WHAT IS PARESTHESIA?
Understanding Pins and Needles in Hands, Arms, and Fingers
If you’ve ever noticed that your hand goes numb while driving or felt that strange pins and needles sensation in your hands, you’re not alone. Many people ignore these symptoms at first, assuming it’s just bad posture, poor circulation, or sleeping in the wrong position. However, if these sensations happen frequently—especially while gripping a steering wheel, typing, or holding a phone—it could be a warning sign of peripheral neuropathy.
Neuropathy affects the peripheral nervous system, which controls sensation, movement, and circulation in your arms, hands, legs, and feet. When nerves become damaged, compressed, or inflamed, they can’t send proper signals, leading to numbness, tingling, burning pain, or weakness.
Why Do My Hands Fall Asleep While Driving?
If you find that your hands fall asleep while driving and feeling pins and needles in hands or fingers there’s a reason behind it—and it’s not just from gripping the wheel too tightly. It’s a sign of possible impaired nerve function making it difficult for your body to properly regulate sensation. Here’s what could be happening under the surface:
✔ Nerve Compression
– Nerves can become compressed in areas such as the cervical spine, elbows, forearms, and wrists which can lead to hypersensitivity in nerves, making certain positions—like gripping a steering wheel—trigger numbness and tingling faster than usual.
✔ Poor Blood Flow to Nerves
– Damaged nerves often struggle to get proper circulation, which can cause that “dead” feeling in your hands when held in one position for too long.
✔ Sensory Distortion
– When nerves are irritated, you might feel pins and needles in your hands even when there’s no external pressure—a common neuropathy symptom.
✔ Loss of Protective Sensation
– Chronic neuropathy can reduce your body’s ability to detect harmful pressure, meaning you might not realize how much strain your hands are under until they go numb.
Common Causes of Paresthesia
The following conditions can contribute to chronic or recurring paresthesia:
Cervical Disc Bulge / Herniation
A cervical disc bulge or herniation can compress nerves in the neck, leading to paresthesia—tingling, numbness, or “pins and needles” sensations in the arms, hands, and fingers. When a disc presses against the spinal nerves, it disrupts normal nerve signaling, causing abnormal sensations, weakness, or even radiating pain. If left untreated, this condition can worsen, leading to chronic nerve irritation and reduced function in the affected areas.
Cervical Degeneration (arthritis)
Cervical degeneration (arthritis) and spinal stenosis can lead to paresthesia—tingling, numbness, or “pins and needles” in the arms and hands due to progressive narrowing of the spinal canal. As arthritis wears down spinal discs and joints, bone spurs may form, further compressing the spinal cord or nerve roots. This narrowing (stenosis) can disrupt nerve function, causing abnormal sensations, weakness, or even pain that radiates into the extremities. Over time, worsening compression may lead to chronic nerve dysfunction, reduced mobility, and coordination issues if left unaddressed.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the median nerve leading to tingling in the thumb, index, and middle fingers.
Ulnar Nerve Compression
Pressure on the ulnar nerve causing sensations in the ring and little fingers.
Diabetic Neuropathy
Nerve damage due to high blood sugar levels resulting in tingling or numbness.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Damage to peripheral nerves causing weakness, numbness, and pain.
Vitamin Deficiencies
Lack of essential vitamins like B12 affecting nerve health.
Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI)
Overuse of muscles and tendons leading to nerve compression.
THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) occurs when nerves or blood vessels in the space between the collarbone and first rib become compressed, leading to paresthesia—tingling, numbness, or weakness in the arms and hands. One of the hallmark signs of TOS is worsening symptoms when raising your arms overhead, such as when driving, brushing your hair, or reaching for objects. This happens because elevating the arms further narrows the already compressed space, restricting blood flow and nerve function.
Symptoms to Watch For
If you experience any of these symptoms frequently, it may indicate an underlying condition requiring evaluation:
Tingling or Prickling Sensation
Often described as “pins and needles.”
Numbness
Loss of sensation in affected areas.
Burning or Itching
Unexplained sensations without an apparent cause.
Muscle Weakness
Difficulty in gripping or holding objects.
Pins and Needles in Hands? It’s More Than Just an Annoyance.
That annoying pins and needles sensation in your hands may seem harmless at first, but it’s often an early red flag of nerve damage. Many people with peripheral neuropathy experience:
- Intermittent tingling or numbness that comes and goes
- Burning pain in the hands, especially at night
- Weak grip or clumsiness—dropping objects unexpectedly
- Cold hands or a feeling of poor circulation
- Strange hypersensitivity—where even light touches feel painful
If left untreated, mild neuropathy symptoms can progress to more serious nerve dysfunction, leading to chronic pain, muscle weakness, and permanent nerve damage.
How Neurolink Chiropractic Helps with Paresthesia & Peripheral Neuropathy
At Neurolink Chiropractic, we specialize in non-invasive neuropathy treatments designed to improve nerve function, restore circulation, and support your body’s natural healing process. Our approach focuses on:
✔ Neuropathy Screenings
– A detailed evaluation of nerve function to pinpoint the root cause of your symptoms.
✔ Targeted Chiropractic Care
– Adjustments to improve nerve communication and reduce compression, helping restore sensation in the hands.
✔ Advanced Therapies
– Treatments like low-level laser therapy, Electrical Modalities, Vibration Therapy, and Spinal Decompression help reduce discomfort and promote circulation and nerve health.
✔ Balance & Stability Training
– If your neuropathy affects coordination or grip strength, we provide targeted exercises to restore function and prevent worsening of symptoms.
Don’t Ignore Numb Hands—Take Action Today.
If you’re frequently experiencing pins and needles in your hands, or if your hands fall asleep while driving, it’s time to get to the root cause before the problem progresses.
At Neurolink Chiropractic, we’re here to help you understand what’s causing your symptoms and take proactive steps toward relief.
📞 Call (650) 375-2545 today to schedule a neuropathy evaluation and find out what’s really going on with your nerves!
