# Can sleep prevent me from feeling head trauma?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-prevent-me-from-feeling-head-trauma/965107>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 25, 2022, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-prevent-me-from-feeling-head-trauma/965107 "2022-05-25T23:57:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2022, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-prevent-me-from-feeling-head-trauma/965107/1 "2022-05-25T23:57:17Z")

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As described in the MMP thread, I dreamed that I rolled off of bed, and woke up to find that I’d actually done it. But I wasn’t in any pain (except for scraping my elbow on the carpet when I landed), so I apparently didn’t hit my head on my nightstand, but I don’t see how that’s possible, especially with how high off the floor my bed is. Is there a way I could have scrambled my brains against my nightstand in any significant way and not felt anything (that I can remember for suddenly waking up at 3 in the morning)? I slept for four and a half hours after that, but I just wanted to make absolutely sure whether I should be looking out for signs of head trauma or what have you.

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**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2022, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-prevent-me-from-feeling-head-trauma/965107/2 "2022-05-26T02:58:20Z")

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It seems like if you fell off the bed and aren’t recognizing any side effects by now, there’s no problem.

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**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2022, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-prevent-me-from-feeling-head-trauma/965107/3 "2022-05-26T04:49:58Z")

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Perhaps you should consult with a doctor.

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**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2022, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-prevent-me-from-feeling-head-trauma/965107/4 "2022-05-26T05:15:55Z")

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> [@Leaper](#):
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> I just wanted to make absolutely sure whether I should be looking out for signs of head trauma or what have you.

The first sign of head trauma from a fall like that will be pain. If you injured your head while you slept it would hurt now when you are awake. Does your head hurt now?

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**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2022, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-prevent-me-from-feeling-head-trauma/965107/5 "2022-05-26T06:06:31Z")

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Nope. With Bob Saget’s recent death, not to mention all those stories you hear about sleepwalking, I guess I’m just paranoid. I just can’t figure out how I _didn’t_ hit my head…

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**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2022, 10:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-sleep-prevent-me-from-feeling-head-trauma/965107/7 "2022-05-26T10:14:04Z")

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> [@D\_Anconia](#):
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> Perhaps you should consult with a doctor

I believe the OP is in the US.