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.
The signs of nerve damage
Numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. Feeling like you're wearing a tight glove or sock. Muscle weakness, especially in your arms or legs. Regularly dropping objects that you're holding.
See a doctor if your pins and needles are severe or long-lasting. Occasional bouts of pins and needles usually aren't a cause for concern. But, if you've tried home remedies and your symptoms are severe or long-lasting, you should see your doctor.
Getting Rid Of Pins And Needles At Home
If your nerves or blood vessels have been compressed from posture or pressure, it can be as simple as changing your position, uncrossing your legs, or changing out of the tight clothing to get rid of the pins and needles within one to two minutes.
Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can be as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. People with neuropathic pain are often very sensitive to touch or cold and can experience pain as a result of stimuli that would not normally be painful, such as brushing the skin.
CT or MRI scans can look for herniated disks, pinched (compressed) nerves, tumors or other abnormalities affecting the blood vessels and bones. Nerve function tests. Electromyography (EMG) records electrical activity in your muscles to detect nerve damage.
Nerves recover slowly, and maximal recovery may take many months or several years. You'll need regular checkups to make sure your recovery stays on track. If your injury is caused by a medical condition, your doctor will treat the underlying condition.
See your GP if you constantly have pins and needles or if it keeps coming back. It may be a sign of a more serious underlying health condition. Treatment for chronic pins and needles depends on the cause. For example, if it's caused by diabetes, treatment will focus on controlling your blood glucose levels.
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.
Possible causes of pins and needles
Long-lasting pins and needles may also be caused by: treatments – such as chemotherapy. some medicines – such as HIV medicine, medicine to prevent seizures, or some antibiotics. toxic substances – such as lead or radiation.
Regeneration time depends on how seriously your nerve was injured and the type of injury that you sustained. If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury.
Peripheral nerves can be damaged in several ways: Injury from an accident, a fall or sports, which can stretch, compress, crush or cut nerves. Medical conditions, such as diabetes, Guillain-Barre syndrome and carpal tunnel syndrome. Autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome.
Roughly 20 million Americans are living with neuropathy. Living with daily pain and discomfort can be challenging. People with neuropathy are at a higher risk for depression and anxiety than those without a neurological disorder. The good news is treatable, and a pain management specialist can help.
Does an MRI scan show nerve damage? A neurological examination can diagnose nerve damage, but an MRI scan can pinpoint it. It's crucial to get tested if symptoms worsen to avoid any permanent nerve damage.
Lastly, if you don't treat neuropathy, your relief is postponed. Neuropathy can cause numbness, but it can also cause uncomfortable symptoms, including burning sensations, pins and needles, and sharp or shooting pains. This type of pain can impact your quality of life and make it hard for you to enjoy daily activities.
Numerous clinical studies have found that magnesium has beneficial effects in patients suffering from neuropathic pain, dysmenorrhea, tension headache, acute migraine attack, and others.
A variety of blood tests may be performed to determine the cause of nerve damage. These tests may look for high blood glucose levels, diabetes onset, vitamin deficiencies, etc.
Identifying the cause of a neuropathy
The GP can usually identify the underlying cause of a peripheral neuropathy. If diabetes is suspected, they can usually make a confident diagnosis based on your symptoms, a physical examination, and checking the levels of sugar in your blood and urine.
The test involves lightly and briefly (1-2 seconds) touching the tips of the first, third and fifth toes of both feet with the index finger to detect a loss in sensation, and can be performed by patients and relatives alike in the comfort of their own home.
But sometimes, nerve damage can be permanent, even if the cause is treated. Long-term (chronic) pain can be a major problem for some people. Numbness in the feet can lead to skin sores that do not heal. In rare cases, numbness in the feet may lead to amputation.
Chronic stress can lead to neuropathy by damaging the nervous system. When the nervous system is damaged, it can cause pain, numbness, tingling, and other symptoms. The end result is pain, discomfort, or even worse.
"If pins and needles occur more frequently, without a clear reason or with other symptoms, it can indicate other underlying conditions," says Fenton. "A nerve can have pressure placed on it due to anatomical problems such as back problems or thickening of surrounding tissue.