10 causes of numbness and tingling sensation

Feeling weird numbness in the hands and feet? Find out why

Shraddha Rupavate | Published: August 18, 2014 2:19 pm

Numbness is a weird feeling that eventually leads to loss of sensation in the affected body part. This abnormal feeling, most of the times, arises when a single nerve or several nerves in that area get compressed, damaged or irritated. In some rare conditions, a deeper problem in nervous co-ordination or problems in the brain and the spinal cord may be responsible. If you’re wondering what could be causing your nerves to get compressed, damaged or irritated, here are some common triggers you should look out for.

1. Incorrect posture: The most common cause of numbness is holding an incorrect posture for a long time. Sitting with the legs crossed or standing, such that the body weight is mainly transferred to one of the legs, can exert extra pressure on the nerves in the legs. If your numbness is associated with tingling and acute pain originating from the hip bone, there is a good possibility that you’re suffering from sciatica pain. Sciatica is the major nerve that runs from the hip bone to the extremities. If this nerve gets compressed then numbness and pain could be a regular occurrence for you.

2. B12 deficiency: Vitamin B12 is a crucial nutrient that many people fail to account for in their diet. Unfortunately, B12 deficiency is quite common these days and is one of the factors that triggers nerve damage. B12 is required for the conversion of a compound called methionine into S-adenosylmethionine (SAM). SAM plays an important role in forming the fatty material (myelin) surrounding the nerves. Moreover, the levels of different molecules in the nerve cells become unbalanced due to deficiency of vitamin B12.

3. Smoking, drinking: Nicotine from cigarette smoke directly attacks the nerves and damages them. Smoking has been linked to increased chance of suffering from fibromyalgia. Alcohol on the other hand damages the nerve tissues by dehydrating them. It is linked to peripheral neuropathy.

4. Infection: Viruses can harm the nervous system too. Herpes zoster virus or Shingles is a common cause of numbness.

5. Medication: Drugs like antidepressants and chemotherapeutic agents may act on the nervous system. Overuse of these agents can cause nerve damage and trigger numbness and tingling.

Certain medical conditions also develop tingling sensation and numbness as a key symptom.

6. Carpal tunnel syndrome: If you have been feeling numbness in your hand, especially around the palms and fingers, you could be suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome. Numbness is one of the early signs of carpal tunnel, caused due to excessive pressure on the median nerve running through the wrist. It’s more common in those who perform repeated movements that exert pressure on the wrist. So, if you are used to typing or playing an instrument for long stretches of time, you are more likely to feel numbness due to carpal tunnel.

7. Multiple sclerosis: MS is a condition that causes direct damage to the protective layer called myelin sheath, present around the nerve cells. The damage could even inhibit the transmission of signals to and from the nerves.

8. Seizures: Those who suffer from convulsions with rapid shaking of the body may experience numbness and tingling sensation in the limbs. This sign is often an indicator of spread of damage to other parts of the body.

9. Diabetes: Uncontrolled sugar levels increases the risk of a complication called diabetic neuropathy. Poor blood circulation and compressed blood vessels deprive the nerve cells of blood and nutrients in it. The earliest sign of nerve damage in diabetics is numbness and tingling in the feet.

10. Hypothyroidism: Some studies show that low levels of thyroid hormones can increase the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, although the exact link has not yet been established.

Image source: Getty images

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References:

Grattan-Smith PJ, Wilcken B, Procopis PG, Wise GA. The neurological syndrome of infantile cobalamin deficiency: developmental regression and involuntary movements. Mov Disord. 1997 Jan;12(1):39-46.
Palumbo CF, Szabo RM, Olmsted SL. The effects of hypothyroidism and thyroid replacement on the development of carpal tunnel syndrome. J Hand Surg Am. 2000 Jul;25(4):734-9. PubMed PMID: 10913216.
A.D.A.M. medical encyclopedia [Internet] Numbness and tingling. Seattle (WA): A.D.A.M. Inc.; Apr 5, 2013. [cited 2014 Aug 18]. c1997-2014

Published: August 18, 2014 2:19 pm

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