Symptom: Paresthesias

Introduction: Paresthesias

Further information about Paresthesias is below, or review more specific information about these types of Paresthesias: Finger paresthesia, Hand paresthesia, Foot paresthesia, Arm paresthesia, Toe paresthesia, Leg paresthesia, Ankle tingling/paresthesias, Back tingling/paresthesias or other types.

Abnormal nerve sensations such as pins-and-needles, tingling, burning, prickling or similar feelings are all known as "paresthesias". They usually result from nerve damage due to pressure (such as a pinched nerve), entrapment, or diseases. Continued nerve damage can lead to numbness.

Paresthesias can affect various parts of the body. Hands, fingers, and feet are common sites but all are possibilities. Afflictions of specific nerves or spinal nerves can also cause paresthesias in particular skin areas of the body.

Parethesias with simple causes such as pressing on a nerve are usually reversible. Certain other nerve conditions such as peripheral neuropathy (often from diabetes), lupus complications, Guillain-Barre syndrome, or multiple sclerosis are also possible causes of parethesias. Because of the variety of possible causes, any abnormal sensation needs prompt professional medical investigation.

» Review Causes of Paresthesias: full list

Causes of Paresthesias

• Acroparesthesia syndrome - hand tingling
• Acute bacterial prostatitis - burning urination
• Acute peripheral arterial occlusion - paresthesias
• Acute stress disorder - Paresthesias
• Allergic seminal vulvovaginitis - vaginal burning

See all 210 causes of Paresthesias

Causes of Types of Paresthesias:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Paresthesias:

• Finger paresthesia (22 causes)
• Hand paresthesia (49 causes)
• Foot paresthesia (33 causes)
• Arm paresthesia (58 causes)
• Toe paresthesia (7 causes)
• Leg paresthesia (52 causes)
• Ankle tingling/paresthesias (11 causes)
• Back tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)
• Breast tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)
• Buttock tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)
• Calf tingling/paresthesias (7 causes)
• Chest tingling/paresthesias (11 causes)
• Chin tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)
• Elbow tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)
• Eye tingling/paresthesias (10 causes)
• Eyelid tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)
• Groin tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)
• Gum tingling/paresthesias (10 causes)
• Head tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)
• Heel tingling/paresthesias (9 causes)

See full list of 138 types for Paresthesias

Paresthesias: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Paresthesias, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Paresthesias: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Paresthesias and Nerve symptoms (312 causes)
• Paresthesias and Pain (297 causes)
• Paresthesias and Sensations (293 causes)
• Paresthesias and Weakness (146 causes)
• Paresthesias and Head symptoms (134 causes)
• Paresthesias and Muscle symptoms (133 causes)
• Paresthesias and Digestive symptoms (132 causes)
• Paresthesias and Burning symptoms (117 causes)
• Paresthesias and Skin symptoms (111 causes)
• Paresthesias and Muscle weakness (111 causes)
• Paresthesias and Numbness (109 causes)
• Paresthesias and Abdominal symptoms (107 causes)
• Paresthesias and Skin problems (102 causes)
• Paresthesias and Sexual symptoms (102 causes)
• Paresthesias and Movement symptoms (102 causes)
• Paresthesias and Face symptoms (101 causes)
• Paresthesias and Swelling symptoms (90 causes)
• Paresthesias and Urinary symptoms (90 causes)
• Paresthesias and Behavioral symptoms (89 causes)
• Paresthesias and Limb symptoms (87 causes)

See full list of 1751 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Paresthesias

Home Diagnostic Testing and Paresthesias

Home medical tests possibly related to Paresthesias:

• Diabetes: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Tests
  • Home Blood Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Ketone Tests
  • Home Diabetes HbA1c Tests
  • Home Microalbumin Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Kidney Tests
  • Home Eye Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Nerve symptoms (3495 causes)
• Sensations (3186 causes)
• Pain (3014 causes)
• Common symptoms (4555 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Paresthesias

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Paresthesias:

• Tingling (358 causes)
• Numbness (242 causes)
• Burning symptoms (150 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Paresthesias

Medical Books Excerpts Read excerpts from published book sections related to Paresthesias from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Paresthesias. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Paresthesias

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Paresthesias

Thigh tingling need not be multiple sclerosis: There is a fairly common nerve condition called meralgia paresthetica that typically results in symptoms such as thigh tingling or thigh numbness...read more »

Cluster of diseases with difficult diagnosis issues: There is a well-known list of medical conditions that are all somewhat difficult to diagnose, and all can present in a variety of different severities....read more »

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various other causes. See causes of leg cramps or misdiagnosis of diabetes....read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See ...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Paresthesias

Diagnostic tests for Paresthesias:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Paresthesias. Some of these are listed below :

• General appearance - abnormal posture, muscle wasting, abnormal limb movements.
• Mental state examination - including appearance, behavior, rate and continuity of speech, mood, affect, thought content, evidence of any hallucinations or abnormal beliefs, orientation to time, place and person, attention and concentration, short-term memory, insight and judgement. May help detect and evaluate anxiety and panic states which may cause hyperventilation (rapid breathing) and consequent paresthesia around the lips, lightheadedness and tingling in the extremities.
• Physical examination
  • Examine for physical signs of low calcium including Chvostek's sign (gentle tapping over the facial nerve causes twitching of the facial muscles) and Trousseau's sign (inflation of the blood pressure cuff above diastolic blood pressure for 3 minutes causes muscular contraction of the fingers and wrist)
  • Examination of cranial nerves ( if affected would suggest a diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease , a mass in the brain, migraine or multiple sclerosis)

