Tingling in the hands or tingling in the legs – a common phenomenon that each of us has encountered at least a few times in our lives. However, often people do not attach importance to it, because it can tingle in a limb, which a person simply “lay down”; in a dream or "served time" in an uncomfortable position.
However, if you change your posture and relieve pressure on the nerve endings, the tingling will go away. And there's nothing to worry about. But what if the tingling in the arms or legs does not go away like needles or even occurs without any obvious external causes? Then it can be a sign of serious health problems. To find out which – read our article.
Tingling in the hands – where does it come from and what to do
Statistically, most often, fortunately, tingling in the hands is just a consequence of the body's natural reaction to external stimuli. For example, if you have worked hard and did not notice that you have been sitting in the same position for a long time. Or if your sleep was so deep and strong that you did not notice how you "lay down"; hand in a bad position. In this case, it is enough to change the position – and after a few minutes, the tingling in the hands will pass by itself.
Read also: Tingling in the hands and feet: the causes of the appearance of "needles" in body
However, such a feeling can also be a symptom of serious diseases or disorders in the body.
Possible causes of tingling in the hands:
- Diabetes (causes damage to the peripheral nerves of the extremities)
- Alcoholism (causes permanent damage to peripheral nerves)
- Cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels (impair blood supply)
- Hypothyroidism and other endocrine disorders
- Tunnel syndrome (a bundle of nerves and vessels of the wrist is compressed)
- Shingles
- Buerger's autoimmune disease (attacks blood vessels)
- Spine problems
Usually, if tingling in the hands is a sign of a serious illness, it is accompanied by other symptoms. It can be a feeling of goosebumps, a burning sensation or vice versa coldness, pallor of the skin of the hands or vice versa redness.
Special attention should be paid to your health if you are worried about numbness or tingling in the fingers of your left hand. It is often a harbinger of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and even a stroke or heart attack.
If you are concerned about any of the symptoms listed above, contact your general practitioner, who will conduct an initial consultation and refer you to a specialized doctor, as well as to hardware diagnostics (MRI, CT).
What does tingling in the legs mean
Pinging in the legs like needles is also called paresthesia. It usually spreads to the feet, lower legs (up to the knee). Tingling in the toes – one of the most common occurrences.
For obvious external reasons – tight shoes (impairs blood circulation) or hypothermia of the legs (relevant for the autumn-winter time), as well as a long stay in the same position.
What else can tingling in the legs like needles mean:
- Avitaminosis.
- Injury resulting in damage to peripheral nerves.
- Varicose veins at an early stage (outwardly not yet noticeable).
- Dehydration (then tingling may be accompanied by cramps).
- Diabetes mellitus (there is even the concept of diabetic foot, when in the later stages after vascular damage, diabetes is complicated by pathological changes in the feet – ulcers, purulent processes, necrosis of soft tissues, bones and joints).
- Alcoholism (causes permanent damage to the peripheral nerves).
- Diseases of the joints (arthritis, arthrosis, rheumatism, etc.).
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Lyme disease.
- Curvature of the spine.
- Foot fungus (tingling will necessarily be accompanied by an unpleasant odor, skin peeling, itching).
- Allergic reaction to shoes, hygiene products, etc.
If it is tingling in the toes that you are concerned about, then the most likely cause is a pinched nerve at the level of the lumbar due to curvature of the spine, herniated discs, etc.
If the tingling in your legs doesn't go away within a couple of days, make an appointment with a therapist who will figure out which doctor to refer you to next – neurologist, phlebologist, dermatologist or surgeon.
Tingling in the body: causes and diagnosis
Sometimes the tingling is not limited to the upper or lower extremities, but attacks the whole body.
See also: Map of emotional sources of pain in various parts of the body
As a rule, in such cases, the matter is not limited to tingling and goosebumps, but is also accompanied by burning, periodic numbness, less often – itching, painful sensations.
Tingling in the body can be caused by:
- Monotonous tiring physical activity.
- Skin diseases.
- Allergic reactions.
- Overheating or hypothermia.
- Parasites in the body.
- Avitaminosis.
- Heavy metal poisoning, alcohol or food intoxication.
- Kidney problems.
- Liver problems.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Oncology.
- Endocrine disorders.
- Injuries.
- Cardiovascular disease.
- Spine problems.
- Alcoholism.
- Epilepsy.
- Migraine.
- Diseases of the joints.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Impaired cerebral circulation.
Separately, it is worth highlighting tingling in the body with neurosis. In this case, it is accompanied by a number of other symptoms – trembling, possibly convulsions, weakness, temperature changes, sleep disturbances. In such a situation, you can immediately contact a neurologist and a psychotherapist.
Read also: 5 symptoms: signs of neurosis in adults
In other cases, contact your physician, who will conduct an initial examination and prescribe blood tests, possibly a biopsy, CT or MRI, an electromyogram.
After receiving detailed data, the doctor will be able to either accurately establish the diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment, or give you a referral to a specialized specialist. Take care of your well-being and don't get sick!
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