Causes of Paresthesia
There are two types of paresthesia: transient paresthesia and persistent paresthesia.
Transient paresthesia is common and the associated symptoms dissipate quickly.
The causes of transient paresthesia include:
- Body positioning causes pressure on nerve
- Hitting specific body parts against solid objects (“hitting your funny bone”)
- Dehydration
- Migraines
- Hyperventilation
- Panic attacks
- Seizures
- Whiplash
Persistent paresthesia is constant and occurs often.
The causes of persistent paresthesia include:
Circulatory issues: Improper blood flow can impact the functioning of nerves. Different circulatory disorders such as Raynaud’s disease can be the cause of paresthesia.
Nervous system causes: Various neurological conditions can cause paresthesia. A few examples are listed below.
- Brain tumors
- Brain Bleed
- Herniated Disks
- Pinched nerves
- Strokes
Metabolic and endocrine causes: Various hormonal and metabolic conditions along with vitamin deficiencies can cause paresthesia. Some of these are listed below.
- Hormonal/Metabolic Conditions:
- Electrolyte imbalances
- Low blood sugar
- Low thyroid functioning
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Vitamin B12
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin B5
- Vitamin B1
Infectious Diseases: Various diseases can lead to the feeling of pins and needles, with some of these conditions listed below.
- Encephalitis
- Meningitis
- Shingles
- HIV
- Syphilis
Autoimmune Conditions: Various autoimmune conditions attack the nerves and result in swelling of the nerves and eventual paresthesia. A few of these conditions are listed below.
- Lupus
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
Toxins and Poisons: Various toxic sources whether that is medication or other sources can cause paresthesia. A few examples are listed below.
- Arsenic poisoning
- Chemotherapy
- Lead poisoning
- Alcohol use disorder
Symptoms of Paresthesia
The symptoms of paresthesia include:
- Tingling
- Numbness
- Feeling of “pins and needles” under the skin
Diagnosis of Paresthesia
Paresthesia is typically diagnosed through
- Physical exam
- Patient description of symptoms
The causes of paresthesia can be identified through
- X-ray
- MRI
- Blood tests
Treatment of Paresthesia
The treatments can widely vary depending on the type of paresthesia along with the underlying cause.
Transient paresthesia often does not require clinical intervention and typically goes away with time.
There are many underlying causes for persistent paresthesia so the treatment regimen will depend on the underlying cause (the possible causes were identified above).