Many people complain about a numb big toe, because such a phenomenon causes inconvenience and, in addition, makes you worry. So what is the reason for this problem and what should be done in such cases?
Quite often, numbness and loss of sensation in the fingers occurs due to pinching of a blood vessel or nerve ending, which often happens when sitting for a long time in an uncomfortable position or wearing shoes with a narrow toe. But, unfortunately, a numb big toe can also be a symptom of a host of diseases:
What you should pay attention to
Of course, such conditions can be accompanied by other symptoms. For example, numbness may be accompanied by a burning or tingling sensation. It is worth paying attention to the condition of the whole organism: is there any weakness, shortness of breath, dizziness, fever, etc. It is important to note whether loss of sensation occurs in all fingers or on both feet at once - this is extremely important for the diagnostic process. In any case, if your finger is numb and does not go away, you should seek help from a doctor. After all, the sooner the cause of such a disorder is discovered, the greater the chances of quick and effective treatment without complications.
Numb big toe: identifying the cause
In fact, therapy directly depends on the cause of this symptom, since it is necessary to treat the primary disease. For this purpose, the patient is prescribed some tests and tests, including x-ray examination. An examination by a neurologist is also required, given that quite often the cause is a disruption of the normal functioning of the peripheral nervous system. Only after collecting anamnesis and reviewing the examination results will a specialist be able to determine the disease and prescribe effective treatment.
When your fingers constantly go numb and lose sensitivity, this process is accompanied by pain and impaired mobility of the limbs, you should be wary and, by consulting a doctor, determine the cause: this may be the beginning of inflammatory processes in the body, signal diabetes, multiple sclerosis, pathology of the intervertebral discs and even a cancerous tumor.
Loss of sensitivity in the fingers is a state of numbness, accompanied by an unpleasant tingling sensation, which is accompanied by pain and impaired mobility in the joints of the fingers. The fingers of both hands can go numb at the same time, sometimes loss of sensitivity occurs in only one - the right or left limb.
Every person has experienced a partial or complete loss of sensitivity in the fingers at least once in their life: this is how the limbs react to prolonged immobility, monotonous work, heavy stress, and frostbite. There is nothing wrong with this: this reaction does not cause serious consequences and goes away in a few minutes, you just have to change your position, give your fingers a rest or warm them up.
In some cases, this condition is a reaction to impaired blood supply, frost, repetitive movements, compression of nerves (with a drawing pencil), overload or, conversely, prolonged immobility and is often accompanied by numbness of the entire arm. This condition disappears within two to three minutes as soon as the arm returns to its normal state or when the extremities warm up (as a result of frostbite).
If sensitivity to the fingers does not return for a long time and is chronic, this signals a disease in the body and may be associated with inflammation, injury, diabetes, dehydration, vitamin deficiency, multiple sclerosis, menopause, low or high blood sugar, trauma, migraine , narrowing of blood vessels and other ailments.
Sometimes the fingers become numb due to medication, and in some cases they lose sensitivity as a result of prolonged stress.
The exact cause of loss of sensitivity in the fingers can only be determined by a thorough examination. It is advisable not to hesitate: some cases require urgent medical intervention.
You should be especially wary if, along with loss of sensitivity in your fingers, paralysis, impaired perception, vomiting, nausea, slurred speech, and loss of vision are observed: this may be a sign of a stroke. If the fingers of your left hand go numb, along with chest pain, nausea and difficulty breathing, this is a sign of a heart attack and you should seek medical help immediately.
One of the most common causes of loss of sensitivity in the fingers is carpal tunnel syndrome, when due to fractures of the hands, monotonous movements, inflammation of the joints, the vessels that supply the median nerve with blood are compressed, which leads to loss of sensitivity in the fingers, they begin to tingle, sometimes a pulsating sensation is felt. pain.
Numbness of the fingers sometimes indicates the presence of tunnel neuropathy: the nerve trunks of the spinal cord are connected to the fingertips by special canals, which, passing between the vertebrae, narrow in some places, causing the nerves to be compressed and numbness of the extremities occurs.
Sometimes loss of sensitivity signals Raynaud's disease, which is characterized by spasms of the vessels of the terminal phalanges of the fingers (this is especially common in women aged 20 to 40 years), when the fingers begin to freeze, ache and turn pale in the cold for no particular reason. These cramps are so strong that first the tips of the fingers turn white, then turn blue, then turn red, and if treatment is not treated in time, the disease leads to the loss of limbs.
