What is numbness?
Numbness occurs when you lose sensation, either partially or entirely, in a part of your body. You may not be able to feel pain, temperature, or even touch. You may also experience a tingling or “pins-and-needles” sensation or have trouble with your coordination or balance, which could lead to problems walking or driving.
What causes tingling and numbness?
Tingling and numbness are often symptoms of a nervous system dysfunction, such as a compressed nerve in your spine or a neurological disorder.
Physical conditions that can cause numbness to include:
- Herniated discs
- Degenerative disc disease
- Spinal cord injuries or tumors
- Peripheral nerve compression
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
Neurological conditions that cause numbness include:
- Multiple sclerosis
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Parkinson’s disease
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Raynaud’s disease
- Sjogren’s syndrome
- Brachial plexus injury
- Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system
All these conditions and injuries disrupt the neural pathways between your body and brain. Disruptions can occur anywhere in your nervous system and are often due to inflammation that compresses a nerve. Over an extended period of time, compression can lead to permanent nerve damage.
How is numbness diagnosed?
The doctor offers extensive physical exams and diagnostic testing to identify the cause of your numbness and tingling sensations. During your consultation, he discusses your symptoms and reviews your medical history. Details like how quickly the numbness started, when it began, and its location in your body can help the doctor determine the underlying condition.
He also performs a thorough physical exam, where he checks your reflexes as well as the sensation in your feet, legs, hands, and arms. In some cases, he may order blood work and diagnostic imaging tests, such as an MRI or CT scan, to look for other clues or rule out certain conditions.
How are tingling and numbness treated?
Your customized treatment plan depends on the condition responsible for your symptoms. The doctor focuses your treatment on relieving your symptoms and reducing your risk of falling and injuring yourself. If you have a neurological condition, he also focuses on managing the underlying disease.
If you frequently experience numbness and tingling in your feet, legs, or anywhere else in your body, call or schedule an appointment online today for expert diagnosis and care.
