What Is Paresthesia?
Paresthesia is that "pins and needles" feeling that you've probably had at some point. Maybe you fell asleep with your arm pinned under you. Or you kept your legs crossed too long.
It may seem weird, but paresthesia usually is painless and harmless. But sometimes it can be a sign of a more serious medical problem.
Paresthesia Symptoms
You'll usually feel paresthesia in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. But it can happen in other areas of the body as well.
People with paresthesia could feel:
- Burning
- Prickling
- Itching
- Tingling
Paresthesia Causes
Paresthesia happens because of pressure on a nerve. When that pressure is gone -- you uncross your legs, for example -- the feeling goes away.
But in some cases, it doesn't go away. Or if it does, it comes back regularly. That's called chronic paresthesia, and it can be a sign of a medical condition or nerve damage. Several things can cause chronic paresthesia, including:
- An injury or accident that caused nerve damage
- A stroke or mini-stroke -- when blood flow to your brain is cut off and causes damage
- Radiculopathy -- a compressed nerve root
- Neuropathy -- nerve damage
- A pinched nerve (often in your neck, shoulder, or arm) from injury or overuse
- Sciatica -- pressure on the sciatic nerve (which goes from your lower pelvis to your buttocks and legs), a common problem during pregnancy that typically causes numbness and pain in your back or legs
Paresthesia Risk Factors
Several things can raise your chances of paresthesia, including:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome -- when the small tunnel that goes from your wrist to your lower palm gets too narrow. That narrowing causes pressure on your median nerve. Pain and numbness in your forearm, wrist, hand, and fingers can follow. Carpal tunnel syndrome can be the result of repetitive movements.
- Type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes
- Multiple sclerosis
- Low levels of some vitamins, especially vitamin B12, which is important for nerve health
Certain medications can also cause paresthesia in some people. These can include:
- Certain types of chemotherapy
- Some antibiotics
- Medicines to treat HIV
- Some treatments for seizures
If you think a medicine you take might cause your paresthesia, talk with your doctor. They may be able to change your treatment or your dose.
Paresthesia Diagnosis
In many cases, paresthesia goes away on its own. But if any area of your body regularly goes numb or gets that "pins and needles" feeling, talk to your doctor. They'll ask about your medical history and do a physical exam.
They also may recommend certain tests to figure out what's causing your paresthesia. These might include an X-ray, blood test, or a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves to make detailed images of certain areas of your body.
Paresthesia Treatment
What treatment you'll need for your paresthesia will depend on what's causing it. Treating the cause will usually make paresthesia go away or make it happen less often. Talk with your doctor about which treatments can help you.