Considering that numbness in the fingers can be associated with a variety of diseases (sometimes the source is quite far away), to determine the exact cause, you should definitely consult a doctor, first a therapist, then, possibly, a neurologist.
After a detailed examination, they will either rule out or confirm the presence of a serious disease. To begin with, examinations are usually prescribed aimed at identifying problems with the spine: for this, it is often enough to conduct a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography, which makes it possible to determine with one hundred percent accuracy the presence of pathology of the intervertebral discs. If the problem is different, you will need to undergo additional examinations.
After an accurate diagnosis is established, appropriate treatment is prescribed, which usually involves taking medications, vitamins, ointments, massage, physiotherapy, and physical therapy. Particular attention is paid to the patient’s daily routine: in no case should you overexert yourself and forget about rest, avoid hypothermia, physical and mental stress, which negatively affect the nervous system.
It is very important to eat right while treating numbness. Porridges are extremely healthy, especially oatmeal and buckwheat, which contain iron and a huge amount of micro- and macroelements. You should avoid drinking strong tea, coffee, and alcoholic beverages, which cause vasoconstriction, and replace them with fruit juices.
Particular attention should be paid to physical education: gymnastics, swimming, walking well disperse the blood and reduce the manifestation of numbness. At the same time, you should not engage in cycling or lift weights.
When working on a computer or other activities that involve straining your wrists, you should take a break once an hour and perform specially selected exercises aimed at relaxing your wrist and fingers.
If your fingers have lost sensitivity due to circulatory problems, then after consulting a doctor, you can do the following procedures:
Why do the toes on my left foot go numb? In this article we will answer the most common question from patients. It is asked to doctors in medical institutions and on the Internet. Very often, even young children ask their parents: “Why do my toes go numb?” In this article we will try to find answers to these questions - read carefully.
The first answer to this question is that you may have lost sensation in your toes as a result of poor circulation. Try to do self-massage. If this does not help, then in this case you will need to seek advice from specialists.
If you realize that you have lost sensation in the toes of your left foot, then contact doctors such as:
So, if you just sat on your leg, or you started to experience numbness after a long sleep, then you don’t have to worry. Your limbs are fine, you are healthy.
Often a person (both an adult and a child) can crush their left leg under their own weight. If you somehow sit down awkwardly and turn your left leg, this causes pressure on the blood vessels and capillaries. When you don’t feel your legs after a night’s rest, be patient a little - walk, stretch your limbs and blood circulation should be restored.
An alarming symptom of limb numbness is the lack of response of the lower extremities to high or low temperatures. That is, if you put your left foot under hot water and then under cold water and do not understand the temperature difference, then immediately consult a doctor.
Let's try to find the answer to the question: Why is the sensitivity of the toes of the left foot lost?
There can really be many reasons for this. A very common occurrence is:
All of the above reasons lead to the fact that the nerve endings of a person’s left limb are compressed and all this leads to loss of sensitivity.
Often, not all the toes of the left foot may go numb, but only, for example, one big toe. Do not ignore such symptoms under any circumstances! The earlier you identify a possible illness, the higher the chances of a positive prognosis.
Other more serious causes of numbness in the toes of the left foot may include pathological situations such as:
Some people may not suffer from alcohol addiction, but, for example, after drinking one glass of wine, they begin to experience pathological destruction of blood vessels. No need to expose your body to bad habits!
Complete numbness of the toes of the left foot can occur with diseases such as:
This is indeed a very simple reason, but still, the toes of the left foot can become numb due to constantly wearing tight, narrow shoes. Often women who wear heels all day long return home complaining of numbness in the toes of their left foot. Of course, both legs can be affected by numbness. Try replacing your shoes with looser ones and compare how you feel.
If you are tired after a hard day at work, you may also experience numbness in your limbs. In this case, you need to rest. Do a self-massage of your feet or take a relaxing shower (bath).
Try to move more, in particular, do preventative exercises in the morning. Again, if the limbs are numb, then, as a rule, a regular walk can restore blood circulation. You can easily eliminate numbness in your left toes without using medications.
At least for a while, try to give up bad habits, start taking multivitamin complexes (they can be purchased at any pharmacy).
Is the cause of numbness in the limbs a disease? In this case, you will not be able to eliminate the pain syndrome on your own without preliminary diagnosis.
Today, make an appointment with a doctor - for example, a surgeon, a neurologist, as well as a phlebologist and therapist. These specialists will help you undergo appropriate diagnosis and prescribe therapy.
To temporarily relieve pain in your toes, you can resort to some traditional methods:
Remember! Self-medication of symptoms in the body such as loss of sensitivity can lead to very serious consequences! Don't put your health at risk!
Numbness of the thumb is manifested by unpleasant sensations of loss of flexibility and sensitivity of the limb. It happens that it is accompanied by burning, tingling, chilliness, and tightening of the skin. Numbness occurs when the passage of nerve impulses to the brain from receptors is disrupted. When changing body position, sensitivity usually returns quickly. However, when, after changing a position, unpleasant sensations do not leave a person, this indicates the presence of a serious illness.
Dr. Ignatiev's clinic specializes in issues of numbness of the big toe. In a short time, doctors get rid of the annoying problem.
First of all, the legs become numb due to impaired innervation. This is called paresthesia.
The main cause of numbness in the toes is very likely to be osteochondrosis. If you pay insufficient attention to the treatment of this disease, you can get various complications affecting the musculoskeletal system. Since the spine underlies the entire structure of the body, it requires timely treatment. Osteochondrosis is characterized by narrowed intervertebral spaces and pinched nerves. Scoliosis, radiculitis, and intervertebral hernias can cause numbness of the big toe.
Metabolic disorders can lead to a feeling of muteness in the thumb . A disease such as gout is especially common. It affects the joints of the big toes and causes numbness.
Disorders in the functioning of the arterial vessels located in the legs can contribute to the formation of various unpleasant sensations. Inflammation of the vascular walls leads to the formation of deposits, which disrupts the natural blood circulation of the legs. Carpal tunnel syndrome, along with nerve injuries, can lead to numbness in the big toe.
There are other diseases that can cause numbness:
Numbness of the thumb occurs as a result of impaired blood flow in a specific part of the body or due to nerve damage. Impaired sensitivity can be the result of infection, injury, inflammation, or other inflammatory processes. In a huge number of cases, numbness of the thumb is associated with diseases that are not life-threatening, but sometimes it indicates the presence of a tumor or stroke. Numbness in the thumb is often associated with pain and is accompanied by sensory disturbances, tingling and burning. Depending on the underlying cause, the numbness may disappear quickly, for example during sleep if you place your hand behind your head. Then the unpleasant sensations disappear after several movements of the limb. Chronic numbness of the thumb over a long period of time indicates damage to a certain nerve due to, for example, multiple sclerosis or diabetes. Also, chronic numbness indicates a pinched nerve, as with carpal tunnel syndrome. In any situation, numbness that lasts several minutes deserves close attention from medical personnel.
Symptoms that accompany numbness:
There are a number of symptoms that often accompany numbness and can be signs of serious conditions. These features should be taken into account by doctors, since it is often necessary to provide emergency medical care and perform therapeutic procedures.
These are the symptoms:
Based on the history of the disease, the collected anamnesis, physical examination, study of symptoms, he prescribes a general examination plan. It necessarily includes instrumental and laboratory techniques. High-precision, modern methods are of great help in making the correct diagnosis in a short time and identifying the causes of numbness of the big toe. Usually an MRI of the spine, ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, and x-rays are prescribed.
Dr. Ignatiev’s clinic works in the treatment of diseases of the spine and the entire musculoskeletal system. Specialists with many years of experience and high qualifications conduct thorough research. We have modern digital equipment that can detect hidden lesions in the spine. Today, doctors use their own proprietary treatment methods, which allows for recovery much faster.
Do you wake up in the morning and feel like your big toe is numb? For the most part, this symptom does not depend on the time of day, but many patients notice it after a night's sleep. If numbness is accompanied by symptoms such as rash, peeling and cracking of the skin of the feet, we recommend that you go to the doctors as soon as possible.
The vast majority of people who complain that their big toes are numb are guilty of wearing shoes that are too tight. Even if you buy shoes and boots strictly according to size, do not forget that in the evening your feet and ankles may slightly increase in size, swelling from stress. That is why orthopedists advise purchasing shoes in which you can move your toes freely. This is especially true for lovers of long walks.
Has your big toe gone numb for no apparent reason? Examine it carefully - perhaps you, without knowing it, are suffering from corns. As a rule, this trouble worries mainly women - the culprit is the addiction to narrow shoes and high heels. By the way, corns can also lead to more serious troubles: for example, to deformation of the foot and the appearance of a so-called “bone,” which can only be removed surgically. Therefore, try to at least alternate wearing dress pumps with something more comfortable, such as ballet flats and sneakers. Then your fingers will not swell.
