Arm Paresthesia

Medically Reviewed By William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS

What is arm paresthesia?

Arm paresthesia is a sensation of tingling (feeling of “pins and needles”) or burning in the arm that occurs without stimulation. It can result from a previous arm injury or pressure on a nerve in the arm. Other causes include damage to nerves in the arm from exposure to extreme heat or cold or to toxic compounds. Arm paresthesia can also be a feature of certain diseases or conditions, including multiple sclerosis and lupus.

Alternatively, arm paresthesia may be caused by peripheral neuropathy, a disorder in which the nerves that relay signals between the body and the brain and spinal cord do not function properly. Peripheral neuropathy can be due to a number of specific diseases and disorders, including diabetes and Guillain-Barre syndrome, an autoimmune nerve disorder. Alcohol abuse and vitamin deficiencies are further common causes of peripheral neuropathy and arm paresthesia. Anticancer chemotherapy and some antibiotics can also cause paresthesia.

Arm paresthesia may also be a symptom of myocardial ischemia (reduced blood flow to the heart muscle) or heart attack. Arm paresthesia, particularly when localized to one side of the body and with sudden onset, can be a symptom of stroke.

The duration and course of arm paresthesia vary widely, depending on the cause. Symptoms caused by injury often have a sudden onset. In other cases, arm paresthesia caused by underlying neuropathy develops slowly and persists or worsens over time.

Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if a sudden arm paresthesia is accompanied by numbness or weakness of the arm or fingers on one side of your body; a change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness; chest pain or pressure; difficulty breathing; or the worst headache of your life, as these can be signs of stroke.

If your arm paresthesia is persistent or causes you concern, seek prompt medical care.

What other symptoms might occur with arm paresthesia?

Arm paresthesia may accompany other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the arm also involve other body systems.

Arm symptoms that may occur along with arm paresthesia

Arm paresthesia may accompany other symptoms affecting the arm including:

  • Blistering

  • Numbness or tingling

  • Pain

  • Redness, warmth or swelling

Other symptoms that may occur along with arm paresthesia

Arm paresthesia may accompany symptoms related to other body systems including:

  • Changes in sensation

  • Difficulty walking

  • Extreme sensitivity to touch

  • Impaired coordination

  • Muscle weakness

  • Nerve pain

  • Numbness or tingling in other areas of the body

  • Pain when walking

  • Sharp pain that may be worse at night

Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition

Sudden arm paresthesia accompanied by numbness or weakness of the arm or fingers on one side of the body can be a sign of stroke. Arm paresthesia can also be a symptom of reduced blood flow to the heart and heart attack. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have arm paresthesia along with other serious symptoms including:

What causes arm paresthesia?

Arm paresthesia can be the result of skin damage in the arms and surrounding tissues. For example, exposure to toxic chemicals, extreme heat, or extreme cold can damage the nerves in the skin, leading to a feeling of tingling and burning in the arm.

Damage to the peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy) can also cause arm paresthesia. Peripheral neuropathy may be due to specific diseases or conditions, such as diabetes or alcoholism, that can affect nerve health, or it may have no known cause. In rare cases, when arm paresthesia is accompanied by numbness or weakness on one side of the body, it can be a sign of stroke.

Common causes of arm paresthesia

Arm paresthesia may have several common causes several including:

  • Arm trauma or injury

  • Certain medications, including some cancer chemotherapy drugs

  • Exposure to cold

  • Exposure to toxic or poisonous compounds, such as lead or mercury

  • Injury to nerve

  • Peripheral neuropathy (disorder that causes dysfunction of nerves that lie outside your brain and spinal cord)

  • Pressure on nerve or nerve entrapment

Disease causes of arm paresthesia

Nerve damage associated with certain disease processes can cause arm paresthesia. Examples include:

  • Alcoholic neuropathy (nerve damage associated with excessive alcohol consumption)

  • Diabetes (chronic disease that affects your body’s ability to use sugar for energy)

  • Guillain-Barre syndrome (autoimmune nerve disorder)

  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and its treatment

  • Lyme disease (inflammatory bacterial disease spread by ticks)

  • Multiple sclerosis (disease that affects the brain and spinal cord causing weakness, coordination, balance difficulties, and other problems)

  • Rheumatoid arthritis (chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joint inflammation)

  • Shingles (reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus, which remains in the body in an inactive state following chickenpox)

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus (disorder in which the body attacks its own healthy cells and tissues)

  • Vitamin deficiency, especially vitamin B12 and folate

Serious or life-threatening causes of arm paresthesia

In some cases, arm paresthesia may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. These include:

  • Heart attack (myocardial infarction)

  • Stroke

  • Transient ischemic attack (temporary stroke-like symptoms that may be a warning sign of an impending stroke)

Questions for diagnosing the cause of arm paresthesia

To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your arm paresthesia including:

  • How long have you felt the arm paresthesia?

  • Where do you feel the arm paresthesia?

  • Do you have any other symptoms?

  • What medications are you taking?

What are the potential complications of arm paresthesia?

Because arm paresthesia can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:

  • Brain damage (if your arm paresthesia is due to a stroke)

  • Heart failure (if the paresthesia is due to heart attack)

  • Permanent loss of feeling

  • Permanent nerve damage

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  1. NINDS Paresthesia Information Page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/paresthesia/paresthesia.htm.
  2. Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/peripheralneuropathy/detail_peripheralneuropathy.htm
  3. Kahan S, Miller R, Smith EG (Eds.). In A Page Signs & Symptoms, 2d ed. Philadelphia: Lippincott, Williams & Williams, 2009.
Medical Reviewer: William C. Lloyd III, MD, FACS
Last Review Date: 2021 Jan 10
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