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 a pricking, tingling or numbness sensation.

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 only lasts 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.

See a GP if:

you constantly have pins and needles
it keeps coming back

Any treatment you might need for pins and needles will depend on the cause.

Possible causes of pins and needles

There are some possible medical causes of pins and needles. If you have other symptoms this might help to find the cause.

But do not self-diagnose - see a GP if you're worried.

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
a trapped nerve in your back or neck
nerve damage - after an injury or illness
drinking too much alcohol

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Throughout this series we have help and advice on staying healthy, dealing with Sexually Transmitted Infections, the risks of each type of the most popular gay sex and what to do if the sex you have is not consentual. The topics covered in this series include:

	This item was in brought to you association with NHS website. Follow the links above for more information and don't forget to check out OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health which features items on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. This week our topic is: L - Lung Cancer.
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