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Numbness, tingling and pins and needles: common causes and when to get help

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Pins and needles are usually brief and harmless, but numbness or tingling that lasts, keeps returning or comes with weakness needs checking. The NHS says to call 999 for sudden numbness on one side.

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Key points

  • The NHS describes pins and needles as a pricking, tingling or numbing feeling, usually in the arms, hands, legs or feet.
  • Brief episodes often follow sitting or sleeping in one position, while longer-lasting symptoms can have other causes such as nerve damage or some medicines.
  • The NHS advises seeing a GP if pins and needles keep coming back or last a long time.
  • Sudden weakness in an arm, a drooping face or slurred speech are signs of stroke, and the NHS says to call 999.

What are pins and needles?

The NHS describes pins and needles as a pricking, burning, tingling or numbing sensation. It usually affects the arms, hands, legs or feet. Brief spells are common after sitting or sleeping on a limb and usually pass.

Why does it keep happening?

The NHS lists possible reasons for longer-lasting pins and needles, including a trapped nerve in the back or neck, nerve damage, poor diet and heavy drinking. Some treatments and substances are also listed, including chemotherapy, some medicines, lead and radiation. Conditions the NHS links to particular patterns include diabetes, Raynaud’s, hyperventilation, sciatica and multiple sclerosis.

What is peripheral neuropathy?

Peripheral neuropathy is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord. Its main symptoms include numbness and tingling in the feet or hands, burning or stabbing pain, loss of balance and muscle weakness in the feet. Causes the NHS lists include diabetes, long-term heavy alcohol use, low vitamin B12 and an underactive thyroid. The NHS advises seeing a GP early if these symptoms appear, and blood tests may be arranged, especially for diabetes and vitamin B12 deficiency.

What about the wrist and hand?

Carpal tunnel syndrome is pressure on a nerve in the wrist that causes tingling, numbness and pain in the hand and fingers. The symptoms are usually worse at night. The NHS says to see a GP if symptoms are getting worse or not going away, or if home treatment is not helping. When the diagnosis is unclear, a nerve conduction test or scans may be used.

When is numbness an emergency?

The NHS lists face drooping, arm weakness and speech problems among the main symptoms of stroke. The NHS stroke test, FAST, stands for face, arms, speech and time to call 999. The NHS advises calling 999 straight away, even if the symptoms disappear while waiting for the ambulance, and NHS inform says not to drive if you think you have had a stroke or TIA. A transient ischaemic attack (TIA) is a short-lived version of stroke symptoms, and the NHS says an assessment in hospital is still needed if the symptoms go away.

More guides and news

Educational content. This article summarises public guidance and announcements in plain English for education. It is not medical advice and it cannot say what is right for you: speak to a clinician about your own health, call NHS 111 if you are unsure what to do and 999 in an emergency.