ANSWERS: 4
  • Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but are often felt in your fingers, hands, feet, arms, or legs. There are many possible causes: * Remaining in the same seated or standing position for a long time * Injury to a nerve -- for example, a neck injury may cause you to feel numbness anywhere along your arm or hand, while a low back injury can cause numbness or tingling down the back of your leg * Pressure on the spinal nerves, such as from a herniated disk * Pressure on peripheral nerves from enlarged blood vessels, tumors, scar tissue, or infection * Shingles or herpes zoster infection * Lack of blood supply to an area -- for example, cholesterol (plaque) build up from atherosclerosis in the legs can cause pain, numbness, and tingling while walking (this is called vascular claudication); frostbite can also reduce blood supply and lead to numbness * Other medical conditions, including: o Carpal tunnel syndrome (pressure on a nerve at the wrist) o Diabetes o Migraines o Multiple sclerosis o Seizures o Stroke o Transient ischemic attack (TIA), sometimes called a "mini-stroke" o Underactive thyroid o Raynaud's phenomenon * Abnormal levels of calcium, potassium, or sodium in your body * A lack of vitamin B12 or other vitamin * Use of certain medications * Toxic nerve damage due to lead, alcohol, or tobacco * Radiation therapy Your doctor should identify and treat the underlying cause of your numbness or tingling. Treatment of the underlying condition may reverse the symptoms or prevent them from becoming worse. For example, if you have carpal tunnel syndrome or low back pain, your doctor may recommend certain exercises. If you have diabetes, your doctor will discuss ways to control your blood sugars. Low levels of vitamins will be treated with vitamin supplements. Medications that cause numbness or tingling may need to be switched or adjusted. You should not change or stop taking any of your medicines or take large doses of any vitamins or supplements until you have talked with you doctor. Because numbness can cause a decrease in feeling, you may be more likely to accidentally injure a numb hand or foot. Take care to protect the area from cuts, bumps, bruises, burns, or other injury.
  • Did it start after an injury like hitting your hand or a sprain? ONE SIDED PAIN that spreads from the initial affected area may be CRPS/RSD. Look for info with a Bing search. My guess is that you need a referral to a neurologist familiar with RSD/CRPS ASAP (ask 1st-don't take the receptionist's word). Do you have any swelling or paresthesia (odd "creepy" sensation)? RSD/CRPS is fairly rare,but from what you describe, that should absolutely be in the differential diagnosis. It is a sharp, electrical feel (on the best days-it feels like it's too hot or cold, and a massive "vibration" feel like an exposed wire that is also being shook. On bad...fire. My Dr said that many Dr's have never seen it. It took a decade for me to get diagnosed. Maintaining movement is important or its use can be lost. Do not let them escape with pawning you off on just physical therapy. Anesthetic/cortisone blocks and a rehab Dr may be a better step. I am going to have a spinal cord stimulator put in my back. It's supposed to confuse the nerves so they short circuit the pain signals. There are meds to help, but it's a whole new era in life. If you are diagnosed, start the process for disability right away. 77% of people with this cannot regularly work. If you still can, you can get a % disabled and work part time. In the USA, disability lawyers have to take a portion of the "win" and do not get any $ from you when you can't work. If denied, they get nothing. Some are lazy and only show up for the hearing. Others collect records and meet several times. Ask your neurologist to recommend a lawyer that they have worked with and feel are good. Mine started suddenly in my r ankle after a sprain, & spread to my hip. It is also in the left now, up to my waist, my neck and side of my head, and left arm. If you do end up being diagnosed with this, keep records of everything-all test results, all labs, all chart notes. Inform and sign a release so you can have it. Keep pestering them-it's their job. Diagnostic blocks with anesthetic/cortisone can be both temporarily pain pain relieving, but also gives them info. Don't have an EMG unless really necessary. It is a test that can be painful (and diagnostic), and in my case, spread it to my other leg. My interventional radiologist agrees that it most likely was the cause. Good luck, you are on my "watch" list. Keep in touch.
  • maybe you should go to the er and get that checked out
  • maybe you should go to the er

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