What exactly happens when your foot goes to sleep?!
Question: I know how it feels ((and I'm sure that you do to)) and that it has something to do with nerves. . . but what really goes down inside my foot?
Answers: I know how it feels ((and I'm sure that you do to)) and that it has something to do with nerves. . . but what really goes down inside my foot?
Many people say this is because you've cut off the blood supply to your foot, but your nerves are more to blame. Nerves are like tiny threads or wires that run through your whole body, and they carry messages back and forth between your brain and body.
When you sit on your foot, you temporarily compress, or squash, the nerves in that area. These nerves can't send messages back to the brain normally, and so for the moment, the connection is cut off and you don't feel anything. It's kind of like a phone call where your friend hangs up and you haven't yet: Your brain is saying "hello," but your foot isn't able to answer.
After you stand up or uncross your legs and the nerves are no longer compressed, the feeling in your foot soon comes back. It might feel a bit tingly as this happens, like pins and needles or even a bit painful. But it only lasts a few seconds as the connection returns to normal, and it won't hurt your body.
Worried about your sleepy feet? You don't need to be - everyone has a foot fall asleep once in a while, and it's rare for it to mean there is something wrong in your body. If you want to keep your feet awake and kicking, don't sit on them or put them in other positions where you're squashing the nerves.
there is no blood circulation
Your foot loses blood circulation which in turn activates your nerves to have that prickly sensation
I have had this same exact question. It amazes me when my foot goes to sleep and all of a sudden becomes heavy and when you rub your toes together it feels like sand inside of your toes. Weird feeling.
When your feet are tingly and sensitive, it is because the flow of blood to the foot has been reduced, and more importantly, your feet are not getting oxygen,