However, numbness or tingling in our extremities is a more common complaint than you might think. Typically described as a kind of "pins and needles" sensation, this can often have a perfectly benign cause. It could be something as simple as stress or a vitamin deficiency. Prolonged sensations of numbness or pins and needles in the feet and hands can also be a sign of more serious illness. This is especially true if the sensations are accompanied by other symptoms.