Numbness and Tingling

Almost everyone experiences numbness and tingling at one time or another. It may be a feeling of "pins and needles" or of having a hand or foot "fall asleep." Numbness and tingling are often temporary nuisances but can sometimes indicate a more serious problem.

Causes

Having a hand or foot fall asleep is caused by a compressed nerve. This is a common occurrence, and the feeling will go away on its own when the pressure is removed. “Numbness” implies loss of function in one or more sensory nerves, and “tingling” typically results from partial injury or irritation of those nerves.

A feeling of numbness or tingling can also be caused by a pinched nerve. The term "pinched nerve" describes a type of damage or injury to a nerve or set of nerves. Pinched nerves can sometimes lead to other conditions, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow or sciatica.

A ruptured disk in the spine can also cause the disorder, by pressing or irritating a large spinal nerve. This often leads to numbness and tingling in the area where the spinal nerve travels down an arm or leg. If the numbness or tingling travels down a limb as a result of a pinched nerve in the neck or low back, it may be called a radiculopathy. Sometimes, a radiculopathy causes numbness and tingling only in the hands or feet.  

Peripheral neuropathy, or polyneuropathy, is a general term for disorders of the peripheral nervous system. The peripheral nervous system is the network of nerves outside the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) connected to the spinal cord. Peripheral neuropathy is a common condition that can cause numbness and tingling. It can be caused by diseases that affect nerve function. Diabetes is one of the most common causes of peripheral neuropathy.

Other causes of peripheral neuropathy may include:

• Excessive alcohol consumption over time

• Nutritional deficiencies

• Nutritional excesses; excessive doses of pyridoxine (B6), for example

• Toxins; puffer fish poisoning (fugu), poisonous mussels, stinging caterpillars, for example

• Infection or inflammation

• Overexposure to toxic chemicals such as mercury or lead

• Tumors

• Lupus

Numbness and tingling can also be signs of multiple sclerosis, a disease of the central nervous system, stroke in the brain or brainstem, seizures, medications, panic attack or fibromyalgia.

Treatment

Treatment for a pinched nerve usually involves resting the affected area. Pain medication may be prescribed. In some cases, surgery is recommended. Physical therapy and splints or collars may also be used. Treatment for peripheral neuropathy often focuses on treating the condition that caused it -- for example, controlling diabetes, replacing nutritional deficits, treating infection (e.g., Lyme disease) or repairing a ruptured disk. Physical therapy may also be recommended.

Prevention

You can reduce your risk for peripheral neuropathy by:

• Eating well

• Maintaining a healthy weight (a body mass index of 18.5 to 25.9)

• Avoiding excessive use of alcohol

• Avoiding exposure to toxic chemicals

• Controlling your blood sugar if you have diabetes