See full list of 56 diagnostic tests for Paresthesias

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Paresthesias. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the paresthesia? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Where exactly is the paresthesia? - e.g. leg (see leg numbness), thigh (see thigh numbness), foot (see foot numbness), toe (see toe numbness), arm (see arm numbness), elbow (see elbow numbness), hand (see hand numbness), wrist (see wrist numbness), finger (see finger numbness), face (see facial numbness) or lip (see lip numbness). Carpal tunnel syndrome causes paresthesia of the pulps of the thumb, index, middle and half of the ring finger; peripheral neuropathy typically causes a glove and stocking sensory loss to hands and feet; C8 spinal cord or nerve root lesion causes paresthesia of the little finger; C7 spinal cord or nerve root lesion cause paresthesia of the middle finger; C6 spinal cord or nerve root lesion causes paresthesia of the outer side of the forearm and thumb; meralgia paresthetica causes a burning pain with associated paresthesia and tingling over the outer surface of the thigh; L3 nerve root lesion causes paresthesia over the front of thigh; femoral nerve lesion causes paresthesia over the inner aspect of the thigh and leg; cauda equina lesion may cause sensory loss on the buttocks or around the anus; the ophthalmic division of the trigeminal nerve supplies the forehead and surface of the eye; the maxillary division of the trigeminal nerve supplies the skin in the middle of the face and the membranes of the upper part of the mouth, palate and nasopharynx; the third division of the trigeminal nerve supplies the skin of the lower jaw and membranes of the lower part of the mouth.
• Is the paresthesia unilateral or bilateral? - e.g. symmetrical involvement of both legs suggests peripheral neuropathy. If leg paresthesia is asymmetrical or confined to one limb this may suggest individual nerve disease.
• Is there a time of day when paresthesia is worse? - can help determine the cause of paresthesia e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome is usually worse at night.
• Relieving factors? - may help determine the cause of paresthesia e.g. carpal tunnel syndrome symptoms may be relieved by dangling the arm over the side of the bed.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Paresthesias (52 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Paresthesias) may include:

• Pain in the involved leg or foot? - may suggest lumbar spine spondylosis (degeneration), spinal stenosis, tumor of the cauda equina (distal tip of the spinal cord and its nerves), spondylolisthesis (forward movement of one lumbar vertebrae on the one below it), herniated disk or pelvic tumor.
• Pain in the involved arm? - if also pain in the involved arm this usually suggests herniated cervical disc , spinal cord tumor or cervical spondylosis. Other conditions to consider are brachial plexus neuropathy, thoracic outlet syndrome, cervical rib, Pancoast's tumor, Raynaud's disease, sympathetic dystrophy or various entrapment syndromes such as carpal tunnel syndrome and ulnar nerve entrapment at the elbow.
• Weakness in the involved arm or hand? - may suggest a type of brachial plexus; compression of the C8 segment by cervical spondylosis or a disc herniation, median or ulnar nerve lesions; diabetes mellitus causing a peripheral neuropathy.
• Incontinence of urine? - If incontinence or urine is present with leg paresthesia, this may suggest poliomyelitis, cauda equina tumor or metastatic tumor of the lumbar spine.
• Back pain? - if associated with thigh paresthesia may suggest prolapsed disc causing pressure on L2 or L3 nerve roots (note L2 causes buttock numbness also).

See Diagnosis Checklist for Paresthesias (52 listings)

Stories from Users for Paresthesias

Real-life user stories relating to Paresthesias:

• Numbness and tingling all over
• Fatigue,loss of balance, tingling
• Tingling underneath skull
• Tingling from Bactrim
• tingling,tirdness
• Pulsating/Tingling/Numbness
• My Skin Hurts
• tingling
• Tingling
• All over tingling
• tingling even with cortisone shot
• Confusing Numbness/tingling
• Paresthesias
• about numbeness & tingling
• Numbness and tingling all over
• Tingling
• numbness/tingling please help
• Tingling & Weakness
• paresthesia...do i have it?
• tingling-impotence

Videos for Paresthesias

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Organs affected by Paresthesias:

The list of organs typically affected by Paresthesias may include, but is not limited to:

• Nerves

Detailed list of causes of Paresthesias

The list below shows some of the causes of Paresthesias mentioned in various sources:

• Acroparesthesia syndrome - hand tingling
• Acute bacterial prostatitis - burning urination
• Acute peripheral arterial occlusion - paresthesias
• Acute stress disorder - Paresthesias
• Allergic seminal vulvovaginitis - vaginal burning

See full list of 210 causes of Paresthesias

How Common are these Causes of Paresthesias?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Paresthesias. Of the 210 causes of Paresthesias that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 7 causes are "very common" diseases
• 12 causes are "common" diseases
• 8 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 3 causes are "rare" diseases
• 8 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 185 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 210 causes of Paresthesias

Conditions listing symptoms: Paresthesias:

The following list of conditions have 'Paresthesias' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Paresthesias Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Paresthesias based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: