Numbness of the lower extremities is a fairly common problem that worries both the elderly and young people. In this article we will try to find the causes of numbness in the leg up to the knee/above/below the knee. Also, let’s pay attention to what can be done in a situation where your legs go numb?
In medicine, complete or partial loss of sensation in the lower extremities is called numbness or paresthesia. Most often, patients experience numbness in the area below the knees.
In this case, you will hear complaints such as: unpleasant tingling in the lower extremities, pain in the joints when moving. With a sharp one-time numbness of the lower extremities, a suspicion of diseases of the musculoskeletal system immediately arises.
At best, a person may experience numbness as a result of prolonged physical labor or after intense training in the gym. Then the numbness, as a rule, goes away after a few hours - a maximum of a few days. The lower limbs may become numb when a person applies a load that is unusual for the body. In this case, the muscles begin to secrete lactic acid in excess. The legs are painfully twisted, broken, causing painful sensations to the person.
If numbness occurs, it is imperative to consult a traumatologist, therapist and vascular surgeon.
Before we begin to describe the unpleasant symptoms of numbness in the legs above/below the knee, we will provide some statistics. About 80% of cases associated with numbness of the lower extremities are associated with diseases of the spine and musculoskeletal system.
In second place are problems that are associated with a sedentary lifestyle, as well as pathologies of the circulatory system, diseases of the central nervous system that nourish the legs.
Numbness of the lower extremities most often occurs in people aged 16 to 45 years. That is, this is a working-age population that spends most of its time at work.
Symptoms of numbness in the legs above/below the knee:
Doctors recommend additionally paying attention to how the patient feels, does he have a headache, does his heart hurt, does his temperature rise with numbness, is his blood pressure stable, is there any gastrointestinal disorder? If you can fully describe to the doctor all the unpleasant symptoms that are bothering you, this will speed up the diagnosis.
Of course, the reasons for numbness in the legs above/below the knee may come down to heredity. That is, if your first-degree relatives - mom, dad, sister, brother, as well as grandparents - had problems with the lower extremities, then this is more likely to happen to you too.
Further, a fairly common reason is an unhealthy lifestyle - if a person eats poorly, has a long history of smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, then all this will definitely affect physical well-being.
The most common causes of numbness in the legs above/below the knee can be:
Treatment of pathologies such as osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernia should occur exclusively under the supervision of a doctor. You cannot help yourself on your own.
If a person has a history of diagnosed diseases such as diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, then their consequence may be the occurrence of neuropathy. With neuropathy, rapid damage to the nerve endings of the lower extremities begins. In such cases, therapy should cover not only the restoration of the sensitivity of nerve fibers, but also the treatment of the underlying disease that led to this pathology.
If numbness of the limbs began in an elderly patient (over 50 years old), then the cause should be sought in a disease such as atherosclerosis. With the acute and progressive development of atherosclerosis, a person experiences symptoms such as: weakness throughout the body, increased fatigue, pain during movement, pain when bending the knee.
With multiple sclerosis (this is damage to the nerve tissues of the spinal cord and brain), an unpleasant symptom such as numbness/stiffness begins to occur. Treatment is carried out in the inpatient department of a medical institution.
There is another reason for numbness in the knees above/below - the little-studied Raynaud's disease. This pathological course is characterized by impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities. A person complains of unpleasant spasms and convulsions in the lower extremities.
Any treatment for numbness of the lower extremities should begin with a visit to a specialist. The therapy for restoring lost sensitivity necessarily includes physical exercise.
Even in old age, it is recommended to pay special attention to the load on the lower limbs. In particular, you can start with walks in the fresh air, swimming, cycling. It is important to promote increased blood circulation using loads on the lower extremities.
Next, you definitely need to exclude coffee/strong tea/alcohol/smoking from your daily life.
Most often, numbness occurs due to nerve compression, damage, or inflammation. Less commonly, numbness occurs due to problems in the brain or spinal cord. Usually, symptoms alone can help you suspect the cause of numbness.
If both limbs on one side are numb, then most likely the cause is a stroke, transient ischemic attack, brain tumor or multiple sclerosis.
With a stroke, there are other symptoms: facial asymmetry, speech impairment, numbness of the limbs, muscle weakness. If you experience any of the above symptoms, you should immediately call an ambulance.
In a transient ischemic attack (TIA), a blood clot blocks a blood vessel in the brain for several minutes. This happens if the lumen is too narrow due to cholesterol plaques (atherosclerosis). Attacks occur regularly and are manifested by numbness of the arm, leg and/or face (mainly on one side), weakness, dizziness, double vision, and slow speech. The symptom complex depends on which vessel is affected.
Statistically, a third of people with a TIA will have a stroke, so such patients should definitely see a doctor to reduce their risks.
With multiple sclerosis, numbness of the face, limbs, and individual parts of the body is often the first symptom. Numbness can vary in strength, but sometimes it makes it significantly difficult to move an arm, leg, etc. There are no medications that can help cope with this condition. Despite the fact that the symptom may go away on its own, you should definitely seek help from a specialist as soon as possible.
If one lower limb or both goes numb, this may be a sign of cauda equina syndrome, herniated disc, or multiple sclerosis.
