Paresthesia is a feeling of tingling and numbness in the extremities, often accompanied by a temporary loss of sensitivity ity. This phenomenon occurs when compression or irritation of a nerve interferes with its ability to transmit signals to the brain.

“When, for example, we cross our legs for a long time, we are compressing the nerves and they stop transmitting properly.” te the signals; if the blood flow decreases, it makes the nerve function worse; when the nervous signals, the information "What the brain receives is distorted and causes tingling, numbness, or strange sensations such as loss of sensation," he explained. to EFE Salud Carlos Bastida, responsible for the Locomotive Device group of the Spanish Society of General Physicians and Family (SEMG).

Common causes of paresthesia

Maintaining forced postures, such as crossing your legs, can compress nerves and blood vessels, affecting blood flow and causing a tingling sensation.

Bastida points out that, when the nerve recovers blood perfusion, there is a sudden neuronal reactivation, which sends “thousands of various signals” to the brain at the same time: heat, touch and pressure. So, the brain is not be how to interpret them and translate the message like punctures, electric currents or tingling. “As the nerve stabilizes, the tingling disappears and full normal sensitivity recovers,” he assures.

In extreme cases, such as Saturday night palsy, compression of a radial nerve can result in temporary weakness in the affected limb. Continued compression can also lead to actual damage to the nerve.

Prevention and practical tips

It is recommended to change posture every half hour to avoid nervous compression and maintain good blood circulation.

It is advisable to maintain good posture both when sleeping and when sitting, to reduce the risk of experiencing the sensation of a numb limb.

Specifically, there are certain warning signs that we should take into account:

Certain signs that indicate the need for medical evaluation, such as persistence of tingling, loss of strength in the extremity should be taken into account or color changes in the skin. It is essential to seek care if the symptoms are recurrent or prolonged, as they can be indicative of more serious problems.

Underlying conditions causing chronic paresthesia

Chronic paresthesia is usually a symptom of a disease or damage to the nervous system, more than an isolated problem. The most common medical conditions that can cause chronic paraesthesia, are indicated below, grouped by categories.

Neurological CNS Diseases

Neuropathies and radiculopathies

Autoimmune and systemic diseases

Infections, vitamin deficiencies and toxins

Other common causes

If you present chronic paresthesia, neurological assessment (clinical history, physical examination, analysis and, if necessary, neuroimaging or neuroconduction studies) to identify the underlying cause and treat it specifically.

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