Paresthesias (synonym: numbness; ICD-10 R20.2: paresthesia of the skin) refer to paraesthesia or misfeeling, which can take the form of burning, tingling, formication, pins and needles sensation, as well as furry feeling. Paresthesias often occur in the hands, fingers, and feet.
The sensations are described as unpleasant, but only in rare cases as painful.
Depending on the cause, a distinction is made between:
- Transient (temporary) paresthesias – triggered by temporary interruption of blood flow (e.g., a “fallen asleep leg“), nerve compression (pressure on a nerve pathway), hyperventilation, migraine, or myofascial pain (painful dysfunction of muscles).
- Chronic paresthesias – permanent malfunction of nerve cells, caused, for example, by diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism (hypothyroidism), multiple sclerosis (MS), bottleneck syndromes or drugs such as antiepileptic drugs (drugs used to treat epileptic seizures)
Paresthesias can be a symptom of many diseases (see under “Differential diagnoses”).
Course and prognosis: course and prognosis depend on the cause. For example, if nerve compression is present, the paresthesias are usually reversible (reversible).
