Why Do Limbs Fall Asleep?

Pressure on nerves can cause the nerves to stop sending impulses to the brain, causing limbs to fall asleep. Learn more about limbs falling asleep in this episode of BrainStuff.
Whether the topic is popcorn or particle physics, you can count on the HowStuffWorks team to explore - and explain - the everyday science in the world around us on BrainStuff.
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[@SuopIsTheWinner]

oh my GOD I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME MY ARM FELL ASLEEP. I sometimes find myself awake on my back with my arms behind my head and my left arm was asleep. I couldn't move that sucker and I freaked the hell out. I thought I was gonna get amputated and I remember sobbing just rubbing my arm really confused. But I started feeling the tingles and I cried even MORE because I was so happy I wasn't dying or something ridiculous.

[@ashburnconnecttv7860]

LMAO! This shit really happen to other people too! Thanks God, I'm NOT dying or crazy.

[@Eden_M]

technically we're all dying though lol

[@jacaanthony]

The most relatable thing for people who sleep on their side or stomach

[@VotiveNutria]

@@ashburnconnecttv7860 of course it happens to other people, you never heard a friend or family or literally anyone saying that their arm is asleep? And why would you be crazy if you were the only one to get them?

[@texmexspm]

it has happen to my butt cheeks, sometimes individually..

[@mandyfrommars8789]

What the-?

[@lysm1961]

Same :v

[@Azule1000]

texmexspm lol

[@Dougy]

Usually on a uncomfortable spot

[@rubandzxo]

texmexspm same usually for me the left cheek

[@ninjabreadgirl]

WHAT IS WRRONNG WITH ME?? I am procrastinating studying for my midterm by learning about all these other things... I am putting off learning with learning. I have a problem.

[@firestorm6505]

yes, me too, instead of listening to music when i make homework i listen to documnetaries of albert einstein and space, fish from the deep sea n dinosaurs (yes i know im making wrong grammar i do it on purpose (also who listens to those things when theyre 12 (im 12)))

[@ninjabreadgirl]

Lol, easy on the grammar mistakes, you don't want to sound completely illiterate, it makes people lose respect for you! And from the looks of it, you seem like a very bright young girl/guy! It is refreshing to see someone so young interested in the world like that, never lose that interest.

[@firestorm6505]

Gingerbread Girl :D I tried algebra too.. Those numbers are hard! *;)*

[@christiancruz2749]

Firestorm I do! They are awesome!

[@kay5427]

This is human, you show more interest in the human body of biology. Cause you probably dont have intrest in other things

[@gleebfish4839]

Hey, it's okay, we all search the weirdest things

[@hanzanitizer]

this isn't weird

[@bobbygreen7876]

You think its weird??? That's weird but its ok well weird is normal

[@rtysdfgh2103]

I dont thinks its weird if everyone does it

[@kageyamasmiling]

i searched this bc my leg randomly fell asleep lmao

[@GLegend]

At night

[@VulpinetideCuteTimes0w0]

sometimes i like when my arm falls asleep after i wake up, cause i like to play with it, wiggle it around and actually feel what it would be like to hold my own arm in my hand if it ever came off........ :3

[@ilovemyhamster2422]

lol fr

[@lorenzomeza9869]

same XD

[@unrealmuffin6836]

First time it happen to me I got scared but then it was funny the way it would just fall on my stomach

[@gud_soup6991]

Omg same !

[@ConsumeristScroffa]

Hahahaha.. I never thought of it this way!! I died laughing with this.

[@1MRJB1]

I fell asleep on my arm yesterday. I thought I was going to die. :) Seriously though.

[@pixelcat29]

The first time my leg fell asleep I thought it was gonna explode

[@MaryLopez-bv7ks]

wait so this isnt about blood flow whew

[@Sandor.s]

Clorox Bleach yea it is

[@ConsumeristScroffa]

John Doe No, it isn't. Did you even watch the video? Seriously, if I had one cent for every person who says that it's interrupted blood flow, I would be filthy rich. Not sure how this rumour started.

[@whuzupyoda8233]

Jordan Schlansky He mentioned it in the video, but the main reason is when the nerves have too much pressure put on them.

