I think pretty much everyone has experienced the pins and needles feeling, but what is actually happening to cause this feeling? And what determines how long it will take for the “effects” to subside?
In: Biology
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.
Edit: This is also why we naturally toss and turn at night.
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