Pins and needles
Everyone can get pins and needles, but see a GP if you keep getting it or it lasts a long time.
What is pins and needles?
Pins and needles feels like pricking, tingling or numbness on the skin.
It happens when the blood supply to the nerves is cut off. This is usually when you sit or sleep on part of your body. It lasts only a few minutes.
You often get pins and needles in your:
- arms
- hands
- legs
- feet
It usually stops when the weight is taken off the body part and your blood supply returns to the nerves.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- you constantly have pins and needles
- it keeps coming back
Coronavirus update: how to contact a GP
It’s still important to get help from a GP if you need it. To contact your GP surgery:
- visit their website
- use the NHS App
- call them
Possible causes of pins and needles
Use these links to get an idea of what you can do about pins and needles. But do not self-diagnose – see a GP if you’re worried.
| Symptoms | Possible condition |
|---|---|
| Pins and needles in fingers or toes that change colour | Raynaud’s |
| Breathing too quickly, trembling hands, pins and needles | hyperventilation |
| Pain and pins and needles that travels from your back, down your leg to your foot | sciatica |
| Pins and needles in different parts of your body | multiple sclerosis |
Long-lasting pins and needles may also be caused by:
- treatments – such as chemotherapy
- some medicines – such as HIV medicine, medicine to prevent seizures, or some antibiotics
- toxic substances – such as lead or radiation
- poor diet
- nerve damage – after an injury or illness
- drinking too much alcohol
Page last reviewed: 9 January 2018
Next review due: 9 January 2021