[@Shockz-go5mw]

I, Tide Pods, Want 5k Subs tide pods is it OK to eat your brother tide pods

[@AdrrianXae]

0:56

[@gamerN77]

I almost fainted when I woke up a couple of months ago with my arm (on which I was stupidly laying) was all numb and barely moving. I nearly pissed my self but it was fine and all normal a couple of seconds later. But man, this was one hell of a wake up-shock!

[@Strikerofdeath]

Same here it happen to me 2 times when I woke up haha.

[@Dougy]

candymountainn WTF

[@cruz.c]

Lol wake up *shock*

[@vxiixo]

Me too!!

[@Thomas998822]

Happened to me, I seriously thought my arm was dead and would have to be amputated due to no blood flow

[@sophiarose03]

A few years ago, I had spinal stenosis due to a bulging disc at L5, and my entire left leg fell asleep for a few weeks and I couldn’t bear weight. A year or so later, I had an all-over pins and needles feeling for about eight months called small fiber neuropathy, and it would burn like fire if people try to touch me and I couldn’t wear certain clothing. I’m better now though.😊

[@jeremiah3355]

Yay

[@propbraker]

Ok, do you care to tell us how you got better or is it a secret? Surgery?

[@xXSilverVeniceFan_]

I typed this in because my hand fell asleep. lol

[@xiaosleftnut2]

Same

[@TeeAndSharindaTV]

Me toool mines just went to sleep my last finger and feet when to sleep

[@ricpeden7499]

Same

[@talhabutt1631]

Exact ducking same man

[@freedomspatriot1585]

One time I was resting on my arm, and when I finally got up, it was so far asleep I couldn’t even twitch a finger. Well, I basically focused my entire brain at getting that arm to move, and after about 15 seconds my arm just came up and slapped me in the face with my own limp hand. I slowly regained full control after about a minute or so 😂

[@ellenjarrard7920]

Oh gosh😂 All of the energy cane back at once

[@YRG_JR]

I literally be on the bus on the way to school and my leg goes numb,limp,sleep, and when I got up I literally couldn’t feel or stand on it.

[@austinkiernan0000]

The worst part for me is the numb feeling that is also really painful in a way where I just have to stand there with no weight on my leg until it stops. Sometimes it’s so bad that you wanna chop it off lmfao. This happens a lot when I’m on the toilet for a hot minute looking at my phone lol. It’s kinda funny sometimes tho when it’s numb but doesn’t hurt and you try to lift your foot up with your ankle and your body just won’t do it. Like it’s partially paralyzed for a minute until the blood and nerves flow back in.

[@omeraskin79]

Man I love this channel, I have always wanted to know how and why our body parts

[@BrainStuffShow]

Oh, you know,ExoticWalrus. ReMo79

[@ConsumeristScroffa]

And we never heard of Unreal79 again.. He will be missed.. :(

[@Dougy]

Rip Unreal79 2012-2014

[@Tubeytime]

amen

[@JetZarix]

Sometimes whenever I use my phone, my right hand pinky finger falls asleep! That is kinds weird because only a single finger fell asleep. And they say if your limbs falls asleep, it feels like T.V. static inside you.

[@djdesigns81]

Jetryn Gamilla I get that same sensation. I'm sure we'll get a story about it on the news about how cell phone use causes major damage on the body for prolonged use. Best of luck. Try to find something to hold the phone for you. I brought a phone arm holder from amazon and that's all i use now. Best of luck.

[@IndianPrince04]

Jetryn Gamilla When your elbows are folded for extended periods (such as when you're holding a cell phone up to your ears), your ulnar nerve gets pinched, which chokes off blood supply to your pinky AND also the lateral half of your ring finger. This is called cubital tunnel syndrome, and also known as "cell phone elbow" (obvious reasons). CNN covered this a few years back as well www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/06/02/cell.phone.elbow/index.html

[@enginelife8449]

IndianPrince04 what does it mean if your hand gets tingly or falls asleep when you raise them above your head. I'm 16 and dont want to die

[@AllenTax]

Numbness can happen to.

