False sensory impresions can be caused by a lot of things. Doctors seem ot just call it 'neuropathy'. (Thanks, Doctor, we knew we had sick nerves. Duh.) In my experience only? Nutritional issues and cervical spine impingement are causes, but it's pretty dependent on where you feel it. Sometimes it can be related to the same mechanism that gives us head-to-toe goose bumps (which I cannot recall, sorry). Best guess? I have the hgighly localized "wasp sting" sensation, but never having rubbed a cactus the right way or the wrong way, I don't know what that would feel like. (If it resembles stepping barefoot on a thistle, then I do know. Ouch to the tenth.) So I may be offering no useful ideas whatsoever for you to ask the neurologists about....

Hope it stops so it's not a problem!

I have had the sensation as though my skin was rubbed with sand paper which will then go away. I also get the "wasp sting" a few times a day. It really is weird all the things you can feel with fibro. A year in I still find new symptoms that like to randomly appear (usually at the most inconvenient time possible). At this point I honestly just blame most everything odd on the fibro and go along with it unless it impairs me beyond function (such as continually throwing up). And even then there are some things, like getting disoriented and walking into walls, that I just go "oops" and keep going. Not sure if that's good or bad so please don't take it as advice! Hopefully it is comforting though to know that others experience randomness. I hope it stops soon!

Marsh, yes...I get that from time to time and the sandpaper thingy too. Thankfully not both together and it's not constant.

If I had to sum up what fibro was like I feel like I'm in a F-18 that is beginning to malfunction and starting it's decent to crashing and burning. One little mechanical failure leading me to another one and another one while I just try to navigate myself to safety.

If this doesn't stop soon, I don't think I can go on. I have SO many over-the-top sensations already, but feeling like I have cactus thorns in my skin all over the place (finger tips, inside one elbow, etc.)? OMG. I just don't think I can take this for long.

I get a similar feeling when I lean forward while applying makeup. It starts off feeling like ants are crawling on one area (right shoulder), then turns into fire ant "bites/stings." I was told this was a cervical nerve impingement. A year or so before the crawling/biting sensation, I used to get what I referred to as a "voodoo doll prick" and I'm guessing this might be what some are referring to as a "wasp sting" sensation? It would be startling and embarrassing since it would happen in front of coworkers. Occasionally I'll get a burning sensation on the left side of my right hand (as if I've touched the side of a hot pot on the stove or in the oven) and it's turned red for a day or two.

Not sure if what I've experienced is close to the cactus thorns you're referring to. I consider myself a newbie to the fibro world, so perhaps my advice and ability to relate is not exactly at its best. I hope this sensation has subsided by now.

Have you been checked for a1c count, diabetes, or reg nerve test? I started with the reg nerve test to find the source. Had improvement like Leo said, cervical raficulopathy yo be precise. Buy, I've been on some nasty accidents. I'm tough but there are those moments, when enough is enough. I take gabapentin at 600 mg 3x day or I'm supposed. On the beginning I used to walk into walls drop whole pots of coffee. It was bad but I have learned to manage that side of things better. I also ice,heat biofreeze or something like icyhot even tens machine to deal with the neuropathy mentioned above. Good luck and relief to you.
God bless, xoxo jptx

Sorry, it's the EEG Nerve test. It's not fun, but go to tropical beach in ur head and they'll hopefully figure it out!