You’ve had it before, that numbness and tingling “my foot fell asleep” pins and needles feeling in your hands or feet. It’s annoying and a bit painful, but passes quickly. It could result from pressure on the nerves like when arm is crooked under your head or when you cross your legs too long. Again, as soon as the pressure is removed it should go away. But what if it doesn’t? You need to find out the cause so you can get it treated.
What are causes of numbness and tingling in your extremities?
Tingling may be a sign of nerve damage caused by traumatic injuries or repetitive stress injuries, bacterial or viral infections, toxic exposures, and systemic diseases such as diabetes.
Peripheral Neuropathy
One form of nerve damage that causes this numbness and tingling is peripheral neuropathy. There are over 100 forms of it and it causes the symptoms in the extremities because it mostly affects nerves distant from the brain and spinal cord. It can worsen until your mobility is affected, so getting treatment is important.
One cause for the neuropathy is diabetes
In fact, it’s the most common cause. Diabetic neuropathy causes tingling and other symptoms to start in the feet and work up the legs, then hands and up the arms. Often it ends up being the first symptom of diabetes.
Other causes
Some cases have no known cause and others are nerve entrapment syndromes like carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar nerve palsy, peroneal nerve palsy, and radial nerve palsy. Illnesses like kidney disorders, liver disease, vascular damage and blood diseases, connective tissue disorders, hormonal imbalances like hypothyroidism, cancers and tumors. It could be as simple as a vitamin E, B1, B6, B12 or niacin deficiency.
Whatever the cause, don’t let it go, get treated.
If you would like to find out more about how physical therapy can help with numbness and tingling, give us a call today! (720) 493-1181
