bed before you slip into REM mode. If you do wake up in the middle of the night, disoriented because you can’t feel your arm, readjust your position or sit up slowly so that you can regain blood flow and nerve feelings in your limb.

So what’s the key to overcoming the pins and needles feeling? Be patient! In an article on ‘What Causes Hands or Arms to Fall Asleep During the Night?’, LiveStrong.com states that is can take several minutes to regain feeling back in the arm, foot, or hand. It is suggested that you move your arm or hand, make a fist and uncurl your fingers to help restore a normal sensation in the limb. Then, keep your hand and arm relaxed as you fall back asleep.” MSNBC reports in an article on ‘What Makes Our Feet Fall Asleep’ that the pins and needles feeling, although uncomfortable and sometimes painful, can actually be beneficial. The discomfort you feel serves as a warning, forcing you to change your position; otherwise, harm could result.

Although these sensations of our limbs falling asleep can be uncomfortable and a disruptor of sleep, it is good to become aware of your body when this takes place and take precautions in adjusting your position. Take a slow approach and remember to relax. Let your brain send the signal to the rest of your body to go back to a peaceful sleep!