Numbness and Tingling Overview

Numbness means a loss of sensation or feeling in a part of the body. It is often also used to describe other changes in sensation, such as burning or a pins-and-needles feeling.

This feeling can occur along a single nerve on one side of the body, or it may occur symmetrically, on both sides of the body. Weakness, which is usually caused by other conditions, is often mistaken for numbness.

Numbness (lost, reduced, or altered sensation) and tingling (an odd prickling sensation) are types of temporary paresthesia.

These sensations commonly occur after sitting or standing in a particular position or even wearing tight clothing for too long. This puts pressure on nerves and blood vessels, reducing sensation.

Symptoms usually go away soon after the nerve pressure is reduced or relieved.

Temporary numbness and tingling can occur after spending too much time sitting cross-legged, or with a head resting on a crooked arm.

But long term, severe, or disabling numbness and tingling is usually a sign of neurological conditions or nerve damage.

Causes of Numbness and Tingling

Numbness is caused by damage, irritation or compression of nerves. A single nerve branch or several nerves may be affected, as with a slipped disk in the back or carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist.

Certain diseases such as diabetes, or toxins such as chemotherapy drugs or alcohol, can damage the longer, more-sensitive nerve fibers (such as those going to the feet) and cause numbness.

Numbness commonly affects nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, usually causing a lack of sensation in the arms, legs, hands and feet.

Feeling of numbness alone, or numbness associated with pain or other unpleasant sensations, isn’t usually due to life-threatening disorders such as strokes or tumors.

Your doctor will need detailed information about your symptoms to diagnose the cause of your numbness. A variety of tests may be needed to confirm the cause before appropriate treatment can begin.

Possible causes of numbness in one or both of your hands include the following:

Brain and Nervous System Diseases

  • Acoustic neuroma 
  • Brain aneurysm 
  • Peripheral neuropathy 
  • Brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation) 
  • Spinal cord injury
  • Brain tumor
  • Guillain-Barre syndrome 
  • Herniated disk
  • Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system
  • Peripheral nerve injuries
  • Stroke
  • Peripheral neuropathy 
  • Spinal cord tumor
  • Transverse myelitis
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA)

 

Chronic Diseases

Infectious Diseases

  • Leprosy
  • Lyme disease 
  • Shingles 
  • Syphilis 

Trauma or Overuse Injuries

  • Brachial plexus injury
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Frostbite

Side Effects of Treatment

 

Other Causes

  • Exposure to heavy metal
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm
  • Vasculitis
  • Vitamin B-12 deficiency

Other Conditions

Other conditions affecting the central nervous system that can cause numbness and tingling include the following:

  • Back and neck damage: Back and neck injuries can cause nerve damage or compression, resulting in numbness and tingling.
  • Encephalitis:  In severe cases, inflammation in the brain and spinal cord can cause a loss of sensation in parts of the body or partial paralysis in the arms or legs.
  • Mini strokes: Transient ischemic attacks, or mini-strokes, can cause one side of the face to go numb and droop.
  • Magnesium deficiency: Magnesium helps regulate many systems in the body, including proper nerve function. Severe magnesium deficiencies, or hypomagnesemia , can cause numbness and tingling.
  • Stroke: Sudden numbness in the arm, leg, or face, especially on one side of the body, is an early symptom of stroke.
  • Transverse myelitis: Inflammation in the spinal cord can cause a band like  sensation across the torso, as well as weakness in the legs and sometimes arms.
  • Tumors: Tumors can put pressure on parts of the spinal cord and brain, resulting in numbness and tingling.

 

Some other conditions that target specific parts of the body can cause numbness and tingling. Body parts include the following:


Feet and Legs

Patients with diabetes may experience diabetic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage. It can occur over time as the metabolic effects of diabetes in the bloodstream damage nerves.

Almost half of the patients with diabetes have peripheral neuropathy, a form that typically causes numbness and pain in the feet and legs, or less commonly, in the hands and arm.


