What Causes Numbness and How to Cure It?

Numbness is a tingling sensation or a complete lack of feeling under or on the skin. Some people describe the sensation as itchy, crawling or ticklish and it is usually most intense as the numbness is beginning or ending. In some instances, it is painful. Eventually, you might lose feeling altogether. Numbness is usually temporary, but there are conditions that cause permanent lack of feeling. Most people experience numbness on occasion for non-serious reasons, but there are times when numbness is a symptom that something is medically wrong.

Causes

• Numbness usually occurs in the extremities like the hands, fingers, feet, arms and legs. It is caused by lack of blood flow to the affected area. If your body remains in the same position for too long, your hand or foot will feel numb. Some people wake up in the morning with a numb hand because they have slept with it under their body or at an odd angle that impeded blood flow. Other causes of numbness include an injury to a nerve, pressure on the spinal or peripheral nerves, some medicines, frostbite and various medical therapies like radiation. Experiencing numbness in a certain body part does not necessarily mean that is where the problem originates. For instance, a neck or spinal injury could results in loss of feeling to your arms or legs.

Related Disease

• There are many chronic medical conditions that cause numbness. Carpal tunnel syndrome, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Lyme disease, Guillian-Barre syndrome, syphilis, Siogren's syndrom, an underactive thyroid and Raynaud's disease can all cause numbness. Those who have suffered from a stroke may experience numbness, as well as those who have cholesterol build-up in their legs from atherosclerosis may experience numbness while walking. An imbalance in vitamins and minerals like B12, calcium, potassium or sodium are another cause.

Cures

• Sometimes curing numbness is as easy as getting up and move around. If your hand or foot is numb, you can shake it out to get blood flowing into the affected part and the tingling sensation will pass. In other cases, if the problem is due to an imbalance in the body, your doctor may recommend vitamin or mineral supplements. If the numbness is caused by nerve damage, you will need to undergo physical therapy and possibly surgery. Some physical therapy, like that needed for carpal tunnel syndrome can be done without medical supervision. There can also be toxic nerve damage, caused by lead, tobacco or alcohol. If this is the case, you will need to end exposure to these substances, but in some cases, the damage is irreversible. If your numbness is caused by diabetes or another disease, you and your doctor will need to manage the illness in order to alleviate the numbness. Prescriptions may need to be adjusted and you may need to take extra care to protect the area since you cannot feel pain.

Ongoing Numbness

• Since numbness is usually a temporary condition, most people adjust their position or move around and the discomfort subsides. However, if your numbness is ongoing, you may need to speak to a doctor. If you experience paralysis with your numbness, contact a doctor immediately. The same is true if you are unable to control your bowels or bladder, you experience confusion or your speech is slurred and you experience a change in vision. These symptoms might be signs of a stroke. If you have experienced a head, neck or back injury and it results in ongoing numbness, there is probably nerve damage which will need treatment to heal.