If your big toe is numb, this may indicate serious health problems: arthritis, arthrosis, flat feet, too high an instep, bursitis, or even avascular necrosis, that is, bone necrosis due to impaired blood supply. You should not ignore this symptom and hope that everything will go away on its own; it is better to get examined by an orthopedist.
Is your big toe numb and painful? You may have broken a joint or bone. Even an ordinary bruise can cause numbness, which, however, quickly passes.
In medicine, this term refers to a tumor of nervous tissue. By the way, such unnatural nerve growth is most often observed in the toes. In the future, the formation can spread to the entire foot and interfere with walking.
Patients suffering from diabetes are very familiar with this symptom - they constantly complain that their big toe is numb. Without proper treatment, the fingers may have to be completely amputated. Ignoring this sign is strictly prohibited!
This option generally resembles the previous one, with the only difference that it is observed mainly in people who abuse alcohol. As you know, it destroys nerve cells, including those in the feet.
To summarize the above, it can be noted that if the big toe is numb, it is often impossible to identify the cause of this phenomenon on your own. If changing your shoes and general foot care do not help you, be sure to consult a doctor.
Suddenly I discovered that the little toe on my right foot felt nothing. It moves normally, but I don’t feel any touch. The skin is of normal color, the neighboring fingers feel everything. But the little finger is not even close. How numb. Within a week I noticed that this “dumb” area had increased.
Didn’t hit me, I remember exactly, didn’t freeze me.
What could it be? What to do? Can anyone give me some advice?
Loss of sensation in the 5th toe and “just next to it” is a clinical sign of impaired innervation of the toe. The branch of the peroneal nerve is responsible for the innervation of this zone. The causes of innervation disturbance may be: traumatic injuries in a given area of the skin, initial manifestations of some type of polyneuropathy, osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral spine, the presence of a disc herniation in this section. And the examination should begin with this part of the spine, even if there is no pain there. You should contact a neurologist.
I wouldn’t like to scare you, but this may be a manifestation of vascular atherosclerosis, so I would advise you to consult a doctor as soon as possible. If redness or blueness suddenly appears, even in a very small area of skin on the finger, go to the hospital immediately. I hope there is nothing wrong with you - good health!
I asked the question, and, oddly enough, I know the answer. Because all this happened to me 1.5 years ago.
I wasn't kidding. I just thought: maybe someone knows traditional methods of treatment? But it turned out that we have excellent medical specialists, but those who are not doctors will (unfortunately) rely only on doctors. Although I think that everyone who read my question checked themselves, just in case. And that's good.
But I found out what they would have written in my outpatient card if I had gone to see a doctor. And these are problems with the medical examination, which I don’t really need (more precisely, I don’t need it at all).
And now the correct answer.
Doctors saved my life three times. And this very life taught that “rely on the doctor, but don’t make a mistake yourself.” That is, every health problem (I’m talking about mine) has a root cause due to which the problem appeared. All that remains is to find it (the reason).
That's what I did in this case too. Why doesn't the little finger feel anything? I searched for a month. At first I thought about a computer chair - I lowered it lower, then I thought that I was holding my feet wrong when I was sitting - I began to position it differently. I was wondering if I had frostbite? It was slightly, but I froze both feet at once, why did one finger suffer? I started thinking about shoes. And I remembered that a month and a half ago at work (we give them out) I changed my shoes, old ones for new ones. And it’s at work that I wear shoes the most. And, although it was a pity, I threw out the new thing and replaced it with other shoes. And literally a week later my little finger began to feel. I was pleased.
Another case of how a doctor helped, without knowing it, to determine the cause of pain.
My shoulder began to hurt at work. And my work is physical. That's why I thought it was because of work. I endured it for two months, hoping that it would go away on its own. On the third I couldn’t stand it and went to the doctor. She sent me to sick leave and prescribed pills and injections. The pain went away and I went to work. I didn't get sick at work. And after work, the cause of the pain became clear. It turned out to be my cat. The thing is that when I come home from work, I sit on a bench in the hallway, the cat jumps on my shoulder, I stroke it - it purrs. And the pain was due to the fact that I was holding the cat uncomfortably close to me, my arm was twisted in the joint and my shoulder began to hurt over time. Now I hold my hand easier, and my shoulder doesn’t hurt.
These are the lessons of life. I wish you to be more attentive to your health.
