Paraesthesia overview

Overview

Paresthesia is a sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness of a person's skin with no apparent long-term physical effect, more generally known as the feeling of pins and needles or of a limb being "asleep" (but not directly related to the phenomenon of sleep). Its manifestation may be transient or chronic.

Numbness, tingling and abnormal sensations potentially occur secondary to lesions anywhere in the nervous system. They may be accompanied by a decreased sensation that can be noticed by exposure to painful stimuli.