Pin and Needles Sensation in Hands

Updated: Mar 14, 2019

Ladies

Feeling pins and needles in your hands can make it difficult to accomplish a number of tasks. Not only is it distracting and sometimes painful, but it can make it difficult to use your hands. There are a number of causes for this condition, but there are luckily also a number of ways to manage the problem.

Causes of Pin and Needles Sensation in Hands

Hormonal Causes

A lack of estrogen is a leading cause of pins and needles in hands among women who are experiencing menopause. Because estrogen is so important to the body in so many ways, it can affect a number of different systems in the body when the levels drop. The most common type of hormonal imbalance associated with menopause is a lack of estrogen, so menopause and tingling extremities often go together.

Other Causes

While menopause is a common explanation for this sensation, there are a number of other reasons why you may be experiencing pins and needles in your hands. Some of the most likely explanations are:

Medications side effects 

There are many medications that may cause a side effect that is a sensation of tingling, or pins and needles, in different parts of the body. Hands are commonly affected by this type of side effect because extremities are most often the ones to experience these sensations. The most common types of drugs to cause this sensation are those that affect the heart or blood pressure, autoimmune medications, and cancer medications, including radiation therapy.

Carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome has been becoming better known, as well as more commonly diagnosed, in recent years. It commonly occurs due to the position of people sitting for long periods of time at a computer, which has become routine for most people who work in office jobs. It is a condition in which a nerve on the inside of your wrist becomes damaged due to certain repetitive motions, like typing or using a computer mouse.

Peripheral neuropathy

Nerve damage such as peripheral neuropathy is a common cause for any odd sensation, such as pins and needles, in the body. This may be caused by an underlying health condition, such as an infection, a tumor, or heavy lead poisoning, but also may be due to physical pressure on a nerve.

When to See a Doctor

If the tingling persists despite lifestyle changes, you should ask your doctor about the symptoms. Additionally, it is important to see a doctor immediately if you experience any of the following in addition to pins and needles: 

  • Sudden headache
  • Head or neck injury
  • Loss of conscious
  • Difficulty walking
  • Vision problems
  • Confusion
  • Paralysis

Treatments

Some pins and needle sensations can be ameliorated just by a few lifestyle changes, like increasing the amount that you exercise, drinking more water, and getting enough sleep. When numbness and tingling of the hands and feet strikes, suspend all activities related to the attack and correct your posture

If the problem is medication, you should consult a doctor in order to consider changing you prescription. It may be that you cannot change the medication, in which case lifestyle changes are most likely to be of help to you. 

Although pins and needles in hands can often be an uncomfortable sensation, knowing these reasons for the issue may help you to manage the problem. Learn more about managing it with things to do at home to avoid tingling extremities.

Related Articles

Numbness and Tingling Extremities Numbness and Tingling Extremities
Symptoms of Tingling Extremities Symptoms of Tingling Extremities
5 Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Circulation and Reduce Tingling Sensations 5 Fruits and Vegetables to Improve Circulation and Reduce Tingling Sensations
More on Tingling Extremities