Transient[edit]

Paresthesias of the hands, feet, legs, and arms are common, transient symptoms. The briefest,
electric shock type of paresthesia can be caused by tweaking the ulnar nerve near the elbow; this
phenomenon is colloquially known as bumping one's "funny bone". Similar brief shocks can be
experienced when any other nerve is tweaked (a tweaked neck nerve may cause a brief shock-like
paresthesia toward the scalp). In the older age group[vague], spinal column irregularities may tweak the
spinal cord briefly when the head or back is turned, flexed, or extended into brief uncommon
positions (Lhermitte's sign).[citation needed]
The most common, everyday cause is temporary restriction of nerve impulses to an area of nerves,
commonly caused by leaning or resting on parts of the body such as the legs (often followed by a
pins and needles tingling sensation). Other causes include conditions such as hyperventilation
syndrome and panic attacks. A cold sore outside the mouth (not a canker sore inside the mouth) can
be preceded by tingling because a cold sore is caused by herpes simplex virus. The varicella zoster
virus (shingles) also notably may cause recurring pain and tingling in skin or tissue along the
distribution path of that nerve (most commonly in the skin, along a dermatome pattern, but
sometimes feeling like a headache, chest or abdominal pain, or pelvic pain). [citation needed]
Other common examples occur when sustained pressure has been applied over a nerve, inhibiting
or stimulating its function. Removing the pressure typically results in gradual relief of these
paresthesias.[1] Most pressure-induced paraesthesia results from awkward posture, such as
engaging in cross-legged sitting for prolonged periods of time.[citation needed]
Reactive hyperaemia, which occurs when blood flow is restored after a period of ischemia, such as
on rewarming after a cold episode in patients with Raynaud's disease, may be accompanied by
paresthesia.[2]

Chronic[edit]
Chronic paresthesia (Berger's paresthesia, [3] Sinagesia[4] or Bernhardt paresthesia)[5] indicates a
problem with the functioning of neurons or poor circulation.[citation needed]
In older individuals, paresthesia is often the result of poor circulation in the limbs (such as
in peripheral vascular disease), most often caused by atherosclerosis, the build up of plaque within
artery walls, over decades, with eventual plaque ruptures, internal clots over the ruptures and
subsequent clot healing but leaving behind narrowing of the artery openings or closure, both locally
and in downstream smaller branches. Without a proper supply of blood and nutrients, nerve cells
can no longer adequately send signals to the brain. Because of this, paresthesia can also be a
symptom of vitamin deficiency and malnutrition, as well as metabolic disorders
like diabetes, hypothyroidism, and hypoparathyroidism. It can also be a symptom of mercury
poisoning.[citation needed]
Irritation to the nerve can also come from inflammation to the tissue. Joint conditions such
as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome are common sources of
paresthesia. Nerves below the head may be compressed where chronic neck and spine problems
exist and can be caused by, among other things, muscle cramps that may be a result of clinical
anxiety or excessive mental stress,[citation needed] bone disease, poor posture, unsafe heavy lifting
practices or physical trauma such as whiplash. Paresthesia can also be caused simply by putting
pressure on a nerve by applying weight (or pressure) to the limb for extended periods of time. [citation
needed]

Another cause of paresthesia may be direct damage to the nerves themselves, i.e., neuropathy,
which itself can stem from injury, such as frostbite, or infection, such as Lyme disease, or may be
indicative of a current neurological disorder. Neuropathy is also a side effect of some
chemotherapies, such as in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.[6] Benzodiazepine
withdrawal may also cause paresthesia as the drug removal leaves the GABA receptors stripped
bare and possibly malformed.[citation needed] Chronic paresthesia can sometimes be symptomatic of
serious conditions, such as a transient ischemic attack, or autoimmune diseases such as multiple
sclerosis, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome or lupus erythematosus.[citation needed] The use
of fluoroquinolones can also cause paresthesia.[7] Stroke survivors and those with traumatic brain
injury (TBI) may experience paresthesia from damage to the central nervous system. [citation needed]
The varicella zoster virus disease (shingles) can attack nerves causing numbness instead of pain
commonly associated with shingles.[citation needed]

Acroparesthesia[edit]
Acroparesthesia is severe pain in the extremities, and may be caused by Fabry disease, a type
of sphingolipidosis.[8]
It can also be a sign of hypocalcemia. [9]

Dentistry[edit]
Dental paresthesia is loss of sensation caused by maxillary or mandibular anesthetic administration
before dental treatment.[10]
Potential causes include trauma introduced to the nerve sheath during administration of the injection,
hemorrhage about the sheath, type of anesthetic used, or administration of anesthetic potentially
contaminated with alcohol or sterilizing solutions. [11]