What's the proper medical term of someone who pokes themselves with sharp objects?

What is the medical term for someone who pokes themselves with pointed objects? For example, gently poking your thumb with a pencil because it gives you a soothing sensation?

Could this behavior be a sign of stereotypy in partial seizures rather then a psychological compulsion?

I ask because I do this, for example, I'll instinctively fold up a piece of paper and then proceed to prick myself in the fingers and fidget with it. This behavior is usually accompanied by compulsive rhythmic foot moment; it's usually an unconscious behavior, often I'm not even aware that I'm doing it. Both of them provide a soothing sensation that relieves anxiety. Dyscognitive features usually also accompany these compulsive behaviors.

My psychiatrist recently started me on Keppra (an anticonvulsant) and that seems to help curb the behavior and dyscognition. I have a long history of high prolactin levels in my lab work and I recently learned that high prolactin is associated with seizures. I'm trying to research and ascertain if I should go see a neurologist for a possible seizure disorder.

It sounds like they are just "odd" soothing habits you have formed through the years. Since you are "gently" poking your thumb and only using folded paper and pencils, not really "sharp" objects (you can't "gently" poke yourself with a knife or pair of scissors, for example?) you probably did that back in your childhood accidentally and "liked" the sensation and the foot moment is common to lots of people, like hair twirling, or knee "jiggling", etc., its just comforting/soothing for some people. Otherwise I think it would fall under NSSI: http://www.scientificamerican.com/ar...-make-you-fee/. Some people rub their hands together ("Uriah Heep" in Dickens' David Copperfield had that habit) or do odd things with their hands compulsively/habitually, some people may pull on an earlobe or touch/tug on their nose -- there's lots of "normal" quirks people have.

Did you ask your psychiatrist about them? He would better know if you should see a neurologist, they're often compatible specialties one might need to see both members of. But I don't see anything "wrong" or different about what you are doing. You are aware since you have to fold the paper and probably makes sure there are pencils around that are "just right" to feel good. I use to take paper clips to therapy to fidget with when talking or rubber bands?