In cauda equina syndrome, all 18 nerves located in the lumbar spine are compressed. This may occur due to a hernia, inflammation, tumor, or stenosis (narrowing) of the spinal canal. The result is not only numbness in both legs, but also lower back pain, problems with urination, defecation, and erectile dysfunction.
Radiculitis associated with a hernia occurs due to the fact that the nucleus pulposus, which is located in the intervertebral disc, breaks out and compresses nearby nerve endings. With a hernia, not only numbness occurs, but also back pain and weakness in the limbs. Symptoms usually go away within 6–8 weeks. If this does not happen, the doctor may prescribe more aggressive treatment, including surgery.
With sciatica, most often only one leg goes numb. Sciatica, or lumbosacral radiculitis, is compression of the sciatic nerve, which also causes pain in the lower back. The cause of sciatica can be a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome (compression of the sciatic and gluteal nerves by the piriformis muscle), bone fractures and pelvic injuries, tumors. Usually, along with numbness, a person feels aching pain, tingling or burning. Treatment depends on the cause of sciatica.
If part of an arm or leg is numb, the cause may be a herniated disc, thoracic outlet syndrome, a tumor that presses on the nerve plexus, brachial plexitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and common peroneal nerve compression syndrome.
With carpal tunnel syndrome, the wrist or hand (thumb, index, middle, and part of the ring finger) becomes numb or painful. This usually happens to those who work a lot on the computer, knit, drive a car for a long time, etc. Why? The median nerve, which passes to the hand through a “tunnel” (carpal tunnel) of three bones and ligaments, is pinched. Compression of the median nerve below the elbow and above the wrist causes numbness not only in this area, but also around the hand at the base of the thumb. This happens if, for example, the tendon, which is located next to the median nerve, is irritated and therefore enlarged.
Swelling due to injury, fluid retention, pregnancy, and rheumatoid arthritis can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. But the condition usually develops in those whose carpal tunnel is initially narrower than most people's. If there is a need for pain relief, conventional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen, naproxen) can be used. It is usually recommended to reduce the movements that provoke symptoms and apply a splint for a while. If the pain and/or numbness does not go away, surgery may be required.
With brachial plexitis, not only the shoulder, as the name implies, can become numb, but also the entire arm and hand. The mechanism of this disease is as follows: the brachial plexus, from which the nerves go to both arms, is compressed or damaged. Brachial plexitis can be a consequence of a lung tumor, radiation therapy, or birth trauma. Numbness is not its only symptom; often such patients have severe shoulder pain, the pain is replaced by weakness. Symptoms usually resolve with anti-inflammatory treatment with corticosteroids.
In common peroneal nerve compression syndrome, numbness or tingling is felt in the top of the foot or inner leg. The peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve and supplies the toes, feet, and legs. A knee injury, a broken fibula, a tight shin cast, and even frequent crossing of the legs can lead to this syndrome. Treatment for numbness involves eliminating the cause. But sometimes a corticosteroid injection may be needed to reduce the swelling, and in some cases surgery is performed.
The cause of thoracic outlet syndrome is that the blood vessels and nerves between the collarbone and the first rib are compressed. As a result, the shoulder and neck hurt, and the fingers feel numb. This can happen due to a car accident, sports injury, or during pregnancy. The syndrome, fortunately, occurs rarely - in 1 person out of a million. Usually, taking painkillers is enough to control symptoms.
Severe calcium deficiency may cause numbness in the toes and hands, abnormal heart rhythm, and seizures. This is a fairly rare condition, the cause of which must be determined by a doctor.
Due to edema, tumors, injuries, etc. Other nerves in the arm may also be compressed, resulting in specific symptoms:
If the limbs on both sides are numb, then the spinal cord may be compressed due to a tumor, injury, hematoma, abscess (abscess), or it is a matter of peripheral polyneuropathy - damage to small peripheral nerves or disruption of their function. It is usually caused by certain medications, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, vitamin B12 deficiency, Lyme disease, or HIV infection. Most drugs that cause numbness include chemotherapy. As a rule, some time after the end of chemotherapy, sensitivity returns.
Diabetic neuropathy is a fairly common occurrence in patients with diabetes. The exact cause of the damage is unknown, but it is believed that metabolic disorders and destruction of small vessels occur, which leads to nerve damage. If numbness has already occurred, it is impossible to completely get rid of it. But the condition can improve if you monitor your blood sugar levels more closely. If the numbness is significant, then you need to follow the doctor’s recommendations to avoid injury to the limbs and subsequent complications.
Exactly how vitamin B12 deficiency disrupts the formation of myelin sheaths on nerves is unknown. But if this substance is not enough, then the legs, rather than the arms, often go numb. Also, a lack of vitamin B12 is accompanied by anemia and weakness. But numbness occurs only with a very serious deficiency. With treatment, symptoms go away within 3 months; in severe cases, recovery can take a year.
When chronic kidney disease worsens, uremia occurs—products of nitrogen metabolism and other toxic substances accumulate in the blood. This leads to peripheral nerve damage and numbness. This condition (uremic polyneuropathy) is an indication for dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Lyme disease and HIV infection can cause inflammation of some parts of the nervous system. With Lyme disease, numbness does not appear immediately, but already against the background of a flu-like state, from which the disease begins. Lyme disease is treated with antibiotics.
