What specific sensory nerves act as receptors for "pins and needles" (neuropathy)?
Pins-and-needles (PAN) sensation and pain stem from the same nerves. The pathophysiologic process is different, though. PAN is characteristic of nerve lesion, and is therefore a pathologic reaction. Pain is a physiologic reaction to a stimulus perceived as ominous.
Pathophysiologically speaking, the PAN sensation is a distortion in somatosensory stimulus processing due to injury to peripheral nerves.
Of course, the PAN sensation will stem from somatosensory nerves. Pure motor nerves will not cause such a sensation.