A doctor has issued a warning for people who suffer from pins and needles. Dr Ranj Singh was speaking on BBC's Morning Live , urging viewers to seek medical assistance in certain cases. Also known as paraesthesia, the NHS says: "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 or feet. It usually stops when the weight is taken off the body part and your blood supply returns to the nerves." Dr Ranj stressed that most cases were harmless, but said there were circumstances when you should go and see a medical professional.
He said: "Most cases of pins and needles are transient and they’re not anything to worry about, but there are two things to remember: is it persistent, and is it problematic? "By that, I mean see a healthcare professional if it’s recurrent, if it’s going on for a long time, if it’s affecting your activities of daily living and your quality of life – that’s really important. "If you’ve got any associated symptoms, particularly neurological ones, it is definitely worth speaking to someone. So if you have weakness or mobility issues and, very importantly, if you’ve got any features that might be suggestive of a stroke – things like facial drooping, limb weakness, speech difficulties, problems with your balance or eyesight.
