Etymed
paresthesia
Definition
A sensation of tingling, pricking, or numbness without an apparent cause, often described as 'pins and needles'
Clinical context
A 28-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with complaints of intermittent tingling and numbness in her left arm that has been occurring over the past few weeks. She describes the sensation as 'pins and needles' and says it typically happens when she leans her arm on the desk at work. The symptoms are brief and resolve spontaneously, but she's concerned about the persistent nature of the sensation.
Mnemonic
Pins and needles = Paresthesia