With HIV infection, numbness often occurs due to the fact that a weakened immune system allows the development of a cytomegalovirus infection, which affects the nerve fibers. Numbness usually occurs in people who are not taking antiretroviral therapy, which can greatly improve the condition of a person with HIV. Therefore, in order for the numbness to go away, you need to start specific treatment as early as possible.
Why is osteochondrosis not on this list? The fact is that this diagnosis is not known anywhere except in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Usually they blame him for everything that they cannot explain. Degenerative changes in the spine are normal for anyone over 40 years of age. Numbness has other, real causes that can often be dealt with. Therefore, if you are diagnosed with osteochondrosis, you should consult another specialist.
In case of numbness, you should consult a doctor immediately if:
If you have numbness, you should consult a doctor if:
Usually, with numbness, a neurological examination and history taking will provide the doctor with a lot of information, and only then can a preliminary diagnosis be made. But for a final decision, it is often necessary to do an x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging, electromyography or blood tests.
Of course, there is no universal way to get rid of numbness, regardless of the cause of this condition. You need to act based on what exactly triggered the numbness. For example, a set of exercises often helps with carpal tunnel syndrome. If numbness is associated with diabetes, then you can only more carefully monitor your blood sugar levels. Vitamin B12 deficiency is corrected with therapeutic doses of appropriate medications.
Why can't you ignore numbness? The fact is that a person can damage a numb part of the body and not notice it. Therefore, even if there are no additional serious symptoms indicating a stroke or other serious condition, it is still worth contacting a neurologist with numbness.
Numbness of the limbs - characterized by an unpleasant sensation of loss of sensitivity and flexibility of the limb, often accompanied by tingling, burning, chilliness and tightness of the skin.
Numbness of the limbs occurs when there is a disturbance in the passage of nerve impulses from receptors to the brain. Occurs when the body remains in an uncomfortable position for a long time. Sensitivity returns quickly when changing body position. But if after changing the position the discomfort remains, and numbness occurs quite often, this may be a symptom of a serious illness.
When faced with numbness, people often doubt whether they should go to the doctor or wait until the symptoms of numbness go away on their own.
In what cases does numbness require a mandatory consultation with a neurologist?
Often, numbness of the limbs can be a sign of the following diseases:
Often occurs when the neurovascular bundle is compressed by connective tissue or muscles. Numbness can turn into pain over time. To determine the place where compression occurs, the doctor conducts diagnostics.
In some cases, numbness in the hands is associated with dysfunction of the spine. In this case, only a doctor will be able to determine the affected area and eliminate the compression of the vessel or nerve.
Numbness in the fingers is quite common these days. Daily work on a computer keyboard often provokes the development of the so-called carpal tunnel syndrome .
The syndrome occurs when tension causes the tendon to swell and compress the nerve that provides sensation to the fingers (thumb, index, and middle) and palm. The tendons and nerve pass through a common, rather narrow canal. When the tendon is swollen, pressure on the nerve causes tingling, numbness, and throbbing pain in the toes.
If treatment is not started on time, the disease can lead to the death of the muscle responsible for the movements of the thumb. According to statistics, women are more susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome.
Numbness in the legs is caused by impaired nerve sensitivity. According to statistics, more than 90% of cases of numbness in the legs are caused by problems with the spine: osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias, etc.
Intervertebral hernias compress the nerve roots, causing tissue spasm. As a result, a person may feel pain and numbness in the legs, a feeling of “pins and needles” or “wobbly legs.”
Pain and numbness in the legs can also occur due to changes in the lumbar spine. Often, even before signs of numbness appear, the patient begins to feel constant pain in the lumbar region. If you do not seek medical help in time, the disease will progress.
Less commonly, numbness in the legs is explained by other systemic diseases, such as diabetes.
Various metabolic diseases, such as radiculoneuritis, can cause numbness in the toes. Also, the cause may be spinal tuberculosis, osteochondrosis, in which there is a narrowing of the intervertebral spaces, various disorders in the blood vessels, and sometimes the development of a malignant tumor.
Oncological diseases cause numbness in the toes due to tumor growth outside or inside the spinal cord. The tumor creates pressure, which causes numbness.
Traditional medicine offers recipes to relieve the symptoms of numbness.
Numbness (numbness in the arm, leg, tingling in the fingertips) has probably been experienced by every person at some point. The feeling of someone tingling your fingers, hands, leg or other parts of the body with many small needles is quite unpleasant. However, it does not pose any danger if it arose due to certain reasons, which are most often provoked by the person himself - he got so carried away that he forgot and did not change his body position in time.
In other cases, numbness is a sign of pathology, then it comes together with other symptoms of the disease (dizziness, weakness, pain and much more). And since everything comes from nerve compression and circulatory disorders, then most often numbness is attributed to neurological and vascular symptoms. Treatment of such manifestations is associated with the treatment of the underlying disease, and therefore does not have universal recipes.
The reasons for tingling and the feeling that some area has become “foreign” in healthy people arise primarily from their behavior and the situations in which they, of their own free will or at the whim of others, found themselves:
Healthy people's hands go numb at night because the weight of the body or uncomfortable tight clothing compresses the blood vessels, and the hand comes away after the person releases it and thus restores blood flow.
