Tingling Numbness describes a loss of sensation or feeling in a part of your body. It’s often accompanied by or combined with other changes in sensation, such as a pins-and-needles feeling or burning.
Unusual tingling, prickling sensations, or numbness in an extremity can be caused by sitting with your legs crossed for too long or when your arm falls asleep having been in one position for too long. There could also be other reasons for these sensations in your arms, legs, hands, or feet.
If the tingling in persistent and there is no obvious cause it may be the symptom of a disease.
If I don’t have underlying diseases, what could be the cause?
- Anesthesia
- Sitting cross- legged or falling asleep on the arm
- Pressure on the nerve due to presence of scar tissue
- Tight clothing
Animal bites and migraines can also cause tingling feelings as well as an abnormal level of potassium, calcium, sodium, or vitamin B-12 in your blood. You may even experience tingling as a result of an injury or infection.
What diseases are associated with Tingling Numbness?
Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis can cause bone spurs, which can irritate and compress nerves, which will cause pain as well as numbness or tingling.
Compressive neuropathies: Conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome cause the median nerve in the hand to become compressed, which can lead to numbness.
Peripheral nerve compression: This is more commonly called a trapped nerve, which is when any nerve becomes compressed by a nearby bone and causes tingling and muscle weakness.
Peripheral neuropathy: This happens when messages from the brain to the spinal cord are disrupted as a result of a damaged nerve.
Diabetes: Uncontrolled high blood glucose levels over a period of time, can cause damage to nerves (diabetic neuropathy), which causes tingling and numbness in your feet and hands.
Thyroid diseases: Hypothyroidism, if left untreated, can cause peripheral neuropathy as well as muscle weakness. This occurs because there is a lack of the thyroid hormone being produced, which has an impact on the nervous system.
Sciatica: This is caused by a herniated disk that specifically pinches the sciatic nerve, causing numbness and pain down the back of your leg.
Shingles: Shingles affects your nervous system and left untreated can cause numbness (postherpetic neuralgia) and nerve damage. The risk for postherpetic neuralgia increases with age.
Vasculitis: This is the inflammation of blood vessels that changes the blood vessel walls. As a result, they can narrow, cutting off blood supply to areas of the body, which will create a tingling sensation.
Fibromyalgia: This condition often causes muscle spasms and stiffness that can compress nerves in the area, which causes numbness in the extremities.
Vitamin B12 deficiency: Deficiency in this vitamin can cause a specific type of anemia, which can disrupt the blood flow throughout the body. It can also directly impact your nervous system, which will also cause numbness.
Guillain-Barre syndrome: This is a serious autoimmune condition that attacks the nervous system causing damage to peripheral nerves. As a result, numbness and eventually, paralysis is likely.
Herniated disk: The soft discs between your spinal bones can push through and pinch nerves traveling along the spinal column. Depending on the nerves pinched, you can experience numbness and tingling sensations.
Lyme disease: This disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the joints, and if left untreated, this can cause peripheral neuropathy (numbness) and nerve damage.
Multiple sclerosis: Severe multiple sclerosis can cause paralysis, and one of the earliest signs of the disease is tingling and numbness.
READ ALSO: THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT CARDIAC ARREST AND HEART ATTACK
What Treatment options do I have?
- Resting can help to relieve the sensations, along with the application of heat or ice.
- Massages and exercise can also help to loosen tight muscles or joint compressions, causing the pinched nerves.
In addition to home associated reliefs, there are natural supplements that can aid reducing pain, numbness, and inflammation. These include Collagen, ApresFlex, Hyaluronic acid, Curcumin.
When should I see a Doctor?
Identifying the root cause of the tingling allows for treatment, and this can relieve the sensations. Ignoring the numbness can lead to progressive worsening of underlying conditions such as Loss of consciousness, inability to walk or move, slurred speech, vision disturbances or losing control of your bowels. So, it is best to speak with your doctor right away if it is persistent.