Numbness of the toes is an extremely unpleasant symptom that is recommended to be eliminated as soon as possible. After all, loss of sensation in the legs or fingers causes a lot of inconvenience. What should you do if your fingers go numb? What does this mean and where should you go to find out the cause and get treatment? We will talk about this in the article.
If your big toe has recently started to go numb, then no matter how strange it may be, pay attention to the shoes you are wearing? No, we are not talking about indoor shoes, but about the ones you wear outside. Is it comfortable? Made from natural materials? Does your shoes rub or not? If you just recently bought shoes, then you may not be surprised why you are losing sensitivity in your big toe.
Often it is women who complain about numbness of the big toe, since they walk in heels for at least 8 hours of working time. And, as you know, the anatomical structure of the human spine does not allow for walking on toes. After all, this is what a woman looks like in high heels.
Therefore, if you have numbness in your big toe, the first thing to do is pay attention to the shoes you wear every day.
Uncomfortable, tight shoes are a common cause of numbness in the big toe.
It is typical that after removing shoes, a person may feel a slight tingling sensation, as well as itching in the limb. This means that sensitivity to your fingers should return soon.
Numbness of the thumb can occur if you have been in the cold for a long time.
Cold and frost are the cause of numbness not only in the toes, but also in the foot as a whole.
What to do if you lose feeling in your toes? Or just one thumb? You need to remove uncomfortable shoes and only after that massage your feet well. You can restore sensitivity in your toes with a contrast shower. First, pour hot water over your feet, and then cold water, and so on several times. Then put on warm socks and go to rest.
Also, remember! If your professional activity involves constantly spending time on your feet, then give preference to comfortable comfortable shoes made from natural materials. Beauty is beauty, but your health comes first.
After we have found out that one of the causes of numbness of the big toe may be uncomfortable shoes and prolonged exposure to cold air, we move on to describing the reasons for concern.
What to do if your big toe starts to go numb at night? This cannot be the result of wearing uncomfortable shoes.
In this case, you need to seek help from a neurologist the very next day.
As a rule, numbness of the big toe on the left/right leg or on both at once indicates a malfunction of the lumbar spine. Physiologically, the thumbs of the lower extremities are powered by impulses that come from the lumbar vertebrae.
If the vertebrae are affected by an inflammatory or infectious process, for example, osteochondrosis, there is a hernia of the spine, as well as protrusion of the spine, this leads to numbness of the big toe.
Numbness of the big toe can be the result of a pathological course in the body. And in this case, you will not be able to cope with either the symptoms of the disease or cure the cause on your own.
Numbness of the big toe can begin due to neurological diseases, namely due to polyneuropathy. What is polyneuropathy and how does it affect the sensitivity of the toes?
So, polyneuropathy is an extremely complex disease of the central nervous system, namely the peripheral part. Moreover, this disease rarely responds to conservative therapy.
When a person's metabolism is disrupted, the body begins to be affected by toxins.
The disease polyneuropathy is a real leader among the common causes of loss of sensation in the limb. With polyneuropathy, numbness of the big toe initially begins, then the entire foot becomes numb. A person begins to have a pathological gait disorder, he sways from side to side, and his gait is unsteady.
If the thumb suddenly begins to go numb, then turns red, swells and hurts, then this indicates the formation of gout.
Gout is a pathology that is directly related to the release of large amounts of uric acid. Moreover, if uric acid, which begins to accumulate in the joint, leads to numbness, that is, loss of sensitivity of those fingers to which certain fingers are closest.
People at risk for gout include people who are overweight, as well as those who eat large amounts of protein foods.
If you suspect gout inflammation, you should consult a rheumatologist.
Some of the causes of numbness in the big toes have been discussed above. Of course, these are not all the reasons why numbness may begin.
Numbness of the thumb can begin due to the formation of:
What to do if your toes go numb? First of all, you need to contact specialists: a rheumatologist, traumatologist, surgeon, and also a therapist. You may have to undergo certain blood tests that will confirm or deny the presence of a particular pathology.
To prevent loss of feeling in your toes, you need to pay attention to your diet. Add more fresh foods to your diet and eliminate coffee, alcoholic drinks, and strong black tea.
Remember that those at risk include those who are overweight.
To prevent numbness of the big toe, you need to do gymnastics at least periodically, and also take contrast baths.
If we talk about drug therapy, then anti-inflammatory medications are used, as well as painkillers. Be sure to start taking vitamin-mineral complexes.