What Causes Pins and Needles All over the Body and How Can It Be Prevented?

Reviewed by Suo Lee, MD

Internal Medicine

Pins and needles all over the body may be caused by problems with your nerves such as peripheral neuropathy due to conditions like diabetes or kidney issues. Keeping your overall health in check and managing any underlying conditions can help prevent these sensations.

Explanation

Pins and needles, sometimes called a tingling or "numbness" feeling, usually happens when your nerves are not working as they should. One common cause is peripheral neuropathy, a condition where the nerves in your arms, legs, or other parts of your body are damaged. This can happen with health problems like diabetes or kidney disease, which affect the way nerves work. Other causes can include inflammation of the nerves or even temporary pressure on a nerve when you sit or sleep in one position. To help prevent these uncomfortable feelings, it is important to take care of your overall health. This means eating well, exercising regularly, and following your doctor’s advice if you have a condition like diabetes. Keeping blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels in check is also useful. A healthcare provider can guide you on the best practices to maintain healthy nerves, and early treatment of any health issues may decrease the sensation of pins and needles.

(References)

Castelli G, Desai KM, Cantone RE. Peripheral Neuropathy: Evaluation and Differential Diagnosis. Am Fam Physician. 2020 Dec 15;102(12):732-739. PMID: 33320513.
Varela H, Rubin DI. Facial and trigeminal neuropathies as the initial manifestation of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculopathy. J Clin Neuromuscul Dis. 2009 Jun;10(4):194-8. doi: 10.1097/CND.0b013e31819f7cd5. PMID: 19494731.
Krishnan AV, Kiernan MC. Uremic neuropathy: clinical features and new pathophysiological insights. Muscle Nerve. 2007 Mar;35(3):273-90. doi: 10.1002/mus.20713. PMID: 17195171.
Gomatos EL, Dulebohn SC, Rehman A. Sensory Neuropathy. [Updated 2024 Feb 25]. In: StatPearls [Internet].
Smith S, Normahani P, Lane T, Hohenschurz-Schmidt D, Oliver N, Davies AH. Prevention and Management Strategies for Diabetic Neuropathy. Life (Basel). 2022 Aug 3;12(8):1185. doi: 10.3390/life12081185. PMID: 36013364; PMCID: PMC9410148.

Tell your friends about us.

We would love to help them too.

For First Time Users

What is Ubie’s Doctor’s Note?

We provide a database of explanations from real doctors on a range of medical topics. Get started by exploring our library of questions and topics you want to learn more about.

Learn more about symptoms

Pins and needles all over my body

Not sure about the cause of your current symptoms?

Try our AI-based symptom check

With an easy 3-min questionnaire, you can get an free AI-powered report on possible causes

Tips to try:

Provide specific, detailed info about all symptoms you have.
Give accurate information about yourself including current conditions.
Answer all follow-up questions

Purpose and positioning of servicesUbie Doctor’s Note is a service for informational purposes, and the provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical practice. The provision of information by physicians, medical professionals, etc. is not a medical treatment. If medical treatment is required, please consult your doctor or medical institution. We strive to provide reliable and accurate information, but we do not guarantee the completeness of the content. If you find any errors in the information, please contact us.