Numbness and tingling

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Central nervous system

Numbness and tingling are abnormal sensations that can occur anywhere in your body, but are often felt in your hands, feet, arms, or legs.

Sensory loss; Paresthesias; Tingling and numbness; Loss of sensation

There are many possible causes:

• Remaining in the same seated or standing position for a long time.
• Injuring a nerve supplying the body part where you feel the sensation. 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, as from a herniated disk.
• Carpal tunnel syndrome . This can cause numbness or tingling in your wrist, fingers, hand, or forearm.
• Certain medical conditions, including diabetes, underactive thyroid, multiple sclerosis, seizures, or migraine headaches.
• Abnormal levels of calcium, potassium, or sodium in your body.
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency.
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or stroke
• Certain medications.
• Toxic action on nerves, such as that from lead, alcohol, or tobacco.
• Radiation therapy.

Review Date: 07/28/2005
Reviewed By: Kevin Sheth, M.D., Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.