Paresthesia (Tingling)

Paresthesia is an abnormal sensation like tingling or numbness, often in the extremities, resulting from nerve or CNS dysfunction. It can be transient or chronic, with causes ranging from pressure on a nerve to underlying medical conditions.

Paresthesia refers to an abnormal sensation, such as tingling, prickling, numbness, or burning, experienced without an apparent physical cause. It often occurs in the hands, arms, legs, or feet, but can affect other parts of the body as well. It can be transient (lasting only briefly) or chronic. The mechanism involves disruption or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves or central nervous system pathways that transmit sensory information. Causes can range from simple pressure on a nerve (e.g., sleeping in an awkward position) to more serious underlying conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, vitamin deficiencies, infections, or exposure to toxins.