A person can experience a wide variety of sensations. Tingling like needles all over the body: arms, legs, back and other parts of the body is one of the most unusual and unpleasant. This may be a signal of health problems, following which you need to contact a professional.
The mechanism of stabbing sensations in the limbs and causes
Each person experienced a feeling of piercing goosebumps throughout the body. There is a clinical term for this sensation - paresthesia. It is often accompanied by a number of additional symptoms:
- the skin becomes numb and cold temperatures appear in the hands and feet;
- muscle weakness;
- joint mobility decreases;
- itches and burns the skin;
- skin sensitivity decreases;
- there is a feeling of slight tickling or sharp pain.
Almost always, such symptoms are associated with poor circulation or decreased sensitivity of the nerves. Such, at first glance, not bright symptoms can be signs of serious illnesses.
Paresthesia can be chronic. In older people, blood circulation naturally slows down and the tingling condition is normal for them. In other people, it occurs when the functioning of nerve cells is disrupted. Paresthesia can also be caused by:
- monotonous and long-term physical activity;
- fungal infections;
- skin diseases;
- allergies;
- animal and insect bites;
- the presence of parasites;
- hypothermia or heat stroke;
- lack of vitamins (sodium, vitamin B12, potassium and calcium);
- poisoning (alcohol, food, mercury, arsenic, lead).
Latent diseases are characterized by such degrees of paresthesia as numbness, itching and prickling throughout the body. If the symptoms progress, the sting becomes more acute and turns into pain, and the numbness does not occur often and does not go away for a long time, you should immediately take therapeutic measures.
Prevention methods
Timely prevention is the key to good health at any age. It is important to form the right habits that will have a positive effect on the health of the heart and blood vessels, teeth and other organs. Doctors recommend:
- eat right, get enough vitamins and microelements;
- give up bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol affect the condition of blood vessels;
- normalize your daily routine and devote enough time to rest;
- carry out moderate physical activity to train the heart muscle.
At the Clinical Brain Institute you can undergo an accurate and high-quality diagnosis of headaches and pain in the face. There is modern equipment here that can be used to determine the causes of pain. Doctors will also select an effective treatment regimen for use at home or in the hospital of our center.
What diseases can cause tingling?
This unusual sensation can be caused by a number of medical conditions. The important thing is that stabbing sensations throughout the body can be both a primary sign and an additional symptom. Diseases that cause itching:
- Kidney disease and kidney failure
. Tingling occurs mainly in patients with uremia, most often at the terminal stage. The stronger the impairment of kidney function, the more intense the symptom manifests itself. Dialysis helps reduce tingling sensations, but it is not able to completely get rid of them. - Diseased liver and bile ducts
. Severe skin itching, as the main symptom, manifests itself in cirrhosis, cancer of the head of the pancreas, hepatitis, primary sclerosing cholangitis, Giardia infection, obstruction of a large bile duct and large duodenal papilla, and cholestasis. Tingling occurs due to disturbances in the functioning of the liver and related organs. The indications are localized either at the site of the projection of the liver itself, or throughout the body. - Disorders of the functioning of the thyroid gland
. Persistent generalized itching occurs in approximately 10% of patients with thyrotoxicosis. The appearance of stabbing itching in patients with endemic goiter, which is not treated for a long time, is also characteristic. According to experts, the appearance of a stabbing sensation is due to the fact that blood begins to flow to the tissues, resulting in an increase in temperature. Also, with hyperthyroidism, chronic urticaria can develop, the essence of which is the appearance of itching, it occurs due to dry skin. - Diseases of the blood and cardiovascular system (cardiovascular system)
. These include the following pathologies: lymphomas, lymphogranulomatosis, leukemia, mastocytosis, Waldenström macroglobulinemia, paraproteinemia, polycythemia vera, myelomas. - Carcinoid syndrome
. Tingling occurs due to intense hot flashes in the head and neck. This often occurs due to stress, excessive alcohol consumption and overeating. - Senile/senile itching
. Appears mainly after 70 years. The skin does not retain moisture well and dries out. Old people often dress too warmly, and the work of the sweat and sebaceous glands is disrupted. - For HIV
. Itching develops due to infections resulting from a decline in the immune system. It is strongly manifested in the cold season. - For diseases of the nervous system/nervous itching
. It is provoked by depression, stress, schizophrenia and others. At the same time, the level of serotonin and dopamine and internal opioids increases. Generalized itching may appear due to an illusory parasite that actually does not exist (parasitephobia). - Allergies
. It may appear due to the application of specific ointments, taking certain medications, cosmetics or detergents. Itching appears in the form of allergic urticaria or eczema. - Skin fungi
. Keratomycosis affects the skin of the arms, abdomen, buttocks, elbows, and mammary glands. - Vitamin deficiency
. With it, the skin dries out due to a lack of vitamins A, B and C and zinc and a tingling sensation occurs. - Neglect of hygiene rules
. - Menopause in women
. Tingling affects the groin area. - Neurodermatitis
. There is generalized itching, accompanied by burning and redness. - Psoriasis
. Tingling sensations appear as the disease progresses, and peeling also occurs. - Folliculitis
. - Insect bites
, including fleas. - Spondylosis of the cervical vertebrae
. The cervical vertebrae fuse together, causing the nerves to be compressed. Tingling is observed in the upper back and the back of the head and face. - Diabetes
. Patients experience itching and tingling in the genital area. Appears due to candidiasis of the mucous membranes. With diabetic neuropathy, tingling sensations are localized in the head, since the nerve endings in this part of the body are most affected. Sensations throughout the body are very rare and occur against the background of disturbances in the processes in the kidneys. - Intervertebral hernia
. Intervertebral nerves and blood vessels are pinched, stabbing in the legs and back. - Poor blood circulation in the brain
. Tingling in the scalp area occurs due to a stroke, blockage or rupture of blood vessels. Accompanied by muscle paralysis, darkening of the eyes and dizziness. - Joint diseases
. This means arthritis, gout, arthrosis. Due to the ongoing inflammatory process, the nerve roots are compressed. The sensation of goosebumps is localized in the legs.