[@meenygreeny7785]

This has happened to my whole body once (everywhere besides my head). I did some research and found out about sleep paralysis. You guys should thoroughly explain that in a video as well.

[@veronicasmith-cooper2869]

I disagree thats an entirely different thing

[@kobelambert8250]

When it's returning to normal it feels like cold air or something inside flowing into the area that fell asleep it kinda feels nice

[@travisdaye1977]

what about the long heavy vibration feeling from making contact when we cant feel it, but can move it?

[@Aaron-wd1cn]

thats literally fucking happening to me rn

[@XcherriesNchocolateX]

TINGLING?! More like intense spasms of pain!

[@marceloesquivel5665]

It literally tickles

[@Nejmen.]

What happens when you're laying on a couch and QUICKLY jump up on your feet. I feel dizzy and my sight starts to darken.. after 5-10 seconds it returns to normal again. I know alittle of why this is happening, but if someone here really knows what is going on, please tell me :)

[@BrainStuffShow]

We'll add it to our list of things to investigate!

[@Nejmen.]

BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks Woow :D thanks!

[@karaeakr]

Low blood

[@marleyrobertson6417]

Yeah I used to have this happen a lot also. The doctor told me that after lying down, if I suddenly get up, the blood flow or pressure to the brain suddenly falls, it drops to the lower part of the body, so the brain doesn't get enough oxygen. This causes you to start to faint. So what you do is not get up suddenly, or just wait for the feeling to pass as the body readjusts its pressure to get the blood flowing better to your head. It's nothing to worry about.

[@Nejmen.]

Marley robertson Thanks for telling me :) wasn't really scared, but fun to know why it is happening :)

[@RockingKidOfDOOM]

I always wondered. You guys are simply amazing.

[@claireh57]

I've noticed my upper back/shoulders fall asleep occasionally if I sit with bad posture for a slightly extended period of time. The only way I can tell is one shoulder will tingle a little bit, and if I reach back and touch my back it's numb as if it's asleep.

[@bigman7293]

I woke up in the middle of the night last night and my whole damn leg was asleep and super super light (I'm white by the way) in color...

[@ConsumeristScroffa]

Don't get it.

[@gimpdoctor8362]

this was so much more informative than i thought it was going to be!!

[@joshuamartinaudio2040]

I remember waking up one time in high school, and both my arms and one leg were completely numb. I was frantically trying to turn off my alarm clock (which was across the room), and all I could do was flail uncontrollably.

[@MichaelDeck]

Please speak more slowly or add visuals as you speak. My kids and I love watching these videos together but I needed to keep pausing and explaining what you said. Love this channel!

[@randonumba]

i love the feeling when my body falls asleep; but not after i put it down on the floor. then i cant move my leg cause of how uncomfortable the leg is..

[@1119-w3u]

I woke up and could not feel like me left arm, I was so scared.. I moved my neck, and when I got up I went to my mirror right away to see my back, and it was fine, but then the tingling and burning came to my left arm and I could move it again. Man it was so terrifying trying to move it but it can't 😢.. I feel really bad for paralyzed people 😢

[@NewNewton]

My entire arm just went numb for the first time in my life. I was terrified!!! I thought I was paralyzed, and now I know why. Thanks BrainStff

[@Toxpunk13]

first time? i always have my arm and legs numb since i was a kid lol

[@beckiemoore3836]

Thanks for helping to explain to my pre-schooler why their arm was tingling when they woke up this morning!

[@rich64bit]

motor functions like moving makes you move your leg before the nerves endings actually have feeling to them like normal, got it! my brain is so powerful!!

[@carlauditts8514]

It happens to me a lot . Very often specially when I’m sitting in the toilet. I feel like I have weak bones. Just recently I feel every day when I wake up. I’m 38 years old.

[@TheRainbowgary]

Good to know the scientific explanation on sleeping limbs .

[@Justcallme_Phil]

Thank you. I've always pondered this.

[@CrushersCharisma]

I wonder how much pressure is applied when I wake up and not only is sensation completely gone in my hand but even with complete force of will I cannot move my pinky finger. Scary to think I could have killed my own hand by just sleeping on it because the amount of pressure used to immobilize my hand must also have cut off the circulation .

[@TheWolfHowling]

Walking on a numb leg or foot is one of the weirdest sensation that I have very felt

[@Pr3ttySxiren]

Lol it's morning and my one toe fall asleep. It's ok if I keep it in a certain position. But if I move it hurts a lot.

[@FREE-xc3zy]

Thank god, i was so damn worried cus i woke up with a completely numb and limp arm. Keep up the good work with the videos, they help people

[@mr.noride7226]

When my arm falls asleep, it isn’t really a tingling sensation. It is more of my arm or foot feeling really heavy and it almost hurts to try and move it and then it stops after a while. This only happens at night sometimes. I do sometimes get that pins and needles feeling on the bottom of my feet sometimes too.

[@DevanteWeary]

This guy has cold, soulless eyes. Looking deep into me and revealing my every indiscretion.

[@wolfario1144]

LOL

[@MySliceofLifeAnimation]

I have started to experience it quite a lot recently. I hope it's not that dangerous. Out of curiosity I searched for videos and here I am.

[@sayenab2583]

THANKS FOR TELLING ME THAT BECAUSE THESE THINGS HAPPENED TO ME ALOT NOW I KNOW WHY THAT HAPPENS THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH DUDE

[@CIBERXGAMES]

I cannot crisscross my legs because this happens. They go completely numb after around 15 minutes and I cannot hold myself up until they go back to normal. Awesome science!

[@Shawnmyrelle]

holy moly doughnut shop this was useful. Its interesting that the video describes that hellish after-feeling as a "burning-sensation". It feels absolutely awful. Back in HS there were times I fell asleep at my desk. I would wake up and both arms and legs would be sleep. it was awful- especially because each time I had to pee.

[@اسماءحماده-ه6ه]

Thanks guys I love all of your videos

[@whuzupyoda8233]

I woke up, my arm was asleep, and all I could think about was “I wonder what science is behind this?” I grab my phone, opened up KZbin, and had to search this up with my shaky “asleep” arm. Haha! Thank you! Nice video!

[@mattlm64]

This happens to my arm quite a lot. I often worry that I'll damage it.

[@s8nwulf]

Okay, when my limbs fall asleep, it's quite violent. It startles me and it's a very weird feeling for me. It's usually when I'm sleeping and I feel like I'm about to faint sometimes, it happens too much.. :/

[@emmanuellramos777]

"Why aren't you moving?" "If I move, there will be hell"

[@loridori]

My son woke up with this after falling asleep on the couch... He's 7 years old and was freaking out and crying... Right when he told me his legs were hurting and tingling ...I knew automatically it was this....

[@mhyke8289]

For me, when my foot falls asleep and I adjust, ending the pins and needles, a feeling of heavy internal tickling encases my entire foot and it’s fun because when I move, it tickles even more

[@dougmangum7997]

Please explain cramping.

[@YRG_JR]

I literally was on the bus on the way to school and my leg goes numb,limp,sleep, and when I got up I literally couldn’t feel or stand on it.

[@vicentegonzalez5375]

It helped a lot. My leg always would fall asleep and I thought something was wrong with it. Thanx

[@gamerN77]

+Joseph Ramsy If this happens to you A LOT and when you are not putting pressure on it, you should still have a look at it!

[@vicentegonzalez5375]

no only when i applied pressure

[@Ral9284]

You are what I like Internet, BrainStuff.

[@someoneontheinternet3672]

I watched this video with my hand asleep and when you explained what happens as it was happening to me

[@iJamie8467x]

I had this morning, I think I almost lost control since my left arm was flopping around, I freaked out, after a couple seconds I managed some how regain control and now my arm just feels a little weird Scary stuff, sleep safe ladies and gentlemen

[@stephaniemorgan3859]

I was just getting out of bed when I went onto the floor, my right leg must have fallen asleep, my alarm clock went off at the same time as I went onto the floor, I fell onto the floor, I'm fine, nothing bad happened. If people's legs fall asleep do people fall onto the floor/ground when their legs are asleep?

[@BrainStuffShow]

Sometimes!