A person cannot always prevent unpleasant tingling and numbness, but he must strive for this. After all, it’s not difficult to worry in advance about comfort during sleep, choose comfortable bedding (preferably orthopedic), put on soft, luxurious pajamas, and take a comfortable position.
You should treat a walk in sub-zero weather in the same way: if you expect to stay in the cold for a long time, you need to choose the right clothes and shoes.
It is somewhat more difficult for people performing work that constitutes their functional responsibilities, however, here too you should try to alternate static loads with exercises that restore blood flow.
Various parts of the body go numb due to pathological changes leading to circulatory disorders:
osteochondrosis as a cause of numbness and innervation zone
It is worth paying attention to a sudden loss of sensitivity accompanied by other signs of trouble, clearly not similar to temporary difficulties:
Stiffness plus the presence of one of the listed symptoms, even to a person unfamiliar with neurological symptoms, gives reason to suspect a serious pathology, including acute cerebrovascular accident (hemorrhage or cerebral infarction), which is a reason to call an ambulance.
Obsessively appearing and then receding numbness in different parts of the body, accompanied by disturbances in vision, speech, and gait, may indicate the development of the following diseases:
numbness and facial deformation due to stroke
Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or dynamic (transient) cerebrovascular accident. Cerebral ischemia occurs against the background of arterial hypertension, atherosclerosis of cerebral vessels or coronary heart disease and its symptoms include dizziness, numbness of the face, right arm or left arm (depending on the location of the lesion), difficulty speaking. Due to the fact that temporary stiffness in one area can imperceptibly pass into another phase of the disease (ischemic stroke), therefore, such a condition requires immediate medical attention;
Numbness of individual parts of the body with or without symptoms, obsessively occurring at night or due to other circumstances, can also be signs of various pathologies.
Even healthy people can get numb hands during sleep: by placing their left or right hand under their head and deeply immersed in the world of dreams, a young body can sleep through the night without ever turning over to the other side. Moving the limb and lightly rubbing it quickly returns it to normal and the unpleasant sensations are forgotten. It’s another matter when your hands systematically go numb at night, when a tingling feeling appears in the daytime, when others are added to this symptom: pain, weakness, cramps. There are different options for numbness of the upper extremities, each of which may indicate a specific pathology:
diagram of the nerves of the hand, compression of which is possible due to osteochondrosis and other reasons
vascular causes of numbness - spasm or damage to arterioles
They lose their natural color (turn white or blue), become cold to the touch, and the fingers hurt and go numb when blood circulation in the microvasculature is impaired, caused by a sharp spasm of blood vessels. This occurs most often in Raynaud's disease and scleroderma ;
If both arms go numb at the same time or an unpleasant tingling sensation is localized in a specific area of the left or right arm, or affects the hands or fingers, and the clinical picture is diluted by additional symptoms (weakness, pain, numbness of other parts of the body), the thought of development of the above-mentioned serious diseases (multiple sclerosis, neoplastic process). If this happens suddenly, then a TIA or stroke can be suspected.
Each person has pain and numbness in his own way and, probably, not all options for numbness in the fingers have been considered, however, if stiff limbs are increasingly waking you up at night, and a person cannot find an explanation for this, then perhaps a short list of reasons will help him that cause these unpleasant sensations:
In addition, to determine the true cause of hand numbness, you should pay attention to other symptoms that accompany these unpleasant, and sometimes painful, episodes:
Some of the listed diseases and their symptoms can cause your toes to go numb, so it’s time to talk about this too.
The presence of a certain pathology may also cause numbness in the toes. Numbness of the lower extremities accompanied by intense pain after physical activity is characteristic of vascular pathology, which leads to impaired circulation and damage to nerve tissue:
in case of numbness of the legs, a significant role, along with osteochondrosis, is played by vascular problems of the legs - affecting the arteries (in particular atherosclerosis - a) and veins (venous stasis coupled with varicose veins and CVI - b)
The toes also go numb with neuralgia of the sciatic nerve, which we call sciatica. The disease, as a rule, is accompanied by “lumbago” in the lumbar region and in the leg; it is often a consequence of pathological changes in the lumbosacral spine:
Pregnant women who have very little time left before giving birth often complain of numbness in their legs. Their lateral thighs are more likely to suffer. The cause of discomfort, in addition to the additional burden on the body, may be a deficiency of iron and other microelements. In this case, cramps and other symptoms may be added to the numbness.
Thus, various pathological conditions affecting nerves and blood vessels can cause numbness in the toes. And to complete the picture, let’s add some more diseases to the existing list:
Of course, short-term pressure on a nerve (poor posture) and numbness in the toes is not a reason to immediately run to the doctor. You should think about it when tingling occurs frequently and is accompanied by other symptoms (pain, loss of sensitivity, loss of coordination of movements). And if a person cannot understand whether he has immersed his foot in water - cold or hot, a visit to the doctor should be urgent.
