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MS Numbness, Tingling & Pins and Needles

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Overview

Abnormal sensations of numbness, pins and needles and tingling are common in MS, and are part of a group of symptoms called paraesthesia. You may feel the sensations in your skin, but actually these are the result of MS disrupting messages along the nerves in the brain or spinal cord that are supplying the particular area.

Most people have experienced a foot or hand ‘falling asleep’ by going numb or feeling the tingling of ‘pins and needles’ – you simply move the foot or hand around and the feeling returns. With MS, it is a similar feeling, but you can feel it in other areas of the body and it can last much longer.  You may even have difficulty in using the affected area.

Numbness and tingling are common early symptoms of MS that often lead to your diagnosis. Rest assured that these symptoms don’t necessarily mean that your MS is progressing – they can happen without having a relapse.

Other associated symptoms that you may also feel include:

  • Tickling
  • Pain
  • Vibrating
  • Throbbing
  • Prickling
  • Coldness
  • Burning
  • Buzzing
  • Itching

Your numbness may be mild, or it might be severe so that is interferes with your use of that body part. For example, you need to be careful that if hot water touches a numb area that you don’t scald yourself.

Likewise, you need to be careful when eating if you are experiencing numbness around your mouth area so that you don’t accidentally bite your cheek or tongue when chewing. Similarly, a hand or foot affected by pins and needles can make writing more difficult or easier to trip or stumble.

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How long does MS numbness and tingling last?

For most people with MS, the numbness only lasts for a short period of time and will go away naturally. In severe cases, the numbness can affect your mobility, but there are many things you can do to help. 

How long does pins and needles last?

Pins and needles usually fade within a few seconds to a few minutes once any pressure on a nerve eases. With MS, these sensations can pop up more easily and sometimes hang around a little longer or come out of the blue. If they start happening often, stick around, or come with new feelings like weakness or pain, it’s a good idea to let your MS team know so they can help you make sense of it.

Managing pain, numbness and pins and needles

Medication can be prescribed for these MS symptoms if they become painful. There are also other ways for you to manage MS pain and numbness:

✔ A burning or aching feeling can be relieved by a warm compress.

✔ Massage can reduce pain by relieving tension and stimulating the release of endorphins.

✔ Pain in the legs can be relieved by movement, if possible.

Many people with MS often say that thinking about the numbness and tingling makes it feel worse, so the best thing to do is to keep distracted. Paradoxically, there are specific mindfulness exercises that encourage you to focus on the areas of pain, or your pins and needles and explore the sensations – this can be a very powerful.

Treatment options for numbness and tingling

Action you can take:

Fortunately, most cases of MS numbness and tingling come and go. However, if the sensations are painful or irritating, there are some things you can do to help:

✔ If you feel pain or numbness in your hands try some simple exercises to regain function and strength in them, such as flexing and extending your hands by making a fist.  

✔ Hand and wrist stretching can also help treat numbness and tingling, whether a therapist stretches your hands and releases them as part of your treatment, or whether you do some stretches yourself as you are sat watching TV or at a desk.

✔ Vitamin D intake can produce anti-inflammatory effects that can reduce pain associated with MS symptoms.

✔ Some people with MS find that acupuncture treatments can help.

✔ Standard medical treatments – anticonvulsants and antidepressants are often used to treat neuropathic pain syndromes.

 

How to handle pins and needles after exercise

Exercise and movement is an essential part of living well with MS, so you shouldn’t be disheartened if it appears to cause a temporary flare-up in symptoms. However, it is important to listen to your body when symptoms appear, and to consult a medical professional before taking up a new exercise routine if you commonly have active symptoms. 

Pins and needles are a common MS symptom, often exacerbated by exercise. If you find yourself experiencing these sensations after a workout, you should:

  • Try to cool down as soon as possible by drinking water or with a cold towel. It is possible that a swift rise in body temperature has caused pins and needles to appear – known as Uhthoff’s phenomenon.
  • Don’t over-exert yourself through your exercise routine. Your body may be telling you to take it easy. Try reducing the intensity, frequency or length of your exercise session to make it more manageable.  Build up your exercise routine slowly. 
  • Don’t exercise again until your symptoms have settled down. While it’s important not to feel defeated by MS symptoms, it’s also important not to ignore them either. Get proper rest to recover. 
  • Try some simple stretches. Even movements of the hand and wrist can help alleviate pins and needles. 

Further reading

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