Sometimes it happens that one of the limbs loses sensitivity for a while, i.e. there is numbness of the legs and arms. The reasons for this can be very different. A lot of questions immediately arise: why does this happen, is it scary, what to do in such cases. Detailed information can be obtained from a doctor. And here you will read what you may need to assess the situation on your own.
What causes numbness of the legs and arms: causes
- Elderly people very often suffer from atherosclerosis, in which pain and cramps are added to numbness, a person gets very tired and feels weak.
- With an inactive lifestyle, changes occur in the spine: the intervertebral nerves in the spinal cord are pinched. This is how osteochondrosis manifests itself.
- With multiple sclerosis, diabetes and other diseases, neuropathy is “started”, in which nerve endings are affected in the legs.
- If legsregularly become “cotton-wool”, hurt, then perhaps this is multiple sclerosis.
- Reine's disease is still being studied. However, it is known that this weakens the circulation in the legs, numbness, swelling and spasms occur.
- Rheumatoid arthritis causes sharp pain in the knees, as well as swelling, as it is an inflammatory disease in which the joints are deformed, resulting in pinched nerves.
- Violation of metabolic processes occurring in nerve fibers.
- Compression of the nerve root by the herniated disc.
- When blood circulation is impaired, less oxygen enters the soft tissues, which causes numbness.
- Neuropathy causes damage to the nerves, and the person feels pain.
- Oncological diseases, when the tumor is located next to the spinal cord.
Other factors
If you have numbness in your legs, the reasons for this may be hidden not only in the disease, but also in the lack of vitamins, etc. For example, when you are frightened, you stop breathing, which means that less oxygen will enter the bloodstream, and since the vessels also narrow, then the blood does not reach the legs, they become wadded, do not obey.
Let's say you don't have the diseases listed above, then numbness of the legs, the causes of the symptoms lie in your rhythm of life. Sedentary work also puts additional stress on the spine and legs. If you are a programmer, a driver, a cashier, a banker (that is, you sit all day), then you are slouching, moving little, and completelyno matter how old you are.
In any case, consultation with a qualified specialist is essential to diagnose leg numbness (causes).
Symptomatic manifestations
- Numbness of one leg or both at once.
- It feels like the limbs are made of wood.
- It hurts to sit, bend over, cough.
- Goosebumps running through my body.
- Pain in the legs radiates to the back, especially to the spine.
- Edema.
- Convulsions.
Numbness in one leg
It happens that there is an unpleasant syndrome in one limb, for example, numbness of the left leg. Causes - the beginning of the development of serious diseases, such as a microstroke, stroke, a transit ischemic state of the brain. If there is no pain, and numbness below the knee does not go away for a long time, then do not self-medicate, but consult a doctor immediately.
If numbness of the right leg occurs, the reasons here can be much more serious. When this happens periodically, then urgently go to a neurologist, because this may be caused by a violation of sensitivity in the nerve endings. If the doctor does not identify obvious causes, then consult a vascular surgeon, because then numbness is already a signal of lesions in the brain, and bypass surgery may be necessary.
Thumb numbness
Thumb sensitivitylost, his "stings", the skin shivering? It is possible that when the numbness of the big toe began, the causes of such a problem most likely lay in the shoes. Uncomfortable shoes cause temporary pinching of the nerve, hence the discomfort.
When this happens all the time, especially if pain is also characteristic, sensitivity decreases (a person does not distinguish between temperature: cold, warm), coordination of movements is disturbed, then this is already a signal of diabetes mellitus, intervertebral hernia, frostbite, arterial pathologies, nerves and more.
Numbness in toes
Goosebumps run down your fingers, stabs like an electric shock. Perhaps you stay in one position for a long time, and if you change that position, how it will pass. But if nocturnal or groundless numbness of the toes occurs, the causes of pain may be signs of the disease. These are varicose veins and vascular insufficiency, in which edema appears, atherosclerotic plaques are deposited, and the lumen of the vessels narrows. As a result, the blood runs poorly through the vessels, hence the numbness.
