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Tingling / Pins And Needles

Tingling / pins and needles is known as paresthesia. This is the altered sensation that usually occurs for a short period of time where the nerve’s blood supply has been cut off or reduced. This can happen if a posture is held, such as sitting on a foot. As soon as the blood is released back to the nerve paresthesia is a short term effect. Some people experience pins and needles for no apparent reason and have the altered sensation constantly. The most common cause of paresthesia is when there is pressure on the nerve. This may be as a result of swelling or inflammation from surrounding structures.

Causes of Pins and Needles

A temporary symptom of pins and needles usually resolves itself once the blood supply to the nerve has been restored or the pressure has been released. This symptom would benefit from Physiotherapy input if chronic / recurrent. There are many causes for recurrent pins and needles. Some of the causes can include:

• Cerebral Vascular Accident (stroke)
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Nerve entrapment such as carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, tarsal tunnel syndrome
  
• Diabetes
• Raynaud’s
• Neuritis

how our senior physiotherapists can help

Our senior physiotherapists may be able to decrease the sensation of pins and needles through the following:

• Assessing the cause of pins and needles
• Providing treatments for the potential cause
• Ergonomic advice
• Postural advice
• Decreasing swelling and pressure on the nerve
• Decreasing inflammation

Physiotherapy mobilizations of the knee joint to relieve any impingement causing pins and needles sensation

What Physiotherapy Treatments can be expected for Pins and Needles?

There are a variety of treatments which can be used to help treat the symptom of paresthesia. Some of the treatments which could be beneficial (dependent upon cause) are:

• Stretching exercises
• Neural dynamic stretches
• Ultrasound therapy
• Radio-frequency Indiba physiotherapy
• Cold therapy
• Heat therapy
• Manual therapy
• Computerized spinal decompression physiotherapy
  
• Desensitisation therapy
• Ergonomic assessment
• Splinting
• Swelling and inflammation management

Summary

Pins and needles is a symptom which is produced by a variety of causes.

Frequent or constant paresthesia would benefit from an expert physiotherapy assessment and treatment as appropriate. We have senior, experienced and specialised physiotherapist who have experience of treating this symptom.

For an appointment please contact us to arrange an appointment.