Part of the head may become “foreign” as a result of suffering from the nerves and blood vessels passing there. Numbness is often accompanied by pain and cramps in individual muscle fibers. Unpleasant sensations can be limited to a specific place on the face, localized in some part of the head (left or right half) or cover the entire head, spreading to the back of the head. Other patients complain only of problems affecting the oral cavity (numbness of the tongue), but do not notice them in other parts of the head. Thus, numb areas can find a place in various parts of the facial skull, oral cavity, move to the back of the head or move to the neck and sections of the shoulder girdle:
If, with the feeling that your tongue is going numb, you begin to feel dizzy, weakness appears, and numbness in your arms, legs, or other parts of the body is added, there is a danger that this is associated with the development of a serious pathology: transient ischemic attack, pre-stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain tumor, or malignant anemia (megaloblastic anemia).
For no apparent reason, this muscular organ is somehow not subject to numbness. It’s another matter if he turns out to be overly “curious” or other (not very scary) reasons make him numb.
Numbness that has one of the above reasons and disappears when it is eliminated is not a pathological condition and does not require the help of a doctor. Here a person helps himself and draws conclusions about what is possible and what is not: damage to the tip of the tongue in the cold, as a rule, happens only once in a lifetime, but sooner or later everyone goes through this.
In conclusion, I would like to remind the reader that many episodes of numbness are a signal for action. Often, a transient ischemic attack is manifested by a short-term decrease in sensitivity and may soon be forgotten, however, today is a TIA, and tomorrow - a stroke, so if there are concerns that the numbness is associated with problems in the head, you should immediately call an ambulance, because acute cerebrovascular accident (stroke) ) can also happen on the way to the clinic.
Often, almost every adult feels a tingling sensation in the fingers and toes. This phenomenon occurs in people of different weights, ages, and genders. Discomfort, “goosebumps” and unpleasant numbness in complete rest are a symptom that causes a certain disease. Only a doctor can identify and cure it.
Colic in the limbs usually appears after heavy physical exertion, after a long stay in an uncomfortable fixed position, when the nerve endings were subject to a certain pressure. Doctors distinguish several types of tingling in the fingers:
lasting a couple of seconds.
Unpleasant sensations can be debilitating and long-lasting or barely noticeable and weak. Tingling in the limbs and fingers is the result of a malfunction of some internal organs, especially if they are accompanied by pain and numbness. These may be nerve conduction disorders, hormonal diseases, and vascular damage.
Doctors call tingling in the limbs “paresthesia.” It is characterized by a sensitivity disorder, goosebumps that resemble acupuncture.
Compression of blood vessels and nerves. The most common cause of tingling in the fingers is compression of the nerves, which stop sending signals to brain cells, as well as poor circulation. Burning and tingling sensations are felt after sleep, for example in the elbows, or after sitting at the computer for a long time.
Deficiency or excess of vitamins. Sometimes unpleasant symptoms are a sign of a lack of calcium or vitamin B12, or an excess of vitamin B6. The causes can be sought among neurological and endocrine pathologies, for example, hyperglycemia or multiple atherosclerosis.
Circulatory disorders. Often, older people complain of a feeling of numbness and paresthesia. They have poor blood circulation, especially in the lower extremities, sometimes due to a sedentary lifestyle, vascular atherosclerosis, hypothyroidism or metabolic disorders.
Arthritis. The cause of numbness and pins and needles in the fingers is also inflammation of the cells, which interferes with the passage of impulses from the nerves. This phenomenon is characteristic of arthritis, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome.
Alcohol abuse. In patients who abuse alcohol, there is a lack of thiamine, as well as other important minerals and trace elements, which leads to goosebumps and numbness in the limbs. Long-term drinking and large single doses also cause nerve damage.
Toxic substances can also affect nerve endings in the arms and legs. These are chemical compounds, heavy metals, radionuclides, natural toxins, as well as some medications, for example, chemotherapy drugs for cancer patients, strong antibacterial agents and antiviral drugs.
Find out more about the causes of tingling hands -
Colic in the fingers can appear unilaterally or in both limbs at once. Their reasons are not only incorrect postures. If the symptom does not go away for a long time, an examination by a neurologist is necessary to identify an acute or chronic hidden illness. The main diseases that are characterized by numbness of the fingers and goose bumps: thyroid pathologies;
tissue ruptures in the limbs;
pulmonary hyperventilation syndrome;
decrease in the amount of electrolytes in the blood;
diseases of the joints, upper spine;
arthritis and osteochondrosis;
diabetes (see also - symptoms of diabetes).
Nerve endings can be damaged as a result of injury, or the pathology is not traumatic, but chronic. Numbness and tingling sensations may appear not only in the fingers of the upper extremities, but also in other parts of the body.
Often, old people complain of unpleasant sensations in the hands; with age, blood circulation in the limbs is disrupted and atherosclerotic phenomena appear. Cholesterol plaques partially block the blood flow, interfering with the functioning of not only the circulatory system, but also other organs.
Nervous disorders, the symptom of which is tingling in the extremities, appear with chronic diabetes, as well as hypothyroidism of the thyroid gland. Buerger's disease affects heavy smokers. Excessive saturation of blood cells with nicotine leads to impaired blood supply. The tissues do not receive enough nutrients, and the arms and legs begin to go numb and tingling sensations appear.
You should seek medical help if you experience pain, prolonged cramps, confusion, or fainting.
Among the rare pathologies that cause tingling in the fingers, doctors also distinguish: Radicular syndrome. It appears if the nerve ending is pinched in the area of the cervical vertebrae. At the same time, people complain of tingling all over their limbs and numbness in their hands, including their fingers. This syndrome is also caused by spina bifida, spondyloarthrosis, osteochondrosis, as well as lateral displacement of the vertebrae, tumors, and infections.
