The manifestations of a paresthesia known as pins and needles can be unpleasant and annoying sensations.

Pins and needles tingling or a pricking, burning numbing sensation is typically felt in the arms, legs, hands or feet.

Many people experience pins and needles symptoms its a common occurrence that may be temporary, transient, persistent and sometimes chronic.

Temporary or Transient Paresthesia: These tingling symptoms happen when pressure is applied to a part of the body, which cuts off the blood supply to the nerves in that area, preventing the nerves from sending important signals to the brain.

Such temporary pins and needles can be eased or relieved by simply taking the pressure off the affected area allowing blood supply to return.

Other common reasons for temporary pins and needles are hyperventilating and a condition known as Raynaud's disease. Raynaud disease affects the blood supply to certain areas of the body, such as the fingers and toes, and is usually triggered by cold temperatures or sometimes anxiety or stress.

Most cases of pins and needles are temporary.

Persistent Paresthesia: Pins and needles sensations can be caused by certain treatments. Some medicines can cause nerve damage, medicines such as chemotherapy medicines, anti-retroviral and occasionally certain antibiotics.

Even vitamin deficiency brings on the nerve damage sensation. Vitamin B12 deficiency or the lack of vitamin B12 is common among very elderly people

While an injury can result in nerve damage. Sometimes people may develop an injury that damages the nerve endings in fingers or toes because of prolonged use of vibrating tools. Another factor causing pins and needle sensations may stem from alcohol abuse.

Chronic Paresthesia: Sometimes pins and needles may be chronic as an outcome of a wide range of trapped nerve conditions. A trapped nerve in the neck can cause pins and needles anywhere from the neck and radiate down the arms and into your fingers.

Carpal tunnel syndromes arise from a trapped nerve in the wrist. Usually, a build-up of pressure in the small tunnel that runs from the wrist to the lower palm generates pins and needles or pain in the hand.

Health Issues: A range of systemic diseases including kidney disorders, liver disease, vascular damage, hypothyroidism, hormonal imbalances, cancers and benign tumours can impinge on nerves causing chronic paresthesia.

Conditions like stroke, multiple sclerosis or brain tumours can damage the nervous system and cause areas of pins and needles. Likewise, pressure on nerves due to back and neck problems is also very common.

A slipped disc or back problem can put pressure on a nerve that travels from your back, down your leg and into your toes. In addition, diabetes can damage small blood vessels that supply nerves in the hands and feet causing peripheral neuropatthy.

Treatment will depend on the likely cause of the pins, needles and numbness so consult with your doctor because youll need to find out the underlying cause and address it.

If you constantly have pins and needles or if it keeps coming back after a period of reprieve it may be a sign of a more serious underlying health condition.