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 for feelings of numbness and/or tingling. These possible causes include:
* 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
* Lack of blood supply to an area -- for example, plaque buildup from atherosclerosis in the legs can cause pain, numbness, and tingling while walking (this is called vascular claudication)
* Other medical conditions, including:
o Carpal tunnel syndrome
o Diabetes
o Migraines
o Multiple sclerosis
o Seizures
o Stroke
o Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
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
* Certain medications
* Toxic action on nerves, such as that from lead, alcohol, or tobacco
* Radiation therapy
The underlying cause of numbness or tingling should be identified and then treated by your doctor. Treatment of the underlying condition may reverse the symptoms or prevent them from becoming worse. I'd suggest that you schedule an appointment to speak with your doctor about these symptoms ASAP. And let us know how it goes, rockstar!