Tunnel syndrome. Characteristic symptoms of this disorder are tingling, short-term cramps and unpleasant numbness of the fingers due to the fact that the median nerve of the carpal tunnel is compressed. This is an occupational disease, typical for people who make the same movements with their hands, for example, pianists, computer technicians, and packers. Tunnel disorder also manifests itself as a result of injuries, tumors, diabetes, articular arthritis, swelling, and disruption of the endocrine organs. The syndrome begins with minor tingling sensations and gradually gains strength, up to serious pain and cramps. If the disease is not given importance, then the muscle tissue of the big toe gradually dies off (see also - what is evidenced by pain in the big toe).
Staircase syndrome. The main nerve endings located in the brachial plexus are compressed. In the upper extremities and in the shoulder area, sharp or aching pain and numbness, muscle laxity and tingling appear, moving to the fingers, especially often to the little finger and thumb. Manifestations intensify when tilting the head down. The cause of the syndrome is trauma and osteochondrosis of the cervical vertebrae. The nerve roots become overexcited, which leads to muscle spasms. The latter, in turn, compress the subclavian artery and brachial nerve plexus.
Cubital syndrome. Occurs when the ulnar nerve endings are compressed. There is pain, tingling sensations, weakness and a feeling of muscle numbness. The syndrome occurs when frequent awkward postures are taken that negatively affect the elbow nerve. Also, when the nerve fiber thickens, cubital syndrome appears. The nerve does not have enough space between the ligament and the underlying bone, and all the symptoms of the disease appear. Unpleasant symptoms initially appear only after prolonged compression of the nerve and pressure on it. Then he disappears. But if you do not pay attention to the discomfort, the pathology will worsen and become chronic, which leads to atrophy of muscle fibers in the upper extremities.
Unpleasant tingling phenomena in the fingers also appear as a result of stroke, infectious diseases, senile sclerosis, and heart pathologies. Only the help of a specialist, and not self-medication, is necessary for prolonged numbness, cramps and painful tingling in the arms, hands and fingers.
An examination by a neurologist, consultation with a cardiologist and a good endocrinologist are necessary. In terms of treatment procedures, after a thorough examination, there may be: manual therapy;
normalization of diet;
medications to normalize blood circulation and eliminate pain;
drugs against bad cholesterol;
Serious endocrine pathologies and vascular diseases are often cured only by surgery. After the operation, blood circulation in the limbs and conductivity of nerve endings are restored.
Numbness and unpleasant goosebumps in the hands are a sign of many pathologies. Let's learn more about the symptoms of complex diseases that manifest themselves in the form of tingling and require medical attention.
“Needles” in the toes can be natural or pathological. The feet cramp and tingle when wearing tight shoes and after heavy physical activity. These are natural causes of an unpleasant symptom that gradually goes away in a short time. Pathology manifests itself if destructive changes are present, for example, sprains, fractures, arthrosis, varicose veins, arthritis.
Pinched nerve tissue is manifested not only by tingling, but also by numbness, burning, deterioration of motor abilities, and pain. If they are accompanied by nausea, vomiting, fever, numbness in one area of the body, problems with vision and speech, urgent hospitalization is necessary.
Tingling in the lower extremities and fingers is a sign of some diseases: diabetes;
allergy to synthetics;
vascular diseases (thrombophlebitis, varicose veins);
pathologies of the musculoskeletal system (femoral neuralgia, Roth's disease, radicular spine syndrome).
A reaction in the legs in the form of prolonged tingling occurs after prolonged sitting with crossed legs or in an awkward position. In this case, only the skin becomes numb, little blood and oxygen flow to it, and goosebumps appear.
Pressure on blood flow occurs when wearing uncomfortable clothes or shoes. In this case, removing the compression dilates the blood vessels, and the tingling usually goes away quickly. When working sedentarily, it is recommended to take short breaks, during which you should perform simple exercises to normalize blood circulation in the extremities and prevent congestion.
Among the pathologies leading to impaired blood flow, diabetes mellitus occupies a special place. With such a complex endocrine disease, there is not only numbness and stabbing sensations in the legs and fingers, but also pain and bluish skin on the extremities. A complex of such symptoms is called “diabetic foot” in the medical community.
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and gout, which are associated with problems with the immune system and metabolic processes, also complain of tingling on the skin of the extremities. Disturbances in the nerve endings are also typical for quickly excitable people, as well as after serious nervous shocks.
Several specialists should be involved in determining the cause of the unpleasant phenomenon:
For the first time, it is better to make an appointment with a regular therapist, who will prescribe basic examinations and further direction of the diagnostic process. This may be an angiogram (vascular examination), MRI, duplex scanning of the arteries, ultrasound, x-ray, blood or urine tests.
Constant drug treatment is necessary for chronic arthrosis, gout and diabetes. Therapy for neurogenic, neurological and vascular pathologies is selected individually.
For any such pathologies, all doctors recommend normalizing the diet, observing a rest and work regime, and engaging in physical therapy.