Another loss of sensation in the toes is possible when the musculoskeletal system suffers (sciatica, osteochondrosis, etc.). Then the fingertips become numb. However, the main cause may be the infringement of the nerve of the sciatica (or sciatica). With gout, blood circulation in the joints is disturbed, so there is a loss of sensitivity. Usually only one of the thumbs is affected, but both are possible, although rare.
Hand numbness: causes
If the connective tissue or muscles have squeezed the neurovascular bundle, this will lead to hand numbness. There are basically only seven spots in the body to squeeze, so the diagnosis is usually made quickly. It happens that the work of the spine is disturbed. In this case, it takes much longer to diagnose.
There is also carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs most often in the working hand. The position of the hand is the same for a long time, so the tendons swell. People who, for some reason, spend a lot of time working with a computer may think that they fall into the category of people at risk of experiencing this syndrome.
However, working people such as a painter, a seamstress, a driver, even a pianist, can get this syndrome faster than PC people. At the same time, women are more prone to this disease than men, and middle-aged (40 years) and elderly (60 years) people are at even greater risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
Treatment
After reading about leg numbness (causes), you can choose the treatment yourself, but only if you just need to change your lifestyle. Under other circumstances, a visit to the doctor is inevitable.
- Wrong pose - change it. Rub the skin to restore blood circulation as soon as possible. Run more often, do exercises, exercise, dance to your favorite music.
- If there are a lot of symptoms, for example, you lost sensation in your leg and arm at the same time, then call an ambulance immediately, because this may be the beginning of a stroke.
- Quite possiblyyou have to give up coffee, alcohol, strong tea.
- It is advisable to eat more porridge: buckwheat and oatmeal. They also recommend eating sprouted grains and eating vitamins, especially those with iron.
- Try not to overcool the body in the cold.
- Doctors recommend contrast baths. You need 2 containers: one for hot water, the other for cold water. It is necessary for half a minute to lower the legs first into one, then into the other, repeating this 5 times in a row. Do this 2 times a day - in the morning and then in the evening. After the bath, you will need turpentine ointment and good warm socks. You smear the ointment on your legs, and put your socks on top.
- Wrap with honey. You will need a piece of natural fabric and honey. The numb place is smeared with honey, wrapped in a cloth. This is done before going to bed and washed off with water in the morning. Usually 3-4 treatments are enough to get rid of numbness.
- You will need a liter of cold water and alcohol: ammonia -10 gr., camphor - 50 gr. Alcohol is poured into water and mixed. Apply to the skin before going to bed, massage movements are made for better rubbing.
- Garlic, or rather tincture from it. We take 5 heads, we press. Pour garlic into the bottom of the dish, pour vodka. The tincture should stand in the dark and cool for exactly 2 weeks, while shaking it once a day. Take 2 times a day in the morning and evening for at least a month.
- You will need vegetable fat and granulated sugar for half a glass. They mix, this rubs the numb place. Then they prepare a bath of 2 tsp. sea s alt and a liter of warm water. In solution, for about 15 minutes.legs are lowered, after which a terry towel is taken and the skin is thoroughly wiped.
The same applies to the problem of numb toes: causes, treatment are almost identical. Here are a few ways directly for prevention so that the sensitivity of your fingers is not lost:
- Skiing, skating, running…in a word, sports.
- Camphor ointment is taken. She smears the finger that is numb. After that, a sock is taken and put on the leg. Best done at night.
- Also contrast baths.
- Rotation and movement of feet, walking on toes. Try to do all sorts of "pirouettes" with your foot, this can be done to the music.
- Stress… it must be relieved. Watch your favorite movie, take a nap, take a walk in the park, call a friend or girlfriend and just chat with them about anything. Do things that lift your spirits.
And finally
Now you know what leg numbness is, what causes it, why there is a loss of sensation, and you can choose a treatment. Do not let everything take its course: maybe it will pass with time. Remember, prevention in the early stages is much easier than treating the disease.
