Numbness and tingling Health Article

Definition

Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or legs.

Alternative Names

Sensory loss; Paresthesias; Tingling and numbness; Loss of sensation

Common Causes

There are many possible causes:

• Remaining in the same seated or standing position for a long time
• Injury to a nerve -- for example, a neck injury may cause you to feel numbness anywhere along your arm or hand, while a low back injury can cause numbness or tingling down the back of your leg
• Pressure on the spinal nerves, such as from a herniated disk
• Pressure on peripheral nerves from enlarged blood vessels, tumors, scar tissue, or infection
• Shingles or herpes zoster infection
• Lack of blood supply to an area -- for example, cholesterol (plaque) build up from atherosclerosis in the legs can cause pain, numbness, and tingling while walking (this is called vascular claudication); frostbite can also reduce blood supply and lead to numbness
• Other medical conditions, including:
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome (pressure on a nerve at the wrist)
  • Diabetes
  • Migraines
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Seizures
  • Stroke
  • Transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a "mini-stroke"
  • Underactive thyroid
  • Raynaud's phenomenon
• Abnormal levels of calcium, potassium, or sodium in your body
• A lack of vitamin B12 or other vitamin
• Use of certain medications
• Toxic nerve damage due to lead, alcohol, or tobacco
• Radiation therapy

Home Care

Your doctor should identify and treat the underlying cause of your numbness or tingling. Treatment of the underlying condition may reverse the symptoms or prevent them from becoming worse. For example, if you have carpal tunnel syndrome or low back pain, your doctor may recommend certain exercises.

If you have diabetes, your doctor will discuss ways to control your blood sugars.

Low levels of vitamins will be treated with vitamin supplements.

Medications that cause numbness or tingling may need to be switched or adjusted. You should not change or stop taking any of your medicines or take large doses of any vitamins or supplements until you have talked with you doctor.

Because numbness can cause a decrease in feeling, you may be more likely to accidentally injure a numb hand or foot. Take care to protect the area from cuts, bumps, bruises, burns, or other injury.