Vitamin preparations improve the conductivity of nerve tissue. Blood flow is normalized with calcium antagonists or nootropics. Anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids are also prescribed for pain, and tranquilizers and sedatives for nervous disorders. Complex varicose pathologies, blood clots, and hernias in the spinal canals are eliminated surgically.
Tingling and numbness in the fingers and toes is a serious symptom if it occurs frequently and for a long time. Only a doctor can identify the disease that causes such an unpleasant phenomenon and prescribe appropriate treatment. Timely drug therapy can prevent the spread of the disease and serious consequences.
Numbness in a person's limbs can be a sign of a serious illness. However, on the other hand, paresthesia of the legs and arms does not always indicate some terrible diagnoses. Today we’ll figure out which situations you shouldn’t worry about, and in which situations you should immediately seek help from a specialist in order to get rid of such unpleasant symptoms and, of course, cure the disease itself.
For example, a person sits for a long time with his lower limbs bent, or sleeps in an uncomfortable position. As a result, the legs begin to tingle and “goosebumps” appear. Another case: in a crowded transport, a person is forced to hold on to the handrail for a long time with his right or left hand. As a result, numbness of the upper limbs occurs. In this case, numbness and tingling of the left hand, as well as the right, can be eliminated as follows: straighten the hand, change the position of the body and wait a little until the condition returns to normal.
That is, special treatment for paresthesia in this case is not required. But there are situations when such a symptom appears frequently and does not depend on the position of the limbs. Then consultation with a specialist is required. Based on the examination, the doctor prescribes additional research methods, and then adequate treatment.
Such unpleasant sensations as tingling and numbness of the fingers and toes, burning and “pins and needles” in the extremities are called paresthesia in medicine. Often, such symptoms occur as a result of short-term compression of the nerves due to an uncomfortable posture. In this case, paresthesia is most often one-sided, that is, numbness and tingling occurs in the right arm or, for example, the left leg.
Numbness and tingling of the fingers can indicate serious problems such as osteochondrosis or intervertebral hernia.
In the first disease, the cause of paresthesia is growths on the vertebrae that appear as a result of degenerative changes. And these layers can compress the nerve endings, which leads to such consequences.
If a person has an intervertebral hernia, then the cause of discomfort is compression of the nerve. Most often, strangulation occurs on one side, for example, on the left, which is why numbness and tingling of the left hand is observed.
Paresthesia may be one of the first signs of a stroke or vascular problems. These unhealthy conditions are caused mostly by hypertension or atherosclerosis. Tingling in the hands and numbness in the limbs can also be caused by stress or mental stress. In any case, if a person regularly observes such negative manifestations in himself, he should immediately go to the doctor, since the causes of such ailment may be too serious.
The etiology of paresthesia of the lower extremities of a person can be both diseases of the body and an incorrect lifestyle.
Most often, tingling and numbness in the legs occurs with the following health problems:
Osteochondrosis. Neuropathy - damage to nerve endings in the lower extremities. Intervertebral hernia. Reine's disease. This disease has been little studied in medicine. During this disease, blood circulation in the lower extremities is weakened. Paresthesia of the legs in this case is accompanied by swelling and spasms. Rheumatoid arthritis is a joint disease in which deformation of the knees occurs and the nerves are compressed. This disease is also accompanied by severe pain and swelling in the legs. Multiple sclerosis, which is characterized by lignification of the tissues of the spinal cord and brain. At the same time, a person develops pain in the legs, the limbs go numb. Atherosclerosis. This diagnosis is most often given to people over 50 years of age. During this disease, tingling and numbness occurs in the legs, and the patient also complains of weakness and fatigue.
A very common cause of paresthesia of the limbs is a deficiency of certain substances that are very important for the normal functioning of the body. A lack of vitamin B12, which is responsible for the metabolic processes of the nervous system, can lead to impaired sensitivity of the lower extremities.
Treatment in this case is simple: you need to compensate for the lack of this element and in the future monitor the required content of it in the body.
Pregnant women often experience tingling and numbness in their legs. However, you should not be scared and look for possible diseases accompanied by such a symptom. This is a normal phenomenon, which is associated with changes occurring in the body of a pregnant woman: excess fluid occurs, as a result of which the limbs may swell. In addition, the heart also works for the baby, blood volume increases, which leads to hemodynamic disturbances. In this case, a pregnant woman experiences tingling and numbness in her legs at night or after sleep. In such cases, no treatment is required, because everything will go away after childbirth.
Once the cause of the numbness has been identified and an accurate diagnosis has been made, the patient should follow all the doctor’s recommendations. In addition, there is a whole range of measures that relieve leg fatigue, tension in the spine, and eliminate numbness of the limbs. You should remember or even write down these simple techniques that will help overcome paresthesia:
1. Playing sports. Cycling, swimming, regular walking and other types of similar exercise will help get rid of numbness and tingling in the legs and arms, as well as develop the spine.
2. A healthy lifestyle, which includes quitting smoking and alcohol. If a person drinks alcohol or smokes, a spasm of blood vessels occurs in the body. As a result, tingling and numbness in the legs and arms, cramps and other undesirable symptoms appear.
3. Proper nutrition. The main component of the diet should be warm porridges - oatmeal, buckwheat, pearl barley. Also don't forget about fresh vegetables and fruits.
