What Causes Pain, Tingling Sensation And Numbness In The Hands And Legs?
Detailed evaluation is required
Detailed Answer:
Hello Dear. Tingling numbness in hands and legs can either be due to some pressure effect on nerves resulting from wrong postures during sleep or it can be sign of peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy can be due to several causes like -
1. Diabetes
2. Hypertension, TIA leading to vascular narrowing and less blood supply to the affected portion. This can also be the cause in your case
3. vitamin deficiency
4. kidney failure
5. bacterial and viral infections- Lyme disease, shingles (varicella-zoster), cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr, herpes simplex, and HIV/AIDS
6. hormonal imbalance like hypothyroidism
7. Connective tissue disorders
8. Amyloidosis
9. cancers and benign tumors that impinge on nerves
10. Alcoholism which may lead to nerve damage
11. Heavy metal exposure like lead, arsenic, mercury, and thallium, and some industrial and environmental chemicals
12. Autoimmune diseases- chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
Diagnosing your condition:
If you seek care for your tingling hands or feet, your health care provider will do a physical exam and take an extensive medical history addressing your symptoms, work environment, social habits (including alcohol use), toxic exposure, risk of HIV or other infectious diseases, and family history of neurological disease.
He or she also may perform additional tests such as:
1. Blood tests. These can include tests to detect diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, liver or kidney dysfunction, other metabolic disorders, and signs of abnormal immune system activity.
2. An examination of cerebrospinal fluid. This can identify antibodies associated with peripheral neuropathy.
3. An electromyogram (EMG), a test of the electrical activity of muscle
Nerve conduction velocity (NCV)
Other tests may include:
1. Computed tomography (CT) to see for signs of TIA, potential risk of stroke, vascular narrowing etc
2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
3. Nerve biopsy
4. Skin biopsy to look at nerve fiber endings
Treatment:
Successful treatment depends on an accurate diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause of the tingling. For example good blood sugar control in diabetes can slow the progression of diabetic neuropathy; vitamin supplementation can correct peripheral neuropathy in people with vitamin deficiencies.
General lifestyle recommendations include maintaining an optimal weight, avoiding exposure to toxins, following a doctor-supervised exercise program, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption. Recommendations also include quitting smoking, which constricts blood supply to blood vessels supplying nutrients to peripheral nerves.
Suggestion:
Right mow take an appointment with your doctor and till the time you meet your doctor you can take Tablet Neurobion once a day.
Hope i have answered your question. Feel free to contact me if you have any more questions. I ll be glad to help you.
All the best
With warm regards
Dr Sanjay Kini