Hands and Feet

Vitamin B12 deficiency or pernicious anemia, can cause nerve damage due to low hemoglobin levels and reduced oxygen circulation. This can cause peripheral neuropathy. 

Alcoholic liver damage can cause peripheral neuropathy, affecting the hands and feet.

A range of medications can also cause peripheral neuropathy, such as:

  • Anti-alcohol medications
  • Blood pressure or heart medications
  • Cancer and chemotherapy medications
  • Infection fighting medications
  • Anticonvulsants
  • Medications for AIDS and HIV
  • skin medications


Fingers

Calcium is vital to proper nerve function and blood flow. Hypocalcemia or calcium deficiency, can cause numbness and tingling in the fingers.

Capital tunnel syndrome can also cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and fingers. It occurs when the median nerve, a major nerve in the arm, becomes compressed in the space where it travels through the wrist.

Hands

Panic attacks or sudden overwhelming periods of fear and anxiety without real danger, can cause  a range of symptoms, including numbness or tingling in the hands.

Face

Infections and toothaches can compress facial nerves, causing numbness in the face and mouth.

Diagnosis of Numbness and Tingling

To diagnose the cause of numbness and tingling, a doctor will review a person’s medical history, do a physical examination, and ask questions about symptoms. They may then order laboratory tests, such as blood tests, to confirm or rule out potential causes.

In some cases, a doctor may request further testing, such as X-rays. MRIs or other imaging tests. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies can help assess the extent and type of nerve damage, especially when neuropathy causes the tingling.

Several different treatment plans may help reduce or manage numbness and tingling, such as the following:

  • Carpal tunnel: Wrist braces, over-the-counter pain medications, nerve gliding exercises, or surgery. Avoiding trigger activities.
  • Diabetic neuropathy: Physical activity, healthful diet, following diabetes treatment plans, checking feet daily for changes, and getting regular foot exams.
  • Hypocalcemia and hypomagnesemia: Infusions or supplements, dietary changes, staying away from triggers, treating underlying causes.
  • Meningitis: Antibiotics, anticonvulsants, and corticosteroids.
  • Pernicious anemia: Vitamin B12 injections, pills or nose gels and sprays.
  • Stroke: Medications to treat clots for ischemic stroke (if within 3 hours of first symptoms), and surgery or endovascular procedures for hemorrhagic stroke.
  • Transverse myelitis: Pain medications, antivirals, intravenous immunoglobulin, or plasma exchange therapy.
  • Tumors: Surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and other drug therapies.

 

Prevention of Numbness and Tingling

The best way to prevent numbness and tingling depends on the cause.

Prevention strategies for conditions that can cause numbness and tingling include the following:

  • Avoiding sharing food or other objects with people potentially exposed to infective conditions
  • Control alcohol intake and stop smoking
  • Eating a low fat, high fiber diet rich in fruits and vegetables
  • Getting 2.5 hours of moderate intensity aerobic activity weekly
  • Limiting salt (sodium) intake
  • Maintaining a healthy body weight and body mass index (BMI)
  • Staying up-to-date with vaccinations
  • Avoiding radiation exposure
  • Limiting repetitive hand or wrist motions
  • Eating foods rich in vitamin B12, vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium or take supplements
  • Treating back pain early and limit activities that make the pain worse
  • Getting psychotherapy
  • Managing stress
  • Washing hands with soap and water regularly

Conclusion

Many conditions can cause numbness and tingling, including multiple sclerosis (MS).

Usually, the severity, frequency, and location of symptoms depend on the cause. Although some causes have no cure, many have symptoms that are temporary, painless, or respond to at home care.

Several lifestyle habits, medications, and types of therapy can help reduce or prevent symptoms.

Patients with unexplained numbness and tingling should talk to a doctor as early as possible. The outlook for most conditions associated with numbness and tingling improves with early treatment. For example, treating MS early can help reduce the risk of severe complications, especially disability.

 

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