Gaby
We’ve all experienced numbness in our limbs or other parts of our bodies at some point in our lives. This loss of sensation often occurs after staying in an awkward position for too long, such as while sleeping. In such cases, the temporary discomfort usually doesn’t lead to any negative consequences. However, there are times when it’s crucial to pay attention to our bodies to avoid missing signals of serious issues. What does numbness in the fingers, toes, tongue, lips, or face indicate? Should we be concerned, and what steps can we take to address the situation?
Symptoms and Causes
Numbness, or paresthesia, refers to a disruption in the sensitivity of tissues due to damage to the peripheral nervous system. It manifests as tingling, a “pins and needles” sensation on the skin, weakness, and a general decrease in sensitivity in a specific area of the body. Numbness in various parts can be caused by impaired blood circulation and nerve impulse transmission. Often, this is due to compression of soft tissues from an uncomfortable body position, tight clothing, bracelets, rings, and so on. In such cases, normalizing blood flow through gentle stretching can alleviate the numbness.
Numbness in the limbs can also occur during a migraine attack (or just before it) and may accompany other symptoms. Mild tingling with partial loss of sensation can be linked to temperature fluctuations, cold exposure, nervous strain, or physical overexertion from lifting weights above heart level or from prolonged repetitive tasks like knitting or typing. To relieve the symptom, it’s essential to address its cause, which can often be achieved with a brief rest.
Circulatory issues, ranging from narrowed arteries to thrombosis or embolism, can lead to numbness in the hands and feet. Additionally, various neurological conditions can be responsible: acute cerebral ischemia, neuropathy, nervous system disorders, severe stress, or pathological anxiety. Numbness and muscle weakness (paralysis) in the arms and legs can result from spinal cord injuries and various complications, as well as muscle and joint trauma or swelling.
Among the potential causes of numbness in the fingers and toes, doctors cite the effects of alcohol, drugs, or toxins. These factors can lead to varying degrees and durations of loss of sensation in the limbs. It’s not just the consumption of toxic substances that poses a risk; contact with chemicals, poisons, and other irritants can also be harmful. In addition to general intoxication, certain conditions and diseases—such as rheumatism (rheumatoid arthritis), diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, and infections—can provoke numbness.
Why Do Fingers and Toes Go Numb?
Our limbs, especially our fingers, serve as the “endpoints” of the nervous and circulatory systems. Their numbness indicates a “signal interruption,” a malfunction in the system. Circulatory disturbances in the limbs can arise from cardiovascular and endocrine diseases, vascular thrombosis, high blood sugar levels, inflammatory processes in the joints, osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias, and so-called carpal tunnel syndrome. Numbness, weakness, and neurological symptoms can also be caused by multiple sclerosis—an autoimmune condition characterized by damage to the nerve cell membranes.
Compression neuropathy can lead to muscle weakness, spasms, and loss of sensation due to nerve compression. The most common form is carpal tunnel syndrome, where the median nerve is compressed at the wrist, affecting the thumb, index, and middle fingers. Tingling, numbness, and pain can occur in these fingers. What starts as mild discomfort can escalate into severe nighttime numbness and pain that isn’t relieved by over-the-counter painkillers.
In cases of ulnar nerve syndrome (in the elbow area) and anterior scalene muscle syndrome (in the neck), numbness in the fourth and fifth fingers typically occurs during the day. Compression of spinal nerve roots due to radiculitis can lead to numbness in the thumb and index finger, with pain intensifying with any neck movement. Possible causes of loss of sensation in the hands include tumors of the cervical vertebrae, osteonecrosis, or trauma. Numbness may then occur alongside muscle pain and an inability to grip. Another common ailment associated with limb numbness is cervical and thoracic osteochondrosis.
A medical cause of numbness in the fingers or hands can be multiple sclerosis, which disrupts signal transmission from the brain. Numbness can be one of the earliest signs of this serious condition. Other symptoms may include short-term memory loss, dizziness, nausea, spasms, and color blindness. Disruption of nerve signal transmission throughout the body is known as peripheral neuropathy. This condition can develop due to limb thrombosis, infections in the body, alcoholism, type 2 diabetes, and deficiencies in vitamins E, R, and the B group (particularly vitamin B12, which significantly affects sensitivity in the limbs and other body parts).
