Managing an ongoing numb or tingling sensation can be alarming and overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be something you conform to and live with forever! Many causes of numbness and tingling can be treated by a wellness specialist.
Numbness is described as a loss of sensation, whereas tingling is described as overstimulation which can be described as pins and needles gently poking at you just beneath the skin.
This feeling is also more commonly known as ‘falling asleep’ and is not considered dangerous or even alarming. Most often, our legs and arms will fall asleep due to temporary pressure on a nerve and will resolve on its own within an hour.
Numbness and tingling can be frustrating to treat because there are only a select few ways to treat this condition. Otherwise known as paresthesia, long-lasting bursts of tingling sensations are rarely treatable at home.
To find long-term relief, the right care specialist will need to assess the severity of your condition and work with you to build a comprehensive treatment plan.
At Optimum Health Rehabilitation Center, we focus on understanding the unique needs of each patient to personalize paresthesia treatment. Carrying the burden of numbness and tingling sensations quickly becomes exhausting, but our relief specialists can help lift some of that weight off of your shoulders.
Take control of your health with the resources available from our local team of professionals. To speak with a trusted member of our team, contact us online or call (404) 793-1600.
Benefits of Numbness/Tingling Treatment
As with many common ailments and painful conditions, numbness and tingling treatment typically starts at home. You may be able to find the occasional topical cream or ointment that helps neutralize the sensation or lack thereof that you are experiencing, but there aren’t many effective over-the-counter treatments available to tackle paresthesia.
This is because numbness and tingling causes come from the nerves and not muscles or joints. At-home remedies can have a positive effect on paresthesia, such as eating foods that target nerve pain: sweet potatoes, zucchini, quinoa, and avocado.
A doctor may prescribe medications to combat some of the irritating symptoms and even send you to a specialist like a neurologist for further testing. A specialist’s intervention is rarely necessary, but in certain instances, like cases of Multiple Sclerosis, this thorough approach can be crucial.
You can also approach numbness and tingling treatment with a relief specialist that can provide various treatment services, including therapeutic, non-invasive methods.
The wellness specialists at Optimum Health Rehabilitation Center offer comprehensive paresthesia treatment that is personalized to your specific situation. While numbness and tingling may be more irritating than pain, it is still a problematic symptom that can prevent your body from functioning properly and should be addressed by a physical care facility.
To aid in reversing the uncomfortable sensations of numbness and tingling, a chiropractic care specialist from Optimum Health will use various techniques, including manual adjustments, trigger point injections, and more, to help promote natural healing within your body.
Should I See a Doctor for Numbness/Tingling?
For many of the most common causes of numbness and tingling, medical intervention won’t be necessary. Recurring sensations can be more cause for concern and shouldn’t be ignored.
Most of the time, you can ignore the numbness of paresthesia, and it will resolve on its own, but persistent and ongoing cases can have some more serious underlying causes.
A doctor or a wellness specialist can run a series of tests that can aid in uncovering the true cause of your persistent numbness and tingling. From physical movements to a lifestyle questionnaire, these exams are typically non-invasive and can be done with little outside equipment.
While numbness and tingling have an endless list of causes, it is important to schedule a visit with your primary care doctor 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
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 Ongoing Numbness/Tingling?
Most of the many causes for paresthesia are generally harmless and will resolve on their own. You can experience these uncomfortable sensations from sleeping wrong or sitting in the same position for too long.
However, certain factors can result in numbness or tingling that may require intervention to be treated. Even though many of the common causes for numbness and tingling may be harmless, we’ve compiled a list of the nine most common causes of paresthesia that can be treated by a wellness specialist or other care professional.
Injury
Facing an injury to the nerve centers can result in numbness or tingling during the healing process. Because the spinal cord is so sensitive, an injury can have an impactful effect on many other parts of the body.
Upper back injuries can affect nerves in the arms, while lower back injuries can impact the legs. Recap your past injuries to determine if you may be experiencing injury-related paresthesia.
Pressure on Spinal Nerves
Practically all daily activities will put pressure on the spinal nerves; sitting, standing, and walking. Sitting down compresses the discs in your lumbar region, which can cause pinched or overstimulated nerves.
Standing puts pressure specifically on the spinal root, while moving around can easily affect alignment. You can avoid developing damage from pressure on the spinal nerves by staying active and frequently changing positions when you sit and stand.
It is also crucial that the human body gets the proper balance between activity and rest throughout each day.
Vitamin Deficiency
Not having the right level of essential vitamins can cause uncomfortable symptoms, including numbness or tingling in some cases. The WHO estimates that more than 2 billion people today live with a deficiency in key vitamins.
These symptoms act as a warning sign from your body to let you know that something is off. Deficiency in vitamins B1, B6, B12, folic acid, potassium, calcium, and sodium can all cause numbness and tingling.
A vitamin deficiency is discovered by analyzing a blood sample, but before you go through the doctor’s visit, think about your dietary habits to see if it is likely.
Certain Toxins
Exposure to mercury, arsenic, thallium, and certain organic insecticides can cause symptoms like numbness and tingling in dangerous doses. This can result from simple and common activities like eating fish or tending to a garden.
Multiple Sclerosis
People with MS experience an attack on the nervous system that affects the protective sheath around nerves called myelin. As this auto-immune condition damages the protection around sensitive nerve endings, MS can cause extreme pain, but also other forms of discomfort like numbness and tingling.
To relieve any related discomfort, consult with the doctor about the safest pain-relieving methods.
Peripheral Neuropathy
This umbrella term covers a wide range of conditions that involve damage to the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This subsection of the nervous system is responsible for regulating communication between your central nervous system (CNS) and the rest of the body.
It’s estimated that over 20 million people in the U.S. alone live with some condition categorized as peripheral neuropathy.
Certain Medication
Numbness and tingling can be a symptom of prescribed medication. Some medications for auto-immune diseases, seizures, and certain types of cancer can cause paresthesia.
You should notify your doctor of any side effects you are experiencing and discuss any concerns about continuing. Your doctor will assess the advantages and disadvantages of your medication to determine if it is essential that you remain on it or if you can try to yield better results with a new one.
Animal Bites
Numbness or tingling due to a recent animal bite should be immediately assessed by an emergency care specialist for potential risks. Look out for additional qualities about the bite, including coldness, bruising, or stiffness.
Certain Infections
You can experience numbness and paresthesia from infections such as HIV, Epstein-Barr, Hepatitis B and C, shingles, and more. If these sensations are the result of an infection, they will be accompanied by other tell-tale symptoms such as abnormalities in your urine, stool, behavior, diet, and sleep schedule.
Work With a Care Specialist From Optimum Health Rehab in Tucker for Numbness and Tingling
Numbness and tingling can be a whole different kind of pain to manage because of the unique sensations involved. Thankfully, these ailments can oftentimes be treated with non-invasive treatment methods from a facility like Optimum Health.
When you work with our rehabilitation facility, we’ll personalize an action plan that targets, relieves, and prevents paresthesia. Our staff is committed to providing aid 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 (404)793-1600.