Numbness and Tingling

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What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office

Your health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination, with careful evaluation of your neurologic system.

Medical history questions may include the following:

• What part or parts of your body does the numbness or tingling affect? The trunk? Your legs or feet? Your arms and hands?
• Which side of your body is affected?
• Which aspect of the specific body part? For example, is your inner thigh, calf, or foot affected? Your palm, fingers, thumb, wrist, or forearm?
• Does the numbness or tingling affect your face? Around your eyes? Your cheeks? Around your mouth? Is one or both sides of your face involved?
• Do you have other abnormal sensations?
• Do you ignore everything on the affected side?
• How long have you had the numbness or tingling?
• When did it start?
• Does anything make it worse like exercise or standing for long periods of time?
• Do you have any other symptoms?

Your doctor may also ask you questions to assess your risk for stroke, an underactive thyroid, or diabetes, as well as questions about your work habits and medications.

Diagnostic tests that may be performed include:

• Blood tests such as CBC, electrolytes, thyroid function tests, and vitamin B12 levels
• Imaging studies like a CT scan of the head, CT scan of the spine, MRI of the head, or MRI of the spine
• Electromyography to measure how your muscles respond to nerve stimulation
• X-ray of the affected area
• Lumbar puncture to assess for multiple sclerosis and other conditions
• Ultrasound of neck vessels to evaluate your risk for TIA or stroke