Keeping It Under Control
Other causes of impaired blood flow include pregnancy, so-called Raynaud’s syndrome (which is related to metabolic disorders and is more common in women), spinal column pathology, or inflammation of the nerve plexus—known as brachial plexitis. What should you do if your hands and feet are numb? To alleviate limb numbness as quickly as possible, bend and straighten your fingers until sensitivity returns. It’s also helpful to raise your hands above your head. Particular attention should be paid to tingling in the fingers of the left hand and numbness from the shoulder to the fingertips. If the left hand goes numb, it could be due to injuries, fractures, or repetitive strain from activities like playing a musical instrument, cycling, or typing.
Unfortunately, numbness isn’t always related to nerve compression in the vulnerable carpal tunnel. It’s crucial not to confuse the chest pain characteristic of osteochondrosis with critical conditions, as numbness in the left hand can signal angina, ischemia, a heart attack, or a stroke. Accompanying symptoms of a vascular event may include coordination issues, confusion, dizziness, headaches, anxiety, panic attacks, weakness, cold sweat, and changes in skin color. If numbness in the left hand, particularly in the wrist and above, is accompanied by these symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
Numbness on one side of the face can also be a sign of a stroke. Call emergency services if this alarming symptom appears suddenly and is accompanied by general weakness and loss of sensation in other body parts. However, numbness in the face, cheek, chin, mouth, or tongue can have various origins. If the tongue goes numb and the lips lose sensitivity, it may be triggered by anxiety, stress, migraines, medications, or deficiencies in essential vitamins (B, K) and minerals (potassium, magnesium, and calcium).
What commonly causes numbness in the tongue and lips? Loss of sensation in the mouth area can result from a sudden spike in blood pressure, diabetes, allergies, herpes, Bell’s palsy, multiple sclerosis, cervical osteochondrosis, and acute vitamin B deficiencies. When the tongue goes numb, it’s essential to include dairy products, fish, organ meats (like liver, heart, or kidneys), legumes, grains, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, spinach, nuts, tomatoes, and oranges in your diet, or to take vitamin B supplements. Numbness in the upper lip can be triggered by dental and neurological issues. In some neurotic disorders, short-term, prolonged, or persistent numbness of the lips and tongue may occur in isolation or in conjunction with numbness in other areas of the face.
Treatment and Prevention
To eliminate numbness, it’s necessary to treat underlying conditions. For migraines, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants are prescribed. Osteochondrosis is treated with muscle relaxants, physical therapy, massage, and therapeutic exercises. It’s important to eliminate harmful habits, change your lifestyle, and adjust your diet. Regular sleep deprivation, a sedentary lifestyle, and poor nutrition can also lead to numbness in the hands, feet, and face, as these factors create complex disruptions in the body’s functioning. Comprehensive diagnostics will uncover hidden diseases, allowing the doctor to accurately determine the cause of numbness in the fingers, tongue, and lips. The examination process may require consultations with a therapist, neurologist, psychotherapist, cardiologist, rheumatologist, or endocrinologist. Diagnostic tests may include ultrasound of the blood vessels in the arms and legs and peripheral nerves, cardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, or X-rays. Doctors will also need hormone tests and a complete blood and urine analysis. In the most complex cases, where numbness is caused by compression of nerve structures and other structural anomalies, surgical intervention may be necessary.
Typically, therapy includes injections of anti-inflammatory medications, the use of drugs and vitamins. Doctors may recommend various self-care methods, including hot and cold compresses or stimulation of nerve endings. To restore sensitivity, coordination, and muscle strength, massage, physical therapy, and therapeutic exercises are prescribed. To prevent numbness in the limbs and face, doctors suggest quitting smoking and drinking, losing excess weight, leading a healthy lifestyle, and monitoring the condition of the nervous and circulatory systems. To improve overall health, it’s important to increase physical activity, avoid prolonged static positions, drink plenty of fluids, and maintain a balanced diet.
You can start by eliminating foods high in simple carbohydrates and salt in favor of vegetables, fruits, greens, and legumes. When engaging in heavy physical activities, it’s crucial to follow safety guidelines. Avoid overexerting your arms and legs just as firmly as you would prevent injuries. It’s essential to continuously monitor blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Relaxation and meditation are vital skills in stressful environments and during nerve-wracking work. Adequate sleep and positive emotions are key to caring for the health of your circulatory and nervous systems, as disruptions in these systems can lead to numbness.
