Numbing and tingling sensations can be overwhelming when you are trying to engage with the world around you. Numbness is a loss of sensation, and tingling is the feeling of pins and needles gently poking all around, despite a lack of any actual contact.
Numbness and tingling, also known as paresthesia, can have a wide variety of causes and can occur in any part of the body.
Generally, body parts that are prone to ‘falling asleep,’ like the arms and legs, experience these sensations more. But nerve issues can lead to ongoing paresthesia, especially in the legs, feet, and arms.
Chronic paresthesia can be difficult to manage on one’s own because of the lack of at-home treatment options available for this kind of discomfort. Numbness and tingling can be uncomfortable and alarming, but you’ll need the right provider to find long-term relief.
At Optimum Health, we focus on understanding the unique needs of each patient to personalize paresthesia treatment. Take control of your health with the resources available from our team of professionals.
To speak with a trusted member of our team, contact us online or call (770)887-9443.
Numbness/Tingling Treatment
Treating paresthesia can look different for everyone.
At-home treatments generally consist of over-the-counter creams and natural remedies. You can also eat certain foods like sweet potatoes, zucchini, quinoa, and avocado, which are known to be useful when fighting nerve pain.
Depending on the cause of your numbness or tingling, there are several treatment options available. You may even need to see a neurologist for further observation and testing, considering the brain’s ties to the nervous system. While this scenario is less likely, some conditions like Multiple Sclerosis and certain infections will require long-term care.
Optimum Health offers comprehensive numbness/tingling treatment, from chiropractic care to regenerative medicine. Our providers are also prepared to treat personal injury and physical rehabilitation patients, too.
If you don’t treat the root of the problem, numbness and tingling will typically always return. Discomfort in many of the most common problem areas (hands, arms, feet, and legs) can be attributed to the back or, more specifically, the spine.
The spinal cord carries nerve signals from your brain to the rest of your body, so caring for this area can have a positive effect on different parts of your body, as well.
Our providers use various techniques, such as manual adjustments and trigger point injections, to help promote natural healing within your body.
When Do I See a Doctor for Numbness and Tingling?
Most of the time, a numbing or tingling sensation will go away on its own, but persistent cases may cause you more concern.
You may be tempted to ignore the affected area and wait for the sensation to subside, but there are some special cases where a person may need emergency care or an appointment at Optimum Health.
We utilize various tests that provide insight into the cause behind your uncomfortable numbing or tingling sensations. Our providers ask you about symptoms and a rundown of any recent lifestyle changes or injuries. This series of questions aims to narrow down the possible cause of your paresthesia and limit the number of tests that need to be run.
While numbness and tingling have an endless list of causes, it is important to schedule an appointment at Optimum Health if the paresthesia hits any of the following criteria:
- The numbness or tingling sensation came on abruptly
- You have very recently experienced a head injury
- The entirety of your limb (arm, leg, abdomen) is numb or tingling
- You are seeing physical changes in the limb, including red or purple hues in the fingers or toes
Numbness and tingling can possibly be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition, like a stroke, which is why it’s important to seek immediate medical attention if your discomfort is paired with any of the following symptoms:
- Inability to move
- Extreme weakness
- Dizziness
- Vomiting
- Confusion
- Sudden headache
- Slurred speech or difficulty speaking
What Causes Numbness and Tingling?
There are countless causes for paresthesia, and many of them are generally harmless. When you sit in the same position for too long or sleep on your arm, it may result in a numbing or tingling effect.
However, experiencing these sensations long-term can also be the result of an underlying nervous system condition, so it is important to watch your symptoms carefully.
While there are many reasons a person can experience paresthesia, we have mapped out 9 of the most common explanations.
Injury
Any injury that affects the nerves has the potential to cause numbness and tingling. Furthermore, any injury to the spinal column can be even more serious because of the sensitivity of the spinal cord.
Upper back injuries affect nerves in the arms, while lower back injuries can have an impact on the legs. To treat injury-related paresthesia, schedule and appointment with our providers
Pressure on Spinal Nerves
You can put pressure on your spinal nerves by doing just about anything. Sitting down affects your lumbar region, and moving affects your alignment.
You can combat the pressure by staying active and switching between positions, and varying between movement and rest periods throughout the day. A chiropractor can use spinal manipulation to adjust any misalignments.
Vitamin Deficiency
Low vitamin levels can cause a variety of symptoms that act as a warning to your body to nourish what is insufficient. Deficiency in vitamins B1, B6, B12, folic acid, potassium, calcium, and sodium can all cause numbness and tingling.
To check for a deficiency, a medical provider will take a blood sample to analyze your vitamin levels. Before you see a doctor, you can objectively look at your diet to see if this is a possibility in your case. Adjusting your diet often fixes deficiency-related paresthesia.
Certain Toxins
Contact with certain toxins like mercury can cause numbness or tingling. Along with mercury poisoning, arsenic, thallium, and certain organic insecticides are known to cause paresthesia.
Exposure to these contaminants can happen through seemingly innocuous activities in your routine, such as eating lots of certain types of fish or tending to a garden.
Multiple Sclerosis
Nerves have a protective coating called myelin that regulates the efficiency of nerve signal transmission. Multiple sclerosis attacks the nervous system, affecting myelin by creating extremely painful lesions that can go numb depending on the location.
Consult with your doctor if you are experiencing symptoms consistent with this autoimmune disorder.
Peripheral Neuropathy
This is a broad term that covers a wide variety of conditions involving damage to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). The PNS is responsible for regulating communication between your central nervous system and the rest of your body.
In America, an estimated 20 million people live with a condition categorized as peripheral neuropathy.
Certain Medication
Certain medications for auto-immune diseases, seizures, or cancers can also cause paresthesia. When you are discussing a course of treatment with your doctor, they will notify you of any possible side effects of the recommended medication.
It is up to you and your doctor to weigh the pros and cons of medication while searching for the right treatment. If you have consistently been on medication and suddenly begin to experience numbness or tingling, call your doctor to consult about further use of the medicine.
Certain Infections
Many viruses and infections can cause paresthesia, like HIV, Epstein-Barr, Hepatitis B and C, shingles, and more. If you are experiencing infection-related numbness or tingling, it will typically be paired with other symptoms.
To assess the probability of infection-related paresthesia, check for abnormalities in your urine, stool, behavior, diet, and sleep schedule. Unusual color in urine, blood in stool, or unprompted behavioral changes are common symptoms, as well.
If You’re Looking for Relief, Optimum Health Provides Comprehensive Numbness/Tingling Treatment in Cumming
The providers at Optimum Health in Cumming are standing by to help you. We personalize an action plan that targets, relieves, and prevents paresthesia.
Our staff is committed to providing care for each patient that we see and is dedicated to their long-term wellness. To get in touch with a trusted member of our team, contact us online or call (770)887-9443.