Pins and Needles

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Robb told me a strange story last night as we were listening to the primary election coverage.

It seems that he was sitting on the couch, with his feet on the coffee table, when he realized that his feet had "gone to sleep." This is the first time he has experienced this sensation in the two years since he broke his back and injured his spinal cord.

He said that not only was he feeling pins-and-needles in his feet, but he wasn't feeling pins-and-needles in his feet. This sensation was spotty, due to the fact that Robb's neurological damage only gives him partial awareness of his feet.

I suppose it is also worth mentioning that if my feet ever go to sleep, and I mention it to Robb, I am instantly wracked with guilt for seeming to complain about having uncomfortable tingly sensations in my feet. I apologize profusely and feel like a real jerk, even though Robb laughs at me for doing this. I can't help it. I feel that considering what he's going through, I have no right to gripe about anything, and particularly not a temporary weird sensation in my feet.

By the way, can anyone actually tell us why your feet "go to sleep" when you sit on them for too long? Do you really cut off your blood circulation? Or is this actually a neurological response of some kind?

Comments

Jimmy said…
I'm thinking it's neurological since my feet will go to sleep even if I'm sitting or standing.
This website explains it in simple terms - it is a kids website, after all. :)

http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/foot_asleep.html
Anonymous said…
His feet fell asleep, eh? Good for him!

It must be all that celebrating of Big Toe Day that wiped him out.

Annalisa and Gary

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