[@Crime-mysteries]

@@BrainStuffShow this has just happened to my mum fallen down steps 😔

[@engelsseele2]

One thing I have always done to "wake" an arm up from that feeling is to raise my arm above my heart level or leg if that is the case. I have found it lessens the pain and the feeling of pins and needles faster. Has anyone else done that?

[@smac919]

+engelsseele2 for sure. it lets the blood flow quicker with the help of gravity

[@ConsumeristScroffa]

Shinigami I bet you didn't watch the video.

[@Brandon2940]

Say if you're sitting on a chair at a table and you put you're legs straight across on the other chair. Why does only one (or sometimes both) legs fall asleep?

[@TomDeVito]

Wow I always wanted to know why my hand falls asleep thanks :D the best way I get my hand back to normal is if I sit on it for a few minuets

[@043justdoit]

once you unhook your arm or leg or whatever. stay still at that position and remove most pressure from it. about 1+min. it hurts less while the nerves readjust themselves

[@finchpoland8474]

So can this like affect the arm in any bad ways?

[@jonathanrogers1346]

I wonder if a TENS unit would work with quick recovery

[@finknoodles]

I once had both my legs fall asleep and I literally couldn’t move.

[@edwelndiobel1567]

Sometimes when I finally get to sleep I wake up with ALL of BOTH of my arms completely paralyzed. The pain when they wake up is incredible.

[@TheInfinitihb]

smart people rock!

[@spc67h]

I don't have that tingling sensation at all after my legs (or arms) fall asleep. My arms used to fall asleep regularly when I woke up (it's not easy to get up with both arms dangling, offering no support at all...). My legs always fall asleep after a while when I sit in staff pose. It's not comfortable but I don't get a tingling or burnins sensation when I get out of the pose. It's only difficult walking with both legs still half asleep. I wonder why. Am I an exception?

[@SATORvii]

This is awesome!

[@peurmartis641]

That was pretty informative

[@wacky_writersworld9968]

I just had this happen to me this morning....and I found this video.

[@robertshaw540]

I have found that if it's a hand or foot, you can run it under water for a few seconds and the feeling will come back much quicker.

[@rainishell]

i had this happen to my arm. however it took about two weeks for me to actually move my entire hand and arm normally

[@Azule1000]

Ye

[@adalwolf12]

After one of my legs falls asleep as I regain feeling I get this horrible pain/tickle feeling that causes me to laugh uncontrollably whenever I even slightly move my leg... Its hell.

[@the0siren0of0night]

I once sat on the arm of a chair and my whole right leg went completely numb! I couldn't feel it at all for 2 hours after getting up...when I was walking around it felt as if I had an artificial leg: could not control it or feel any sensation apart from the pressure on my hip joint first then my knee joint...very weird...

[@squeguinquack2570]

I saw something so funny last night. My baby cousin was told that her arm was asleep so she was singing to it. It was hilarious

[@Trioptic3D]

Hi Ben Bowlin! I've been Bowling too!

[@spuddygamingking8339]

Once I was asleep in the car and I woke up and my leg was basically dead. I could move my ankle or lower and I had no feeling under me knee. I scratched my foot and I felt nothing. When I got out of the car, I fell over and twisted my ankle and didn’t realise until my leg woke up again!

[@coltonrowe5763]

I was asleep and woke up in the middle of the night and the left side of my face had this tingling sensation like it was asleep my hand is what my head was resting on. Has anyone else had this happen?

[@ashburnconnecttv7860]

YELL! My forearm and hand that my face was resting on were painful. nimb and sleep that awaken me from a DEEP sleep! WTF

[@mikolajpatyna8343]

What about the moment when you're confused if something is either warm or cold. For example when your hands are freezing cold and then you put them to something warm and then it's this temperature confusion. Also what about the moments when you're feet are freezing because of being in cold for too long and then you warm up later and it's as if they're on fire.

[@jdxsmoove1564]

This happens to me almost all the time

[@junezhang2128]

It reminds me that this one time I woke up in the middle of the night to find my right arm under the back of my head, it was ice-cold and numb. I tried to move it back to place but I couldn't feel it, so I grabbed it with my left and put it back to place.

