Nonsense verse isn’t just daft — it’s medicinal. Especially for those of us with MS, where symptoms like pins and needles show up uninvited, unexplainable, and unrelenting. A spot of rhyme, a sprinkle of nonsense, and suddenly, even the most annoying sensations become characters in our absurd internal theatre. Today, we explore the tingle-jingle that is pins and needles — with sock puppets, tin soldiers, and a marching band of misfiring nerves.
Sir Prickalot and the Parade of Pins and Needles
Introduction to verse
Pins and needles — that familiar prickly sensation — are a common part of MS life. They arrive without warning, hang around longer than welcome, and make your limbs feel like occupied territory. Often compared to the feeling of sleeping on a limb, in MS it’s more like your body’s sending confusing electrical signals. What was once a foot is now a firework factory. What was once a hand becomes a bed of bees. This verse takes a joyful jab at the chaos, led by none other than Sir Prickalot and his itchy entourage.
Pins and Needles – Cue the Song
Introduction to verse
Pins and needles — that familiar prickly sensation — are a common part of MS life. They arrive without warning, hang around longer than welcome, and make your limbs feel like occupied territory. Often compared to the feeling of sleeping on a limb, in MS it’s more like your body’s sending confusing electrical signals. What was once a foot is now a firework factory. What was once a hand becomes a bed of bees. This verse takes a joyful jab at the chaos, led by none other than Sir Prickalot and his itchy entourage.
Pin the Rhyme
Sir Prickalot rode in at dawn,
With epaulettes of thistledown.
He waved a fork in lieu of sword,
And sat upon a prickle board.
His horse was made of rusty springs,
It bounced and jabbed and flapped its wings.
Behind him marched a ragged crew
Of pins and needles, two by two.
They tapped my toes with knitting pins,
Then tangoed on my stubborn shins.
A needle twanged across my knee
While shouting, “Tea or travesty?”
They poked my elbows, climbed my thighs,
And whispered secrets in my eyes.
A pin got stuck beneath my belt,
Another danced upon the felt.
They sang a song in Morse and squeaks
And marched for what felt like three weeks.
I begged, “Please go, your cause is moot!”
But they had camped in every boot.Reflection
Pins and needles are a masterclass in irritation. For people with MS, they can show up anywhere — feet, hands, lips, even your scalp — and they don’t care whether you’re trying to sleep, walk, or eat your dinner in peace. They mimic the feeling of numbness fading, but without the relief that usually follows. This makes nonsense verse the perfect coping tool: exaggerate the chaos, give it a face, and mock it into something manageable. Sir Prickalot may have invaded your nerves, but he also brought a marching band and some truly questionable fashion choices.
The following links might jangle your nerves (in a good way):
Nerve Pain can be perplexing and construed as a red herring, signalling a pain that isn’t really there.
Conclusion
Living with MS means dealing with weird and wonderful symptoms, and pins and needles are among the most stubborn. There’s rarely a fix — only patience, pacing, and the occasional chuckle. By turning this symptom into a farcical cavalcade, we rob it of some of its menace and take back a little control. You might not be able to stop the parade, but you can certainly rewrite the programme.
For more whimsical relief from life’s strange sensations, explore the full collection in Nonsense Verse: Joyful Gems for MS Minds.
When pins and needles prick at your peace, don’t just suffer in silence — turn the tingles into tales and let nonsense lead the march toward sanity.
We started this exciting, nonsensical journey from landing page for this section.
