‘Pins and needles’ (paresthesia) is a sensation of uncomfortable tingling, prickling, itching or skin crawling usually felt in the hands or feet. The affected area is sometimes said to have ‘fallen asleep’.A common cause of pins and needles is leaning or lying awkwardly on an arm or leg, which either presses against the nerves or reduces the blood supply to the local area.
Changing position usually quickly restores normal feeling as the nerves start sending messages to the brain and spinal cord again.In some cases, pins and needles are caused by temporary
or permanent nerve damage or certain disorders of the central nervous system. Always see your doctor if you experience frequent or persistent bouts of pins and needles.
Common features of pins and needles include:
- prickling and tingling sensation
- numbness
- return of normal feeling a few minutes after changing position.
Hands, arms, legs and feet are the parts of the body most commonly affected.
