Why do I Have Pins and Needles in my Fingers
We can get pins and needles for many different reasons, but sometimes there is a specific feeling of pins and needles in our fingers. This sensation is called paraesthesia and for most people the feeling is mildly uncomfortable, but for others it can become very painful. Others experience this feeling from day to day and it does not cause any trouble for them at all. Generally, paraesthesia is caused by nerves and may lead to complete loss of sensation in this area. If you want to find out more about why you feel pins and needles in your fingers, read the following OneHowTo article and let us give you the answers you're looking for.
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You may have pins and needles if you suffer from peripheral neuropathy . This is a type of condition that consists of nerve damage in the peripheral nervous system, which can be caused by other diseases. Peripheral neuropathy can have many causes (such as diabetes). It is common for diabetics to feel these sensations in both hands and feet. There are also other causes, including infections, alcohol or some autoimmune diseases.
An example of peripheral neuropathy is carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when your median nerve that runs from the forearm to the hand gets compressed as it travels through the wrist. The median nerve is responsible for controlling the sensations of the fingertips. When this is affected, we experience the tingling sensation in this part of our body.
This occurs in people who use computers regularly or carry out other repetitive activities where they use the wrists and fingers, e.g. driving, sewing, painting or writing.
It may also be that you feel pins and needles as a result of pressure on the ulnar nerve. This nerve runs across the palm of the hand in the opposite direction to the central nerve, and affects the little finger in particular. Compression causes numbness and tingling on this finger and in the palm of the hand, just below the fingers. This occurs when the elbow is bent for a long time, especially at night. If you're experiencing pins and needles or even numbess in this area, you might be interested to read this OneHowTo article on why your arm is going numb.
It can also be due to cervical spondylolysis which occurs when bone changes in the cervical spine compress the spinal cord, causing wear. This occurs as a result of natural aging and causes pins and needles, a condition that gets worse as the nerves are compressed more and more. Pain and stiffness of the neck radiate across the shoulders, arms, chest and hands.
Multiple sclerosis can also cause pins and needles. This autoimmune disease causes nerve damage because they swell and are damaged (nerves in the spinal cord, brain or optic nerve). One of the most common symptoms is numbness of the fingers and hands, along with burning. This leads to a weakening of the limbs such as the arms and legs.
Other causes of pins and needles are:
- Hand or wrist injuries.
- Regular inhalation of chemicals.
- Blocking of the blood supply to the fingers due to accumulation of fat in the arteries.
- Raynaud's syndrome - narrowing of blood vessels in the fingers and feet.
- Freezing - blood supply is also blocked and leads to tissue damage and causes the pricking sensation and numbness in the fingers.
- Brain damage caused by a stroke.
- Tumours in the nerves of the neck, arms or wrists.
- Lack of circulation
This article is merely informative, oneHOWTO does not have the authority to prescribe any medical treatments or create a diagnosis. We invite you to visit your doctor if you have any type of condition or pain.
If you want to read similar articles to Why do I Have Pins and Needles in my Fingers, we recommend you visit our Diseases & secondary effects category.
