What does “limb falls asleep” mean here? Or can u tell us what the synonym of it would be so that I can get a sense if what it means?

Some patients describe this loss of sensation at the incision site after surgery as total numbness, while others say that regular sensation (or expected sensation if pain) is replaced by a tingling feeling, not unlike the feeling many ppl experience when a limb falls asleep.

Thanks in advance!

Question

What does “limb falls asleep” mean here? Or can u tell us what the synonym of it would be so that I can get a sense if what it means?

Some patients describe this loss of sensation at the incision site after surgery as total numbness, while others say that regular sensation (or expected sensation if pain) is replaced by a tingling feeling, not unlike the feeling many ppl experience when a limb falls asleep.

Thanks in advance!

Answer

It describes temporary numbness as a result of restricted blood circulation  ("transient paresthesia" is the technical, medical term).

I'm sure that you have probably experienced this in your lifetime: for example when you sìt in one position (without moving) for a long time with one leg on top of the other, the leg underneath will often feel numb  for a short time