Finding Relief for Peripheral Nerve Injuries

Most people have experienced feeling numbness, prickling or a tingling sensation in a part of their body. Often described as "pins and needles," this common sensation can happen for many reasons and is often no cause for concern.

The official name for this experience is paresthesia, sometimes called paresthesia of skin. It can be a temporary (transient) episode or chronic (persistent).

The type of temporary paresthesia most people are familiar with occurs when you position your body in a way that puts pressure on a nerve or limits blood flow, resulting in the affected body part to "fall asleep." When you change positions and release the pressure, you get that tingling pins and needles feeling. That's paresthesia!

Other common causes for temporary paresthesia include:

• Hitting a certain body part, like a joint, against a hard object or surface.
• Being dehydrated.
• Experiencing migraines.

Chronic paresthesia, on the other hand, means that numbness or tingling sensation doesn't go away or happens very often. Most likely, it is due to something serious that needs medical attention.

"While it is very common to experience brief, limited episodes of pins and needles, someone should see their doctor if the numbness or tingling is persistent, progressing over time, severe or they are also noticing weakness associated with it," says Dr. Marissa Sakoda, a Hawaii Pacific Health Medical Group (HPHMG) neurologist based at Straub Benioff Medical Center.

For example, if you feel tingling or numbness that continues for more than 10 or 20 minutes several times a week or doesn't stop, you should call your doctor.

"Sensory symptoms are also potentially concerning if they came on suddenly, affect one side of your body more than the other, or affect your day-to-day functions," Sakoda says. "Your doctor should also know if you're experiencing persistent dizziness while standing, as this can be a symptom of the autonomic nervous system also being involved, which controls functions such as your heartbeat and breathing."

An Oahu native, Sakoda earned her bachelor's degree at the University of California, Berkeley, and her medical degree from John A. Burns School of Medicine at University of Hawaii at Manoa. After completing a neurology residency and a fellowship in neuromuscular medicine at the University of Washington, she returned home to Hawaii to practice.

Below, she shares more information about chronic paresthesia and treatments available.

What types of conditions can cause chronic paresthesia?

Numbness and tingling can come from injuries to the brain, spinal cord or peripheral neuropathy, which is injury to a peripheral nerve. The most common form of peripheral nerve injury is carpal tunnel syndrome.

In Hawaii, peripheral neuropathy is most commonly caused by diabetes, which is consistent with patterns throughout the United States. High blood sugar levels can damage nerves over time and affect the way nerves send signals to other parts of the body.

Other common causes of peripheral neuropathy include vitamin deficiencies – specifically copper or the B vitamins – medication-related neuropathy and significant alcohol consumption.

How can peripheral neuropathy be treated?

Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause as much as possible. This may be managing blood sugar for diabetes or adding vitamin supplements for those with deficiencies. The sooner we are able to figure out what is causing a patient's symptoms, the more likely we will be able to prevent permanent nerve damage and keep it from potentially affecting more of the arm or leg, or even other limbs.

Peripheral nerve injuries can be assessed with a test called electromyography, commonly referred to as EMG, which measures muscle response to nerve stimulation and tells us where and to what degree a nerve is injured.

We can work to stop the progression as soon as possible and try to reverse some of the symptoms. Physical therapy may be part of the recovery process if you are experiencing any instability or balance problems or are having difficulty walking.

Is there anything people can do to prevent neuropathy?

Studies show that for people with prediabetes or impaired glucose tolerance, aerobic training with resistance exercises can help prevent the development of neuropathy. This strengthens the muscles needed for balance and stability. It also helps the blood flow, which supplies oxygen throughout the body and is important for nerve health.

For those without diabetes, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise and avoiding exposure to neurotoxins – including heavy metals like lead and mercury, pesticides and chemicals, as well as substances like opioids and inhalants – are the best for long-term neuropathy prevention.

This article was first featured in the Jan. 28, 2026, issue of MidWeek as a part of the “Dr. in the House” series. See the full publication.

Published on: January 29, 2026