[@molaps101]

Usually when my leg falls asleep its NOT fun at all its the worst feeling ever. The whole leg from my toes all the up to my va jay jay goes completely numb, combined with pins and needles under my fooy especially when i try to walk around or massage my leg.

[@multixgaming769]

Like when im in a car traveling and i fall asleep my leg like tickles or like i have to move it a little

[@ashburnconnecttv7860]

What's the CURE geniues?

[@Hypastpist]

i once tried to walk while my legs fell asleep i managed to walk TWO whole steps!

[@williamlegarrea913]

saaaame

[@noahkindler6411]

Hahahaha

[@lexochewie1163]

i woke up in the middle of the night and my whole arm was numb and asleep, i tried to move it but i couldnt so i tried really hard and almost slapped my self in the face

[@ConsumeristScroffa]

lexi Jada You're joking, right? It can't recover that fast. Sorry if you are joking and I am being Mr. Obvious. I actually laughed when I read it, but then I considered the possibility that you may had this experience and I just can't imagine how.

[@Raq]

World record

[@unrealmuffin6836]

I came here looking for answers after my arm became flimsy in the morning. I must have slept on it. I couldn't pick it up so I used my right arm to grab it and it was as if a fake arm was attached to my body. I let go of it and it dropped so fast. I was kind of scary and humorous at the same time. However, after 15 secs my arm gained function.😄

[@unrealmuffin6836]

It was kind of scary and funny my bad

[@TeaDrinkr_ow]

Do "What happens to your body when you fall asleep" next!

[@jwag301]

The amount of times I wake up, roll over, and get smacked in the face with my floppy arm is unreal.

[@michaelbaskins6279]

I fell asleep with my neck on the stiff armrest of a couch once. I woke up with my scalp all numb. Very scary....

[@givenmaduabuchi1826]

Oh my gosh it happend to me this morning for the first time in my life I woke up and my arm was just flopping around I was so scared of how I had no control over it and almost felt like crying.But it lasted for only like 30 seconds and I had control over my arm again

[@sisvssis7520]

My hand was sleep and it’s tingling right now

[@buenpruductions]

Does slapping or hitting the limb that has fallen asleep help?

[@silas.6341]

when your hand falls asleep move them like you are cracking your knuckles but with no force and faster and keep going. it speeds up the process (at least for me)

[@SteveSnowGO]

Soo scary when this happens especially when a limb is fully asleep

[@ChrisComstock612]

What about loosing control of the while right side of the body, like a stroke, how come im only 28 and that happens to me quite frequently? Andvit hurts a lot more than when a limb falls asleep, please make a video on that!!! Thanx

[@ChrisComstock612]

lol or waiting for affordable healthcare

[@michaelmoores2654]

You were probably having a stroke and it wouldn't surprise me if you're already dead.

[@Zakary50]

When I first saw it I thought it said "Why do limbs fall off"

[@creatorguy100]

can youre limbs die because of this???

[@LeonardGreenpaw]

not really, unless you put massive pressure directly on an artery for an extended period of time to cause cell death, but that wont happen from just sleeping on an arm or sitting on a foot. Just dont get stuck under a boulder

[@meloniser9687]

Leonard Greenpaw I see what you did there

[@Dougy]

People in the past are smarter.

[@christianlionel1988]

I know you answered this question 4 years ago but my whole arm and fingers usually left but recently this happened to my right went completely numb when I woke up. I had to wait for about 20 seconds before my arm woke up again and I was able to move it. This only ever happens a day or 2 after tricep exercises at the gym. It seems to stem from my elbow. Maybe it becomes so imflammed that it stops the blood from flowing correctly. Any ideas why?

[@eiciuwnuibwbwicbwc]

Christian Lionel Go see a doctor or google it

[@reddragon0624]

I like when my limbs fall asleep. It feels strangely satisfying

[@Model_BT-7274]

I remember waking up and lifting my arm up then something heavy slapped my forehead. Then I realized that it was my arm and it fell asleep at my elbow. It was so weird because I couldn't feel that arm so it felt like sine soft and heavy object just dropped on me.