‘Pins and needles’ (paraesthesia) is a sensation of uncomfortable tingling or prickling, usually felt in the hands or feet but can affect any part of the body. The affected area is sometimes said to have ‘fallen asleep’. A common cause is leaning or lying awkwardly on a limb, which either presses against the nerves or reduces the blood supply to the local area. Changing position quickly restores normal feeling. Any numbness is soon replaced by the tingling and prickling sensation, as the nerves start sending messages again to the brain and spinal cord. In some cases, pins and needles are caused by nerve damage or certain disorders of the central nervous system.
The peripheral nerves of the body send information back to the brain and spinal cord. When a sensory nerve is pressed by a cramped or awkward position, its functioning starts to falter. In time, the affected limb ‘falls asleep’, which means the sensory messages are blocked. Once pressure is taken off the nerve, functioning resumes. The uncomfortable prickling sensation is caused by the resumption of pain messages from nerves to the brain. Other nerves, such as those that provide information on temperature, take a little longer to recover. Nerves can also be pinched by bones and other tissue.
The occasional bout of pins and needles is a harmless event. However, chronic pins and needles can be symptomatic of some other underlying disorder. Our Physios can examine you and determine the cause. A nerve pinched by bone or some other tissue will need Physio to allow full nerve functioning to resume.
Can we help you? Please click here for an appointment
