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The 9 Causes of Tingling Limbs, Diagnosis and Treatment

You may be familiar with the unpleasant tingling sensation that attacks your hands or feet while sleeping, sitting or standing in an uncomfortable position. While this feeling usually passes after a few minor episodes or moments, if it happens often or for long periods of time, it is important to identify the root cause of the problem through a medical examination.

 

This irritating tingling sensation may occur for several reasons, so it is important to know these 9 so that you can identify what’s causing the discomfort and what you need to do to treat the issue and ease the pain naturally.

tingling limbs

1. Nerve pressure in the neck or back

Feeling pain and pressure coming from your neck and radiating into your arms, or pain that radiates from your back to your legs? It may be caused by injury, poor posture or arthritis. Dr. Stanley Iyadurai, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Medicine, and Rehabilitation at Ohio State University, explains that physiotherapy can be a great solution that can relieve the unpleasant tingling sensation.

2. Vitamin B12 deficiency

If you feel tingling in both hands at the same time, it may be a vitamin B12 deficiency. If you feel fatigued and weak throughout the day, you may be suffering from anemia. Therefore, it's important that you perform the blood tests necessary so you can get the full picture and act accordingly.

You can get vitamin B12 from animal by-products, cereals, energy bars, soy products, tofu, soaked yeast, or by taking a dietary supplement. If you decide to take a dietary supplement, make sure to find out when and how to consume it so you can get the most out of it.

 3. Carpal tunnel syndrome

Are you typing too much or have a physically demanding job? It turns out that repeated movements may eventually lead to the narrowing of the carpal tunnel located in the wrist. This occurs due to pressure on the median nerve, which in turn can lead to various symptoms, such as tingling in the hands and arm and even weakness in the palm of the hand, according to Dr. Iyadurai.

Diagnosis can be achieved through medical examinations performed by the family doctor; the first is the Phalen test, in which both hands are flexed for about half an hour to see if the symptoms appear, and the second is the tinnitus test, in which the wrist is tapped on and the symptoms are examined. In addition, an EMG test that checks the electrical activity of the muscle can determine whether nerve conduction in the median nerve is impaired.

tingling limbs

4. Stenosis of the cervical spine or spinal cord

Stenosis of the cervical spine or spinal cord may put pressure on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots and cause a tingling sensation, says Dr. Esther Young, a neurologist at Rochester Hills Hospital in Michigan. Stenosis of these areas can be diagnosed by MRI or CT scan and can be treated with physical therapy or with epidural injections or surgery in more severe cases.

5. High blood sugar

High blood sugar levels act like a nerve toxin and can cause tingling in the hands and feet. Dr. Iyadurai points out that if you suffer from excessive thirst and hunger or frequent urination, consult your family doctor and ask for a referral to blood glucose testing or an A1C (Glucose Hemoglobin) test, which exposes the average blood glucose level in a three month period. Before it's performed it's important to note that lifestyle changes or taking appropriate medications can help you take control.

6. Underactive thyroid gland

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the gland does not produce enough hormones, leading to a slow metabolism. This can cause tingling, as well as fatigue, cold sensitivity, unexplained weight gain, dry skin, and hair loss. Hypothyroidism can be easily diagnosed with a blood test, and if you do not produce enough thyroid hormones, a synthetic replacement can be taken.

tingling limbs

7. Multiple sclerosis

If you have a weakness that accompanies the tingling, plus symptoms such as double vision, walking difficulties, bladder control problems or bowel problems, there is a possibility that MS is the source of the problem, During the early stages of the disease, it's difficult to diagnose, but it can be detected by a combination of 3 different tests: blood test, MRI, and cerebrospinal fluid test. Dr. Young adds that there are various drugs that can slow the progression of the disease.

8. Circulatory problem

When you have circulatory problems, you might experience unpleasant tingling, but it should be noted that this tingling can also be felt when people feel tired or exhausted. If you feel tingling that does not stop and becomes permanent, something worse may be happening in your body, so consult your GP. 

 9. Restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is a relatively common condition in which the nervous system causes an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, with numbness in the limbs being one of the most common symptoms of this syndrome. It should be noted that this syndrome is usually inherited and some believe that it's linked to low levels of dopamine in the body.

In simple cases of this syndrome, which are not associated with other diseases (such as diabetes or renal failure), there is no need for special treatment and making a number of lifestyle changes such as; not smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol and caffeine, as well as exercising regularly, is often enough.

tingling limbs

If the tingling persists for a long time, consult your GP, but if it is sudden tingling that disturbs you, you should familiarize yourself with some natural and home-based treatments that can be used to relieve here. Here are four:

 

4 natural treatments for irritating tingles

1. Turmeric

Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which helps improve blood flow throughout the body. In addition, its anti-inflammatory properties help reduce discomfort in the prickly place, as long as it is not chronic and incessant tingling that requires medical attention as soon as possible.

Preparation and treatment:

• Place a small pot on low heat, add a cup of milk, a teaspoon of turmeric and a little honey.
• Mix well and wait until the liquid reaches the desired drinking temperature.
• It is recommended to drink this drink once a day to improve blood circulation in the body.
• You can also massage the tingling area with an ointment you can prepare by mixing turmeric powder with water.

tingling limbs

2. Hot compresses

In moments when you feel tingling, the first thing you can do is place a warm compress on the sensitive area. This will help increase blood supply to the prickly area. Moreover, this method will relax the muscles and nerves in that area.

Preparation and treatment:

• Dip a towel in hot water, squeeze it and place it on the desired area for 5-7 minutes. 
• Repeat several times until the sense of numbness disappears.
• You can also use a heating pad or have a warm bath.

3. Cinnamon

Cinnamon contains manganese and potassium along with various B vitamins. The health benefits of cinnamon can help improve blood flow to your feet and hands, helping to treat numbness or tingling.

Preparation and treatment:

• Mix one teaspoon of cinnamon in a glass of hot water and drink every day.
• Another option is to mix a teaspoon of cinnamon together with a teaspoon of honey and consume this mixture every morning for several weeks.

tingling limbs

4. Massage

Massaging the hands and feet can be very helpful when they're tingling, because it increases blood flow, reducing numbness and helps stimulate the nerves and muscles to improve their overall functioning.

Preparation and treatment:

• Pour a little warm olive or coconut oil on your palm and start massaging the tingling area, moving your fingers in a circular motion. 
• Massage for at least 5 minutes and repeat as necessary.

 

A few words to sum up

Successful treatment depends on accurate diagnosis on the underlying cause of tingling. Of course, as with any other health issue, in order to prevent this problem, it is necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle, including maintaining a healthy weight, a balanced diet, avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption and stopping smoking. In some cases of tingling and other symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, discomfort may be reduced by medication, as instructed by the family doctor.

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