4. Hypothermia of the body should not be allowed during the cold season.
5. Contrast baths. Daily treatments with hot and cold water will ease the physical condition of your feet. To do this, you need to alternately lower your limbs for half a minute in a container with the heated liquid as much as possible, and then with an ice-cold liquid. The procedure should be carried out in the morning and evening, and after such a bath you should lubricate your feet with turpentine ointment and put on warm socks so as not to get sick.
Now you know that the causes of such unpleasant sensations as tingling and numbness in the legs and arms can be very different. And such symptoms should not always be considered as a sign of some terrible illness. Indeed, often an incorrect posture can be the reason for the appearance of “goosebumps”, and then no treatment is required. However, if tingling and numbness occurs frequently, then a person needs to consult a doctor to find out the cause of such symptoms and overcome the disease in time.
Manifestations of paresthesia - a condition characterized by a sensation of “crawling goosebumps”, tingling with “needles”, numbness of certain parts of the body (for example, fingers) - are probably familiar to everyone. If you have ever had to sit on your leg, then you know what a sensitivity disorder is.
Paresthesia can be transient (short-term) or chronic.
You should not be afraid of passing paresthesia; in most cases, it goes away quite quickly on its own, since it is caused by obvious reasons that are easy to eliminate. We are talking about direct mechanical irritation of a nerve lying close to the surface.
When you sit for a long time or fall asleep in an uncomfortable position that leads to disruption of blood supply to a limb, or receive a sharp blow to the nerve area, numbness and tingling are considered normal reactions of the body. If you change your position or stretch the affected area, literally in a couple of minutes the numbness of the limbs will disappear without a trace. But chronic paresthesia can be symptoms of a number of diseases (from mild to intractable) and most often indicate damage to the nervous system or some of its parts.
The most common causes of chronic sensory loss in the feet, palms, and fingers and toes are osteochondrosis, carpal tunnel syndrome, and diabetes mellitus.
With osteochondrosis, “needles” are felt for no apparent reason, the tongue and hands may become numb, and certain areas of the skin may lose sensitivity. If, along with chronic paresthesia, headaches and dizziness are observed, as well as characteristic pain in the back or neck, the presence of degenerative changes in the cartilage and vertebral discs should be suspected.
The result of such changes is pinching of the nerve roots. In the human body, the nerve can be compressed by hard parts of the spine for years, gradually losing the ability to fully perform its functions, and it is not always possible to correct the situation even through surgical intervention.
If you work at a computer for a long time and begin to feel numbness in your fingers along with pain, tingling, or a burning sensation, you may be talking about carpal tunnel syndrome, in which discomfort can eventually spread to the palm and the entire arm up to the elbow. The reason is the compression of the median nerve by the inflamed tendons of the wrist muscles: this misfortune often plagues sign language interpreters, pianists, computer typing operators, and artists.
Diabetes mellitus can lead to a noticeable loss of sensitivity in the extremities like “gloves” or “socks”: such numbness is one of the characteristic signs of diabetic neuropathy, in which the affected peripheral blood vessels do not provide the nerve fibers with sufficient nutrition, weakening their functions.
In addition, the reasons for the appearance of “goosebumps” and tingling in the fingers and toes may be:
scars or tumors pressing on peripheral nerves; exacerbation of herpes zoster caused by the herpesvirus Varicella zoster; decreased levels of potassium, sodium, or calcium in the body; disruption of the blood supply to certain areas as a result of frostbite, atherosclerotic changes or vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels); vitamin B12 deficiency; multiple sclerosis; migraine attack; general intoxication of the body after insect bites or poisoning from spoiled food; transient ischemic attack; Raynaud's disease; problems with the thyroid gland.
It should be remembered that sometimes unpleasant tingling in the fingers or toes (“like needles”) occurs not as a manifestation of the disease, but as a side effect of treatment. If you are undergoing a course of conservative treatment and periodically feel tingling in your palms, feet, or toes while taking medications, consult your doctor to stop or change the medication that is causing the paresthesia.
It is not recommended to stop treatment or change the dose of the drug on your own. If your limbs are numb, it is easier to injure them, so until your visit to the clinic, try to reliably protect yourself from accidental cuts, burns and bruises.
A single instance of short-term numbness or tingling caused by an obvious cause (such as injury) is not a reason to panic. But if a symptom recurs or does not go away, and its genesis is not completely clear, it is better to consult a specialist - a therapist or neurologist.
You should not hesitate, especially if the tingling in the palms or soles of the feet is replaced by pain or is accompanied by frequent urination, the appearance of a rash or swelling, dizziness, muscle spasms or weakness.
If, against the background of a deterioration in the general condition, the patient cannot move and control his limbs, loses consciousness or complains of problems with hearing, vision and speech, it is better to call a doctor at home as an emergency - perhaps we are talking about critical damage to the central nervous system, so action must be taken without delay.
To determine the cause of paresthesia, the doctor will prescribe a series of examinations, including a general blood test, screening for the presence of toxins or heavy metals (if there are prerequisites for this), examination of the condition and functions of the thyroid gland and nervous system, measurement of the level of electrolytes in the blood, liver tests.
If spinal pathology is suspected, additional instrumental studies are prescribed: magnetic resonance or computed tomography, ultrasound of blood vessels (carotid and vertebral arteries), electromyography.