Numbness and tingling are odd sensations, usually a prickling feeling, that occurs anywhere in the body, although most people notice them in their hands, arms, legs, and feet. It is an extremely common and bothersome symptom and can be temporary and benign or a sign of something much more significant. For example, it can be the result of something as simple as pressure on your nerves by crossing your legs too long or having your arm crooked under your head when sleeping. The sensations typically go away as soon as the pressure is removed.
In some instances, however, numbness and tingling can be both severe and even chronic. It may come with pain, itching, and muscle weakness. It can be due to repetitive stress or traumatic injuries and a sign of nerve damage. It can also be due to infections, diseases, or exposure to toxins. Treatment for the symptoms will depend on the cause. There are three common terms for numbness and tingling, and each is a bit different.
Together, we will create a personalized treatment plan catered to YOUR body, YOUR pain points and YOUR speed. What is right for one won’t be right for another. We specialize in the following methods to create a customized treatment plan.
A chiropractor is able to examine the spine and perform adjustments that eliminate incorrect alignments to reduce nerve interference. During an adjustment, the doctor will use their hands to apply gentle pressure to certain areas of the spine to move it back into alignment. By realigning the spine, blood and nerve flow is improved so the body can function as intended. Regular chiropractic care can often prevent or correct symptoms of numbness and tingling.
Chiropractic for neuropathy focuses on treating inflammation and underlying conditions resulting in numbness and tingling. A chiropractic doctor will focus their treatment on therapies that promote healing in specific areas that are causing your symptoms.
In some situations, numbness, tingling, or burning can indicate a serious medical condition or injury. Seek urgent care if you experience back, head, or neck injury; are unable to move or walk; lose consciousness, even if it’s only for a short time; become confused or have trouble thinking clearly, have severe pain or feelings of weakness, experience slurred speech or vision problems; or lose control of your bladder or bowels.
Most cases of tingling and numbness respond well to conservative treatments performed by a chiropractor. Their aim is to eliminate irritation to the nerves to restore proper functioning. This may be done through gentle spinal manipulation, spinal decompression, and other therapies.
Chiropractors diagnose and treat spinal disorders that cause nerve and musculoskeletal pain. Your chiropractor will perform neurological and physical examinations to make an accurate diagnosis and identify the treatment options that can help your specific situation.
Chiropractic care is excellent at addressing leg and arm tingling and numbness in ways that are often overlooked by traditional physicians. They will use natural, non-invasive treatments to alleviate your symptoms and any underlying conditions. These may include gentle adjustments to your shoulder, wrist, arms, legs, hips, knees, or ankles which may free up nerves that are causing pain.
There are two reasons that you may have numbness or tingling. One is a lack of blood flow and the other is a lack of nerve flow. One of the most common reasons a lack of nerve flow occurs is a vertebral subluxation or having one or more vertebrae in your spine become misaligned. This can put pressure on a nerve and interfere with nerve impulses which may result in tingling or numbness in the hands or feet.
Case studies show that chiropractic care is proven to improve numbness and tingling. Many people see a reduction in symptoms in one treatment, while others need multiple treatments to get noticeable relief. How many treatments you need will depend on the cause of your symptoms, how severe your symptoms are, and how long you have been experiencing symptoms.
This describes the abnormal prickling or burning sensations that are often felt in the arms, hands, feet, or legs. It is usually painless and is often described as skin crawling, itching, numbness, or tingling. Temporary paresthesia is often described as pins and needles, such as when a person’s leg falls asleep from being crossed too long. It is usually temporary. Chronic paresthesia is usually a symptom of traumatic nerve damage or an underlying neurological disease.
These symptoms are also usually felt in the arms, hands, feet, or legs, but the difference between dysesthesia and paresthesia is the severity of the symptoms. Dysesthesia typically results in chronic, painful sensations that interfere with sleep, daily activities, and quality of life. The symptoms are usually described as prickling, stabbing, extremely cold, burning, pain with even light touch, or electrical sensations. Dysesthesia is typically caused by nerve damage.
