Why do I get pins and needles?
Last updated September 3, 2026.
Pressure briefly starves nerves of blood supply; moving restores it within minutes. The NHS says pins and needles happens when blood supply to the nerves is cut off, typically from sitting or sleeping on the body part, and stops within a few minutes of taking the weight off. That is the whole story for the everyday version. It becomes a GP question when it is constant, recurrent without a pressure cause, mapped to a specific area, or accompanied by weakness or other symptoms, since persistent pins and needles can come from trapped nerves, diabetes, B12 deficiency, or some medicines.
What to do
- Change position and wait a few minutes; normal pins and needles fades fast.
- Stop sitting cross-legged for hours if your feet keep falling asleep.
- Note the pattern: same hand every night, or both feet constantly, is not posture.
- See a GP if it is constant, keeps coming back, or comes with weakness or pain.
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