If you’re anything like me, you’re no stranger to occasionally waking up with a tingling sensation in your arms, hands, or fingers. This strange feeling, often called “pins and needles,” can feel like numbness, tingling, or even burning. Its proper name is paresthesia, and it is characterized by discomfort rather than pain, often appearing without warning.

If you’ve been sleeping or staying in the same position for too long, sustained pressure on a nerve causes transient paresthesia. However, it can also result from other conditions like a nerve injury or herniated disc. To restore normalcy, you must get blood circulating again to the affected nerve. Stretching or massaging the limb can help hasten relief.

While most episodes are brief, paresthesia can become chronic due to neurological disease or nerve damage, including stroke, multiple sclerosis, or encephalitis. Tumors, vascular injuries, or carpal tunnel syndrome may also cause chronic issues. It should go without saying that readers should see a doctor if concerned.

Seek medical help if your paresthesia begins suddenly, follows a head injury, involves an entire arm or leg, or comes with weakness, paralysis, confusion, difficulty talking, dizziness, or a sudden severe headache. Also consult a doctor if it worsens gradually, affects both sides of the body, comes and goes, relates to repetitive motions, or affects only part of a limb like your toes or fingers.