Hypoesthesia is the partial or total loss of sensation in a part of the body and may be accompanied by a pins and needles sensation. In addition to losing a sense of pain, you may also lose the sensations of touch and temperature, and you may not be able to tell the position of the numb part of your body. Hypoesthesia usually results from irritation or injury of a nerve due to trauma, metabolic abnormalities, pressure, infection, or some types of local anesthetics.
Numbness and tingling can be caused by a variety of conditions. These may include:
A pinched nerve occurs when too much pressure is applied to the nerve by tissues surrounding it. The pressure disrupts the function of the nerve causing pain, numbness, weakness, or tingling. It can occur in any place in the body and may radiate from one area of the body to another. For example, a nerve pinched in the spine due to a herniated disc may be felt in the legs instead of the back.
Carpal tunnel syndrome results when pressure is put on the medial nerve in the wrist. The passageway of the nerve is surrounded by ligaments and bones, and when the nerve is compressed the arm and hand may become weak and have numbness and tingling.
Sciatica refers to pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve which runs from the lower back to the hips and down each leg. It usually only affects one side of the body. Sciatica commonly occurs when a bone spur of the spine, narrowing of the spine, or herniated disc compresses part of the nerve. The pain can be severe, but most cases can be resolved with non-surgical treatments.
Although many people use these terms interchangeably, they are two separate conditions. The biggest difference between a herniated disc and bulging disc is that the center of the disc doesn’t push out of the tough outer layer. Instead, it bulges out of the space it usually occupies. A herniated disc, on the other hand, is when the center of the disc pushes through the tough outer layer of the disc. If the bulging or herniated disc puts pressure on the spinal nerves it can lead to symptoms such as pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling.
Both of these injuries are due to overuse, which means they are the result of repetitive trauma to a specific area. Repeated impact results in microscopic tears of the tissue, inflammation, and pain. Although these injuries may seem like they are only caused by the specific sport listed, they can be the result of about any activity that uses the elbow or wrist repetitively and excessively.
The fascia is the thin layer of tissue that covers the muscles to lubricate and protect them. When the fascia gets crinkled or tight, it can result in an adhesion that causes soreness and stiffness. Adhesions usually occur after overuse or injury. For what seems like a small issue, myofascial adhesions can cause big problems. When tissues stick together, they may put pressure on tendons or muscles, and even nerves. If a nerve becomes pinched or inflamed it can lead to weakness, tingling, or numbness.
This is the narrowing of space inside the spine which puts pressure on the nerves inside the spine. It typically occurs in the neck and lower back. Although some people may have no symptoms, it can result in pain, numbness, tingling, and muscle weakness. Symptoms often get worse over time. It is typically caused by wear and tear changes in the spine due to osteoarthritis.
This is a general term for age-related wear and tear affecting the discs of the spine. As the discs shrink and dehydrate, osteoarthritis symptoms begin to develop. It is a common condition that gets worse with age. Most people experience no symptoms, but symptoms, when they appear, may include pain, numbness, and tingling.
Migraines are a type of recurring headache that can result in moderate to severe pain that may be pulsing or throbbing. The pain is typically on one side of the head and may include other symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, and weakness.
Physical trauma is a significant injury to the body and is usually due to one of two main types – blunt force trauma or penetrating trauma. Blunt force trauma is when a force or object strikes the body and results in deep cuts, concussions, or broken bones. Penetrating trauma is when an object pierces the body or skin and creates an open wound. Surgery may also result in trauma called a controlled injury.
This condition results when the nerve is damaged due to chronically high blood sugar and diabetes. It leads to loss of sensation, numbness, and sometimes pain in the feet, hands, and legs.
Because numbness and tingling can also mimic other serious medical conditions it’s especially important to get a correct diagnosis from a professional, like a chiropractor, to ensure you’re getting the right treatment.
In addition to chiropractic adjustments, your practitioner can also provide guidance on proper rehabilitation exercises to perform at home. These personalized exercises will help you continue to address the root of your problem outside of a practitioner’s office and help to speed your recovery process.