What Is Numbness?
Numbness in the hands and feet is a common symptom caused by various factors and is mostly a temporary sensation. Other symptoms like tingling, pricking, itching, and burning sensation under the skin may also be accompanied by numbness. It is nothing but the feeling of senselessness in a particular area of hand or feet.
What Are the Causes of Numbness in Hands and Legs?
Numbness can have many causes, which can be categorized as mild and temporary to a serious medical condition. The most common and harmless cause of numbness is compression of nerves in the hands and feet by sitting or sleeping in an awkward position, and therefore the blood supply is restricted to those parts of the body. Though this is the most common factor, there are other factors that cause numbness, and this includes-
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Nerve damage in hands or feet.
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Posture and sleeping position.
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Herniated disk - Resulting in pressure on spinal nerves.
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Herpes infection.
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Underactive thyroid.
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Animal or insect bites.
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Alcohol abuse or medication side effects.
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Diabetes and vitamin deficiency.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:
When it comes to specific causes for numbness in hands, carpal syndrome has been the cause for a majority of the population affected. This is a common condition wherein excessive pressure is placed at the nerves in the hands and wrists (median nerves). This is often observed in people who use their wrists dominantly for work, such as typists.
This condition is specific to the numbness of legs and feet and is observed when a nerve that runs down along the ankle on the back of the leg is either compressed or damaged. This condition is often observed in people who jump and land on ankle joints, such as athletes.
Multiple Sclerosis:
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that targets the central nervous system and thereby can cause sensory nerve damage to a small region of the body or whole limbs. This can cause numbness and tingling sensation in our hands or feet, lasting for a very long time.
What Are the Symptoms Associated With Numbness of Hands and Legs?
The chief symptom of numbness in hands and feet is loss of sensation. This affects your sense of touch and balance because you cannot feel your foot’s position against the ground and the feel of the object in hand. Since numbness itself is a symptom of nerve damage or other conditions, it is often observed with other symptoms at the same time as
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Tingling.
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Burning.
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Crawling.
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Tickling.
How Is Numbness of Hands and Legs Diagnosed?
The different patterns of symptoms can help determine if a nerve or other condition is causing the numbness. Before being involved in any physical tests, the complete medical history of the patient is to be studied to analyze the exact cause, such as any other underlying condition or reaction to any specific medication that he or she may be taking. Certain conditions can also be diagnosed using a physical examination and other tests such as,
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X-ray and nerve tests.
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Ultrasound.
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Blood count.
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Thyroid function tests.
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Tests for vitamin levels.
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Toxicology reports.
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Tests of your electrolyte levels.
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Lumbar puncture to check for nervous system disorder.
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Angiogram to check for blood vessel congestion.
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Electromyography.
What Are the Treatment Options for Numbness in Hands and Legs?
The best course of treatment is decided by the doctor based upon the cause of numbness.
Medications:
Some of the medicinal treatments for numbness of hands and feet are,
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Antidepressants - Some antidepressants, such as Duloxetine and Milnacipran, have been approved to treat fibromyalgia.
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Gabapentin and Pregabalin - Medications that block or change nerve signaling may help reduce numbness associated with conditions such as fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis (MS), and diabetic neuropathy.
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Corticosteroids - Chronic inflammation and numbness associated with conditions such as multiple sclerosis can be reduced and treated with some corticosteroids.
Once the doctor has made a specific diagnosis, he can direct to other specialists based on the cause, such as a neurologist, rheumatologist, or pain management specialist.
Physiotherapy can help improve strength and increase the blood flow to the hands and feet. Posture adjustment with the help of braces and additional support may be suggested based on the causes. Also, when non-surgical treatments are not providing results, surgery can be suggested. Nerve damage can often be untreatable, and the medication and treatment are carried out only to stop it from progressing and not for curing the condition altogether.
Alternative Treatment Methods
Even though the treatment method is entirely dependent upon the causative agent, some of the following treatment methods have been able to produce some improvement in the cases associated with numbness.
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Massage - To reduce the pressure and soreness.
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Reflexology - To improve our CNS (central nervous system).
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Acupuncture - Also to improve sensation and relieve nerve pressure.
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Hydrotherapy - To improve muscle and nerve coordination.
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Meditation and Yoga - To reduce stress and mental pressure.
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Vitamin B Supplementation - To overcome vitamin deficiency.
Home Remedies
Some of the behavioral changes and home treatments can help in the process of reducing pain and senselessness.
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Diet - A regular and balanced diet with a proper supply of nutrients and vitamins can help you recover from numbness.
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Sleep - The most significant factor is sleeping adequately and allowing the body to be adequately rested. This can reduce stress and also help maintain our nerve pressure.
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Avoid Alcohol - Also, avoiding the consumption of alcohol can affect our nerves and result in more nerve damage.
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Heat and Cold Application - The application of ice along the areas where numbness is felt can help increase the blood flow through the blood vessels. Also, the application of heat can help loosen sore or tense muscles, which may be compressing the nerves. But avoid overheating as it may worsen the swelling.
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Epsom Salt - Another effective method is using Epsom salt, a compound known for improving blood circulation.
Conclusion:
Numbness can be associated with improper posture or excessive use of hand and feet muscles, and hence it is treatable in most cases by simple lifestyle changes. Severe cases of nerve damage and other conditions must be adequately treated. Also, it is always better to consult a physician to make sure everything is fine.
