The most common causes of numbness in body parts

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The feeling of numbness in the limbs is called paresthesia in medicine (from the Greek words “πᾰρά” - “outside, around, past” and “aisthesis” - “sensation”). This is the loss of normal tissue sensitivity due to impaired transmission of nerve impulses. It seems to a person that he is being touched through a layer of cotton wool.

Occurs at any age, often accompanied by tingling and goosebumps. It may be a physiological condition associated with prolonged compression of a nerve or blood vessels while in an uncomfortable position. When changing position, sensitivity is quickly restored. If the sensation is repeated, is not associated with an uncomfortable position, and lasts a long time, it requires diagnosis, as it may be a symptom of a dangerous disease.

Types of numbness

When parts of the body go numb, the body reacts in this way to harmful environmental conditions. Sometimes the symptom manifests itself in more complex situations, during a stroke or atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the types of ailment, when it relates to the body’s normal reaction to irritation and requires therapy; the participation of specialists is rarely required.

Let's figure out what kind of numbness you don't need to go to the hospital for:

• Transient, lasting several minutes without repetition.
• After prolonged sitting or lying down.
• Minor tingling, goosebumps.

When you need specialist advice:

• Symptoms recur from time to time.
• Do not stop for a long period.
• In addition to tingling, it is accompanied by a burning sensation, uncontrolled urination, and gagging.

Numbness of the first type often occurs due to prolonged immobility of the limbs. At first, the temperature may change, tingling appears after interaction with cold. If numbness does not disappear after massage procedures, you need to contact a specialist.

Accompanying symptoms

Often paresthesia is accompanied by other symptoms that are characteristic of certain pathologies.

• Painful sensations. Pain is always alarming. Unpleasant sensations can affect the area of ​​the limbs, shoulder blades, neck, and ribs. In combination with numbness - harbingers of a heart attack or stroke.
• Goosebumps. After being in an uncomfortable position for a long time, a slight tingling sensation may appear in the left hand. If the sensation occurs regularly, it is a symptom of dehydration, hormonal imbalance, heart attack, vitamin B deficiency, Raynaud's syndrome, hernia or tumor in the spine.
• Burning. Numbness accompanied by this unpleasant symptom is characteristic of osteochondrosis, fibromyalgia, intercostal neuralgia, polyneuropathy, and poisoning with toxic substances.

Causes

Numbness often occurs as a result of compression of nerve fibers or poor blood circulation in tissues. This happens when a person does not change his position for a long time.

CNS disorders manifest themselves in a similar way. Unilateral paresthesia is considered an alarming sign. To eliminate this condition, it is necessary to carry out diagnostic procedures to determine what specifically provoked them.

Symptoms

Numbness of the limbs often occurs. Signs may appear temporarily or persistently and over a long period of time. Sometimes pain is felt, dizziness, weakness, movement and speech function are difficult, and pathologies develop.

When the limbs become numb due to pinching of nerve fibers or impaired blood supply, therapy is not used. In this situation, it is enough to change your position and rub the numb area. Often, numbness occurs due to hypothermia, in order to restore sensitivity, you need to warm up.

In other situations, numbness in the body does not disappear after changing posture or massaging. You should consult a doctor if this occurs constantly and is accompanied by other signs. It is necessary to be examined in a situation where numbness is felt after an injury.

Causes

We list the diseases that cause numbness:

• Radicular syndrome often causes paresthesia, with numbness occurring in the fingers or part of the upper limb, sometimes a burning sensation occurs, worsening at night.
• Polyneuropathy occurs in patients with diabetes when, after a metabolic disorder, blood vessels and nerve fibers begin to deteriorate due to prolonged abnormally high concentrations of glucose. In such situations, numbness occurs symmetrically on both limbs.
• Stroke is the most dangerous cause of this condition. Damage to the brain structures responsible for the functioning of individual parts of the body causes numbness. After a stroke, one side always fails, depending on the hemisphere in which the hemorrhage occurred. Other signs include motor dysfunction.
• Neoplasms in the brain can compress organ tissue and impair normal functioning. Symptoms appear gradually.
• Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disorder of the central nervous system, which is characterized by compression of fragments of nerve tissue. As a result, numbness appears, sensitivity worsens, and vision problems.

Causes of numbness include Raynaud's disease, in which the blood supply to nerve tissue deteriorates, atherosclerosis, or the consequences of surgery in various parts of the body.

Radicular syndromes

Such pathologies include radiculitis, inflammation, vascular dysfunction, intervertebral hernia and mechanical compression of the nerve roots located in the spine. As a rule, if a person suffers from radicular syndrome, then in this case the patient complains that his finger (or several) or part of his hand is numb. In such situations, the entire limb loses sensitivity much less often.

Sometimes there is also a burning sensation in the extremities, which may worsen at night.