Treatment of headaches and facial pain
The treatment regimen for headaches and pain in the face is selected individually. It will include measures to eliminate the underlying disease, as well as to relieve symptoms. Based on the diagnostic results, the doctor may prescribe the following methods:
- drug treatment - may include anti-inflammatory and painkillers, antibiotics, drugs to improve cerebral circulation;
- physiotherapy – carried out to stimulate blood circulation and innervation in the face and head;
- diet for blood vessels - includes simple foods, with a minimum amount of fried foods, animal fats, fast food and spices;
- surgical intervention - most often prescribed for mechanical compression of nerves and blood vessels, in the presence of neoplasms and dental diseases, as well as for clearing the contents of the paranasal sinuses.
Doctors at the Clinical Institute of the Brain will select appropriate treatment tactics based on the results of a general examination. For most patients, it is enough to take medications, follow a diet and adjust their daily routine to improve their health. However, for some diseases surgical intervention is indicated.
Diagnosis of diseases
If the patient has been bothered by stabbing sensations for a long time, it is worth contacting a specialist at the clinic. This is especially true if tingling is observed in one part of the body and its intensity increases with any muscle activity. The doctor will be able to collect a general history, taking into account secondary symptoms (such as nausea, muscle spasms, dizziness, darkening of the eyes) and accurately determine the cause of the tingling sensation.
First of all, you should contact a therapist. He will prescribe a blood test to the patient, ask him about his general well-being, and based on this, refer him to a more specialized specialist. To diagnose diseases, the following series of procedures are prescribed:
- heart electrocardiogram;
- X-ray;
- MRI (CT) of the spine and brain;
- electromyogram;
- Vascular ultrasound;
- electroenteromyography;
- blood analysis.
If necessary, refer to:
- cerebrospinal fluid analysis;
- skin or nerve biopsy.
Based on the test results, the therapist refers the patient to a psychotherapist, surgeon, cardiologist or neurologist.
Causes of postherpetic neuralgia
Once a person has had chickenpox, the virus remains in the body for life. With age, the immune system weakens (particularly from taking medications or chemotherapy) and the virus can become more active, resulting in shingles.
Damage to nerve endings during rashes leads to postherpetic neuralgia. When damaged, nerve fibers cannot send signals from the skin to the brain as they normally do. Instead, they transmit amplified signals, and the patient feels excruciating pain that can last for months or even years.
Treatment
Depending on the cause of the symptom, the doctor most often prescribes the following treatment options:
- Allergic reaction - tingling is accompanied by itching, burning and redness of the skin. Antihistamines are prescribed.
- Nervous disorders and mental stress - taking sedatives.
- Short-term stabbing sensations are eliminated by using cooling ointments.
- Tunnel syndrome - stabbing in the hands. Anti-inflammatory drugs and drugs to improve blood circulation are prescribed.
- Paresthesia - a complex of B vitamins and drugs to reduce blood viscosity and improve blood circulation are prescribed.
- If tingling is observed throughout the body, they may prescribe drug therapy and prescribe medications with ginkgo biloba extract and antibiotics (Mexidol, Finlepsin, Cavinton, Actovegin, Magne B6, Trental, etc.).
- Physiotherapy: diadynamic currents, magnetotherapy, electrophoresis, mud therapy, darsonvalization, acupuncture, massage).
- Among traditional medicines, it is recommended to drink infusions of goldenrod, willow bark, horse chestnut fruit, sweet clover herb, parsley and birch leaves.
Any therapeutic measures should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. All these procedures affect the circulatory system. An incorrectly selected treatment method or drug can worsen the situation.
Epidural administration of anesthetics and steroid hormones
Spinal epidural block involves the injection of drugs into the epidural space, which leads to loss of sensation in the area of impact. This means that this procedure involves introducing the active substance directly into the source of pain. Achieving a therapeutic effect in this case is possible due to the following factors:
- analgesic properties of the drug;
- the maximum possible concentration in the affected area;
- reflex action at all levels of the nervous system.
Prevention against tingling in the body
You can not only eliminate the unpleasant sensation with medications and procedures. To avoid unpleasant sensations, you can resort to the following preventive methods:
- Constantly monitor your posture and do not sit cross-legged for a long time.
- Do exercises to strengthen the paravertebral muscles.
- Get massages and do yoga. Exercising in the gym or swimming pool also helps a lot.
- Avoid hypothermia and dress warmly in bad weather.
- Do not sit constantly in one position (change it up to 20 times within an hour). When sitting for a long time, do small warm-ups.
- Don't wear clothes that are too tight. It should allow the body to move freely. It is better not to wear tight belts or narrow shoes.
These methods can promptly prevent the appearance of pins and needles sensations. The main thing is that you exercise regularly in your life and that clothes do not interfere with your ability to move freely.
