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Numbness and Tingling
Alternate Names : Loss of Sensation, Paresthesias, Sensory Loss, Tingling and Numbness
DefinitionNumbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but are often felt in your hands, feet, arms, or legs.
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Common Causes
Numbness and tingling have many different possible causes, including:
- Remaining in the same seated or standing position for a long time.
- Injuring the particular nerve supplying the body part where you feel the sensation. The injury can be in the neck, back, wrist, elbow, leg, or elsewhere. If you have a neck injury, for example, you may feel the sensation anywhere along your arm or hand. Similarly, a low back injury can cause sciatica -- a sensation of numbness or tingling down the back of your leg.
- Lack of blood supply to the area. For example, plaque buildup from atherosclerosis in the legs can cause pain, numbness, and tingling while walking. (This is called claudication.)
- Pressure on the spinal nerves, like that from a herniated disk.
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Carpal tunnel syndrome can cause numbness or tingling in your wrist, fingers, hand, or forearm.
- Certain medical conditions, including diabetes, an underactive thyroid, multiple sclerosis, seizures, or migraine headaches.
- Changs in electrolytes, like abnormal levels of calcium, potassium, or sodium in your body.
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Vitamin B12 deficiency.
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Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke
- Certain medications, including chemotherapy for cancer, chloroquine for malaria, D-penicillamine, isoniazid for tuberculosis, nitrofurantoin, gold therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, or phenytoin for seizures.
- Toxic action on nerves, such as that from lead, alcohol, or tobacco.
- Radiation therapy.
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Definition Numbness and Tingling: Common Causes Numbness and Tingling: Home Care & Treatment Call your Health Care Provider if What to Expect at your Health Care Provider's Office
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Topics that might be of interest to you Diseases & Conditions
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diabetes Herniated Nucleus Pulposus (Slipped Disk) Hypothyroidism Migraine Multiple Sclerosis Stroke Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA)
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CBC Cranial CT Scan CSF Collection Electromyography Lumbosacral Spine CT MRI of the Head Skull X-Ray Spine MRI Ultrasound
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Vitamin B12
Review Date : 10/16/2003
Reviewed By : Jacqueline A. Hart, M.D., Department of Internal Medicine, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Boston, Ma., and Senior Medical Editor, A.D.A.M., Inc. Previously reviewed by Elaine T. Kiriakopoulos, M.D., M.Sc., Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard University, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (11/14/2002).
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