Limbs

Numbness on the left side of the body occurs most often in middle-aged people. At the same time, a burning sensation or coldness is felt. Causes may be congenital or acquired. Problems with sensitivity indicate the appearance of disorders of the nervous system, heart and blood vessels.

Paresthesia appears in the following conditions:

• Heart attack.
• Ischemic disorders.
• Osteochondrosis.
• Brain hemorrhage.
• Problems with blood vessels in the head.

The ischemic disorder causes persistent numbness in the left limb. At the same time, pain in the sternum and heart is detected. The sensitivity of the left hand and forearm worsens. After a heart attack, my arms and left leg go numb. Trying to eliminate the symptoms on your own is undesirable; you need to seek help from a doctor.

You'll have to call an ambulance or go to the hospital. In case of such problems, a comprehensive examination by cardiologists and other specialists is carried out. With the help of modern equipment, the reason why the body goes numb is determined.

After this, the doctor prescribes treatment, which involves taking medications and following general recommendations:

• Quitting alcohol and smoking.
• Strong coffee is eliminated from the diet.
• Hot food and cereals are included in the diet.
• It is recommended to play sports, run, exercise in the pool, skiing.

Prevention stabilizes the blood supply system, ensuring uninterrupted blood flow to the arms and legs.

Multiple sclerosis

Speaking about why the right side goes numb, it is worth considering this disease. This disease is a chronic pathology of the central nervous system. In this case, part of the nerve tissue of the brain begins to be replaced by connective tissue. Firstly, with multiple sclerosis, patients complain that their right hand and other limbs are numb. They become difficult to control.

Additional symptoms include visual impairment and other signs of central nervous system disease.

Right side

Numbness on the right side of the body is not studied as an independent disease. Often, symptomatic manifestations indicate inflammation in the body and systemic disorders.

As an exception, hypothermia or deterioration of skin sensitivity with prolonged compression is considered.

Let's look at the reasons:

• Hernia in the spine.
• Neoplasms on the back.
• Stroke.
• Joint damage.
• Bad heredity.
• Sclerosis.

Sensitivity in the right side worsens after increased concentrations of heavy metals or diabetes. Therapy for paresthesia will be determined by the causes of the disease, which manifests itself after some examinations. If the problem with skin sensitivity is caused by prolonged compression, uncomfortable position or radicular syndrome, you will need massage and gymnastics.

To stretch small muscles, use:

• To improve the work of the hand, balls or walnuts should be placed in the palm of your hand, covered with the other hand and performed in a circular motion.
• The feet can be kneaded with warm, firm peas.

When paresthesia is provoked by other pathologies, therapy is determined by the attending physician. Therapy is performed using medications.

Brain tumors

If a person’s right hand or left side of the body goes numb, then perhaps in this case we are talking about neoplasms that compress the surrounding areas of brain tissue, which leads to disruption of their performance.

Against this background, severe headaches often appear, it becomes difficult for the patient to move, vision deteriorates, weakness appears, and arms and legs begin to move much worse. Additionally, patients suffer from poor appetite.

As a rule, in this case we are also talking about unilateral numbness on the right side of the body or on the left. However, in some situations, problems may be observed only in the extremities. It is worth noting that unpleasant symptoms do not appear acutely, but increase over time.

In what situations does numbness indicate illness?

Some people need to learn to understand when it is best to pay more attention to their health. You have to sound the alarm when numbness of the body is observed for a long time and often. In this case, people lose control of their limbs and become unable to move them.

It is necessary to take into account the characteristics of the skin. When people's fingers go numb or their skin changes color, they need to see a doctor as soon as possible. It is difficult for patients to talk when sensitivity in the face and chin deteriorates. Swelling occurs periodically.

When sensation worsens around the waist, it becomes difficult to control bowel movements and urination. In such situations, you need to consult a doctor for therapy.

Such signs are not always a cause for concern when a person does not change position for a long time. If it’s cold outside and gloves don’t help, your fingers get very cold, sensitivity and the ability to control the function of your limbs deteriorate. Numbness should not lead to negative thoughts if a person simply rests his legs or rests his arm. But if the sensitivity of the limb does not resume after some time, you need to contact specialists for help.

Numb fingers

When people suffer from loss of sensation in the fingers or experience severe pain, there is a change in the color of the limbs, in such a situation the issue of vasospasm is considered. A similar condition is typical for Raynaud's syndrome, intervertebral hernia, scleroderma, and osteochondrosis.

Suspicions of osteochondrosis arise if not only the limb goes numb, but also the head begins to hurt; therapy is determined by a specialist. When loss of sensation occurs in the little or ring fingers, neuropathy occurs.

