Tingling in your fingers isn't uncommon – but here's when you should see a doctor

Paresthesia refers to the tingling, – pricking, “pins and needles” sensation that occurs beneath the skin, according to the Cleveland Clinic. If you’ve ever “slept” on your hand, arm or leg, the resulting tingling sensation is often temporary, and resolves when you reposition your body.

Paresthesia is very common, and tingling of the fingers is usually not a cause for concern. However, paresthesia can be chronic. If tingling in the fingers persists, it’s important that you consult a doctor to determine if your symptoms are the result of an underlying medical condition. Once the cause of your symptoms is determined, treatment for paresthesia can be tailored accordingly.

Why are my fingers tingling?

Tingling in the fingers results from “a disruption or change in the nerve supply,” says Dr. Ernestine A. Wright, an internal medicine physician and a primary care physician at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. 

Paresthesia resulting from applied pressure is temporary and resolves by itself, per Healthline. When your body is configured in certain positions, if you “apply pressure to the nerves that supply your hands and fingers,” then it's not unusual to experience the pricking, tingling sensation that’s associated with pins and needles, Wright explains. “As the pressure releases from that nerve, the sensation disappears and goes away,” she says.

Though tingling in the fingers is often not anything to worry about, there are common health conditions and autoimmune disorders that have the ability to cause damage to the nerves, resulting in tingling in the fingers, hands and arms, per Healthline. 

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When should I worry about tingling in my fingers and carpal tunnel?

If you are experiencing a tingling sensation in your upper extremities throughout the day, or if the tingling is accompanied by shooting pains or burning sensations, it’s important that you consult your primary care physician to determine the underlying cause of your symptoms, Wright says. 

According to Healthline, common causes linked to tingling in the fingers include:

• Diabetic neuropathy
• Nutritional deficiency of vitamin B12, vitamin B6, vitamin E or vitamin B9 (folate)
• Carpal tunnel
• Pinched nerve
• Kidney Failure
• Certain heart or blood pressure, anticonvulsant or anti-infection medications

Hypothyroidism and exposure to toxins may also cause tingling of the fingers, Wright says.

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How do I get rid of tingling in my fingers?

To treat tingling in the fingers, “first and foremost, you have to come up with the correct diagnosis,” says Dr. Hisham Awan, an orthopedic surgeon and director of the Hand and Upper Extremity Center at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. 

If you are experiencing tingling in the fingers, see a doctor to determine the best course of treatment for you, says Awan. A physical exam, EMG test, nerve conduction study or a nerve ultrasound can be used to understand the root cause of your symptoms, he says. Whether your symptoms are the result of a nutritional deficiency or a side effect to a medication, treatment can be individualized accordingly. 

If you are experiencing a “compressive neuropathy, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, (treatment) depends on the severity,” Awan says. Carpal tunnel release surgery is typically seen as a last resort, but is highly effective at relieving symptoms.