Reasons for Feeling Numb
Anytime you start feeling numb, regardless of the area of the body, you should question why. A reaction of the body such as this could be something mild or it could be an indicator of something serious happening. We wanted to provide some of the more common reasons that you may experience numbness of some degree so you will have a better idea of when to be concerned.
One of the most obvious reasons that a part of the body would be feeling numb has to do with surgery. Whether minor or major, if any type of anesthesia has been used then it would be expected for the area worked on to have some degree of numbness, as well as some of the surrounding area. Depending on the type of surgery and the amount along with type of anesthesia used would determine the degree of numbness.
Beyond surgery, more important reasons for feeling numb exist. For instance, some physical conditions can lead to numbness. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a prime example. With this, nerves in the hand become trapped or pinched, which in turn creates a tingling sensation and a feeling of numbness. In most cases, a surgical procedure releases the nerves, which eliminates both the tingling and the numbness.
Certain nutritional imbalances can also cause a feeling of numbness, which takes many people by surprise. However, when the body does not get the things it needs to function properly, different sensations would be expected. For instance, if the body has an abnormal level of sodium, potassium, or calcium, as well as various vitamins to include vitamin B12, numbness is one of the symptoms. In addition, some types of medication can also cause numbness.
Certain diseases are also known for producing a feeling of numbness. Although all of the listed diseases are different, the problem of numbness has something to do with the nerves in all cases, causing the feeling of numbness. However, the way in which the nerves are affected is unique for each. The following are the more common diseases that can cause a feeling of numbness, some worse than others:
- Diabetes
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Transient Ischemic Attack or TIA (mini-stroke)
- Migraine Headaches
- Raynaud’s Phenomenon
- Underactive Thyroid
Remember, while a feeling of numbness can be the result for each of the listed diseases, the degree of the numb sensation, as well as the part of the body impacted would vary. For instance, if you suffer from migraines, numbness would be expected around the head or neck area whereas with Raynaud’s Phenomenon, numbness would be typically felt in the hands.
It is important that anytime a person has a feeling of numbness that does not go away within a day or experiences other symptoms, they should contact the doctor or call 911. As an example, people who have a stroke will feel numbness, which usually includes slurred speech and loss of movement on one side more than another side. Obviously, in a situation such as this, the problem is life-threatening.