Ever experienced total or partial loss of sensation or feeling in your feet? Well, that’s numbness. It typically occurs in feet, legs, hands, fingers, and arms, but may affect any part of the body depending on the underlying cause.
Most cases of numbness and tingling are not serious. For instance, a lot of people experience numbness and tingling in their feet after sitting cross-legged for a prolonged time. However, in extreme cases, there may be complications like an inability to feel pain.
If you experience numbness often, and the cause is not clear to you, you must visit your healthcare provider to detect or rule out serious health problems.
What is Numbness?
A loss of sensation or feeling in any body part or area is numbness. The intensity may vary from partial to total. It generally affects feet, legs, arms, hands, and fingers – although any other part of the body may also experience numbness and tingling.
Numbness often indicates nerve issues. However, it may also be a sign of various other medical conditions. Usually not a serious issue, in some cases, it can result in complications such as inability to –
- Feel pain – as in burn cases
- Feel the position – as in falling down, but being unable to feel your feet’s position
- Distinguish between hot and cold
- Sense vibrations
- Maintain balance and coordination
- Walk or drive
Numbness may also be accompanied by a feeling of pins and needles – tingling in your body. There may also be weakness and paralysis.
What are the Common Causes of Numbness?
Numbness can be due to various reasons. The most common factor is one or more problematic nerves. A damaged nerve disrupts the body’s ability to experience normal sensations.
Sometimes, numbness may be due to abnormal pressure on the nerves around or in the spine.
Here are some spine-related conditions that may lead to numbness:
- Osteoporosis-induced collapse of the backbone
- Nerve compression syndromes
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Neuropathic pain
- Pinched nerve due to arthritis or bone spurs
- Ruptured or herniated disk
- Injury to your spinal cord, brain, or nerves
Other medical conditions associated with numbness include:
- Diabetes
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Infections such as shingles, HIV, herpes zoster, syphilis, leprosy, tuberculosis, or Lyme disease
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Kidney disease
- Stroke
- Tumour
- Arthritis
- Cancer spreading to the spine
- Seizures
- Migraines
- Underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism)
- Raynaud’s syndrome
Some more conditions that may make you feel numbness:
- Sitting or standing in the same position for a prolonged period
- Vitamin B deficiency (B1, B6, B12, or folic acid)
- Specific medications
- Drug use
- Exposure to poisons or toxins
- Insect and animal bites
- Lack of blood supply to an area (e.g., due to frostbite, hardening of the arteries, or vessel inflammation)
- Abnormal levels of potassium, sodium, or calcium in the body
- Chemotherapy drugs
- Radiation therapy
- Nerve damage due to alcohol, tobacco, or lead
- Seafood toxins (in rare cases)
Numbness Care at Home
If you have been consistently experiencing numbness or tingling, it is advisable to consult your healthcare provider. The best doctors in Chandigarh would diagnose and treat the cause behind your numbness and tingling. With this, symptoms may totally go or stop getting worse.
Here are some examples:
- Lower back pain or carpal tunnel syndrome – you may be advised specific exercises or other treatments
- Diabetes – the doctor may suggest strategies to control blood sugar levels
- Vitamin deficiencies – you may be recommended the right vitamin supplements
- Medication-induced – the doctor may change your prescriptions
Precautions
Do not take any supplements without consulting your doctor. Similarly, you should not stop any medicines or make changes on your own.
If there is a total loss of sensation in a particular body part or area, it may put you at risk of accidentally injuring that area. Stay cautious to safeguard the affected area from burns, cuts, and other possible injuries.
Chronic numbness in the feet due to diabetes or some other illness? Visit a podiatrist on a regular basis to avoid complications.
When to Seek Professional Help
You must immediately see a doctor if you experience any of the following:
- Sudden weakness or inability to move, along with numbness or tingling
- Lose control of a leg or an arm
- Lose bladder or bowel control
- Numbness or tingling shortly after a neck, head, or back injury
- Feel confused or faint, even if it occurred briefly
- Slurred speech, vision changes, difficulty maintaining balance or walking, or weakness
The above signs and symptoms call for immediate medical intervention. They may point to some serious health issue that must be urgently treated.
