Paraesthesia
| Classification according to ICD-10 | |
|---|---|
| R20.2 | Paresthesia of the skin |
| ICD-10 online (WHO version 2019) | |
A paresthesia ( Greek παραίσθησις, par-aisthesis, "next to pass by"-Awareness) is an abnormal sensation in the coverage area of a skin nerve without apparent adequate physical stimuli. Those affected usually describe it as tingling, “pins and needles”, furiness, numbness, tingling, itching, a feeling of swelling and a sensation of cold or warmth. Paresthesias are probably based on damage to the non- myelinated end branches of sensitive nerve fibers and the resulting spontaneous discharges, but they can also be caused by damage to sensitive tracts of the central nervous system . The sensation of touching the skin (e.g. tested with a feather) can be quite normal in the affected area.
On the other hand, electrifying abnormal sensations (sensitivity disorders) arise from irritation of a nerve trunk. Disorders of the vegetative fibers can manifest as a painful burning sensation ( causalgia ). A diminished sensation when touching the skin, often perceived as numbness by those affected, is called hypoesthesia . A lack of touch is called anesthesia .
Paresthesias can occur as side effects of acute poisoning and - more permanently - also in the case of diabetes or alcohol addiction in the context of polyneuropathies ("multiple nerve diseases").
- Painful and burning as causalgia, paresthesias occur especially in acute to subacute circulatory disorders of the nerves, e.g. B. in peripheral arterial occlusive disease and arteriosclerosis .
- They are often unpleasantly electrifying and long-lasting in the case of direct nerve stimulation, e.g. fleetingly in the context of a lumbar puncture , temporarily with plexus anesthesia and electrical muscle examinations (e.g. electromyography ), possibly longer or recurring in the case of incomplete nerve severance in the peripheral nervous system or suddenly as a sciatica in larger herniated discs .
They can also occur as a side effect of drugs such as venlafaxine , buspirone , buprenorphine , mirtazapine , oxaliplatin , topiramate or paroxetine and other serotonin reuptake inhibitors . They can also be psychogenic as symptoms of a panic attack .
In particular, slight paresthesias can occur for no apparent reason and usually mean nothing.
See also
Individual evidence
- ↑ Painful hyperexcitability syndrome during oxaliplatin-containing chemotherapy, The pain, 2007 doi: 10.1007 / s00482-007-0552-5