Diagnostics

Numbness of the torso on the left is a serious symptom of dysfunction of the nervous system. If numbness occurs regularly, you should consult a specialist who will prescribe a series of tests to make a diagnosis:

• Study of anamnesis. The doctor will listen to the patient, get acquainted with the symptoms and find out about the presence of chronic diseases.
• If stroke or ischemia is suspected, CT and MRI of the head are prescribed.
• The quality of blood circulation, the presence of blood clots, blockages and cholesterol plaques will allow you to evaluate ultrasound of blood vessels and identify the causes of blood circulation disorders.
• If an intervertebral hernia, osteochondrosis, or other pathologies of bones and cartilage are suspected, an MRI of the back is prescribed. The study will determine the condition of muscle and bone tissue, as well as detect tumors or inflammation.

In addition to hardware tests, tests are required that will allow you to see a more complete picture of the patient’s health and prescribe the most effective treatment.

Face and head

Patients often worry about numbness in the head and facial muscles. Such symptoms are rarely caused by the body’s natural response to external factors.

A temporary decrease in sensitivity in the face or back of the head occurs in the following situations:

• After sleep, when the head was in an unnatural position.
• Reading, working on a computer and many other activities require holding your head statically in one position.
• The effects of panic attacks, neuroses.

Pathological conditions include stroke, which is expressed by numbness, while the skin rarely becomes numb on the right.

Numbness of the face may indicate the following situations:

• Trigeminal neuritis.
• Migraine.
• Neurosis.
• VSD.
• Slerosis.
• Damage to nerve fibers.
• Cerebrovascular disorders.

Deterioration in the sensitivity of the tongue, chin, and cheeks can be caused by dental disorders and jaw injuries. If there are disorders in the cervical spine during the occurrence of VSD attacks or pressure changes, the head and skin in some places may become numb.

Disorders of the tongue, pharynx, and oral mucosa occur with the following disorders:

• Glossalgia.
• Hot food burns.
• Candidiasis.
• Spasm of nerve tissue.

Numbness of varying degrees of localization appears due to nervous overstrain and stressful situations. Insect bites can cause sensitivity problems.

Treatment

The therapeutic technique is determined individually in all situations. Traditional and non-traditional methods of therapy are used. Exercise therapy is carried out for radicular syndromes to improve one’s condition; doctors also recommend massage, reflexology and physiotherapy. Numbness of the body in diabetes is treated by endocrinologists, drugs and diet are prescribed, and lifestyle is adjusted.

Numbness of parts of the body on the right side requires increased physical activity and adjustments to the diet. Nicotine, alcohol, peppery and salty foods have a harmful effect on the condition of the circulatory system and cartilage tissue. You need to dress according to the weather so that hypothermia does not occur; diseases will be treated in time without becoming chronic.

Drug therapy involves the use of:

• Medicines that reduce pain and inflammation.
• Medications that reduce spasms.
• Drugs that aggravate the conduction of nerve impulses.
• Medicines that improve the functioning of the blood supply system.
• Medicines that stabilize blood pressure.

To prevent negative reactions of the body you need:

• Take frequent breaks from work that involves being in the same body position, and do exercises.
• Mattresses and pillows must be of high quality.
• Nutrition needs to be improved to reduce weight and strengthen the diet with vitamins.
• Perform therapeutic exercises that strengthen joints and intervertebral discs, promoting blood circulation.

There is no need to eliminate numbness caused by complex diseases and folk recipes. Such symptoms can be stopped, but the disease will not be cured. As a result, the symptoms will be much brighter and more severe.

Why do goosebumps occur?

To combat such a disorder, you first need to determine the cause leading to this condition. Often people's arms and legs go numb. Such signs appear temporarily or remain stable. In rare situations, such symptoms cause pain and weakness. The arms and legs are more difficult to move, the head is dizzy, and it is difficult for the person to talk.

If your limbs become numb due to pinched nerve endings or blood flow problems, you may need to change your body position to relieve symptoms. Sometimes arms and legs go numb during cold spells, so people are advised to keep warm.

Such numbness occurs for several reasons:

• When people's fingers or some parts of their hands go numb all the time, radicular syndrome may occur, which includes radiculitis, caused by interruptions in the vascular system or mechanical compression of nerve fibers in the spine and spinal cord. Sometimes with such numbness, a burning sensation is felt in the hands.
• Polyneuropathy appears in patients with diabetes. This occurs because the sugar level in the patient’s blood rises, leading to disease of the nerve fibers, blood vessels, and lymph nodes. Patients complain that the sensitivity of the limbs is deteriorating.
• In case of serious health problems, numbness appears only on the right or left. The cause of this disease is stroke. Only during a stroke does the patient feel numbness on the left or right. Sometimes the symptoms spread to the face.

How does body numbness manifest?

As a rule, a person is most often concerned about the loss of sensation in the limbs. Such symptoms can be temporary or episodic, persistent or long-term. As a rule, during numbness in an arm or leg, a person’s fingers tingle or a sensation of so-called goosebumps appears. However, most patients note a decrease in skin sensitivity.

In some situations, numbness is accompanied by pain. It often happens that the problem appears in both the arms and legs at the same time. If this happens, then first of all you need to change your position and try to gently rub the area that has lost sensitivity.