Here are some other situations in which you should approach your healthcare provider:
- No clear reasons behind hand, foot, or any other body part “falling asleep”
- Pain in forearm, fingers, or neck
- More frequent urination
- Numbness or tingling in legs worsens when you walk
- Body rash issues
- Muscle spasm, dizziness, or other unusual symptoms
Conclusion
Numbness and tingling are not a cause for concern in most cases. However, should they happen for no obvious reason or be accompanied by other symptoms, you should consult a trusted health specialist.
Since there may be diverse causes for the sensation, it is always good to stay cautious and rule out any serious issues. Sohana Hospital is one such healthcare institution in North India that boasts more than 30 super-specialities under one roof.
So, be it any underlying cause, you are sure to find the best diagnosis and treatment, thanks to the availability of cutting-edge medical equipment and the best neurology doctors in Chandigarh. The hospital stands as a mark of trust and ethical care in all respects and all branches of modern medicine.
FAQs – Numbness and Tingling
What is the meaning of numb?
A body part becoming numb means there is reduced or lost sensation in that part. You may not be able to feel touch, pain, temperature, or movement as you should in that particular part of the body.
Why do I have numbness in my legs?
Nerve compression in the spine, poor circulation, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, prolonged sitting, or nerve injury can result in numbness in the legs.
How to stop numbness in legs and feet?
Change posture frequently, stay physically active, and practise stretching exercises to avoid numbness in legs and feet. If numbness still persists, consult a doctor.
Is foot numbness dangerous?
If it happens occasionally, it is generally not dangerous. However, ongoing or worsening numbness may indicate nerve damage, circulation problems, diabetes, or spine issues – and should be checked by a medical practitioner.
Are numb lips a sign of stroke?
Numb lips can be a sign of stroke – if it happens suddenly along with symptoms like – facial drooping, slurred speech, confusion, or weakness on one side of the body. Such cases require immediate medical attention.
Is a numb tongue a sign of a stroke?
Yes, sudden tongue numbness can be associated with stroke, especially if the person also experiences speech difficulty or facial weakness. It must not be ignored.
Why do my hands feel numb?
It could be due to nerve compression (like in carpal tunnel syndrome), poor circulation, vitamin deficiencies, repetitive hand use, or sleeping in an awkward position.
What causes numbness in the tips of fingers?
It is generally due to nerve compression, vitamin B12 deficiency, diabetes-related nerve damage, exposure to extreme cold, or circulation problems.
What is tingling?
Tingling is a sensation of pins and needles. It usually occurs when your nerves are irritated, compressed, or temporarily deprived of blood supply.
Why tingling in feet?
You may feel tingling in your feet due to nerve irritation or damage, diabetes, vitamin deficiency, poor circulation, prolonged standing or sitting, or even tight footwear.
What deficiency causes tingling in hands and feet?
The most common cause is vitamin B12 deficiency. Deficiencies of vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, or magnesium can also be responsible. However, excessive intake of vitamin B6 over long periods can also cause nerve damage.
What causes tingling throughout the body?
Possible causes include anxiety, vitamin deficiencies, nerve disorders, infections, autoimmune conditions, or metabolic problems. If it persists, seek medical advice.
What is tingling in legs a symptom of?
It can be a symptom of nerve compression, sciatica, diabetes, vitamin deficiency, poor circulation, or spinal problems.
How to treat face tingling?
Treatment depends on the cause. Take care of stress and vitamin deficiencies; manage nerve issues, and treat sinus or dental problems. Sudden tingling in the face must not be ignored – it requires prompt medical attention.
What causes numbness and tingling in arms and hands?
Common causes include nerve compression in the neck or wrist, carpal tunnel syndrome, poor posture, vitamin deficiencies, diabetes, or problems with blood circulation.