Paresthesia (paraesthesia in British English) is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of the skin with no apparent long-term physical effect, more generally known as the feeling of pins and needles.

Transient paresthesia

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Most people have felt the sensation of an extremity "falling asleep". This lack of sensation is caused by a temporary impedance of blood flow to the extremity which results in nerve cells being starved of oxygen and glucose. Additionally, the impedance of blood flow is usually due to pressure on the limb which in turn compresses the nerve cells, making transmission of neural impulses more difficult. Transient paresthesia is the familiar sensation of "pins and needles" felt when oxygen and glucose-rich blood return to the nerve cells which in turn fire at an accelerated rate until they establish their regular transmission rate.

Chronic paresthesia

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Chronic paresthesia indicates a problem with the functioning of nerve cells, or neurons. This malfunction, which is especially common in older individuals, is often the result of poor circulation in the limbs (such as in peripheral vascular disease), or may be caused by atherosclerosis—the build up of plaque on artery walls. Without a proper supply of blood and nutrients, nerve cells can no longer adequately send signals to the brain. Because of this, paresthesia is also a symptom of vitamin deficiency and malnutrition, as well as metabolic disorders like diabetes and hypothyroidism.

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Almost positive I have Hand paresthesia. FML
adforum (Adforum.com) Wed, 06 Jan 2010 21:18:09 -0000
Almost positive I have Hand paresthesia. FML
Needle-Induced Paresthesia During Spinal Anesthesia: A Comparison of Sitting Versus Lateral Decubitus Position http://tinyurl.com/yctmwm4
plspassthegas (RonMem) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 22:37:51 -0000
Needle-Induced Paresthesia During Spinal Anesthesia: A Comparison of Sitting Versus Lateral Decubitus Position http://tinyurl.com/yctmwm4
@jennythegreat Ah the joys of pregnancy! Sounds like maybe some puffiness leading to carpel tunnel paresthesia (tinglies)
dkmom (dkmom) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 16:36:33 -0000
@jennythegreat Ah the joys of pregnancy! Sounds like maybe some puffiness leading to carpel tunnel paresthesia (tinglies)
@ashleyyosaurus ok, I'm a loser and had to look it up... "transient paresthesia" :) or that's what I found at least?
steph_hinrichs (Stephanie Hinrichs) Sun, 03 Jan 2010 02:11:24 -0000
@ashleyyosaurus ok, I'm a loser and had to look it up... "transient paresthesia" :) or that's what I found at least?
Paresthesia.
mrdavidboberesq (David Bober) Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:57:31 -0000
Paresthesia.

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