Why are my arms and legs numb?

In our daily life, we often encounter the phenomenon of numbness in the limbs. For example, when we just wake up from sleep, our arms and legs may feel numb, or if we sit in one place for a long time, our legs may also feel numb. Numbness in the limbs is directly related to long-term inactivity. Lack of exercise will cause poor blood circulation, leading to numbness in the limbs. In our daily life, we should exercise properly, eat more light food, drink more water, eat more vegetables and fruits, and develop good work and rest habits.

What causes numbness in arms and legs?

Numbness is a loss of feeling in a part of the body. If you sit or lie down in an abnormal posture for too long, you will feel a tingling sensation (numbness) in a certain part of your body. This feeling will disappear after a little movement. This numb and tingling sensation caused by abnormal posture is not a problem. However, unexplained tingling and numbness may be a symptom of disease, so you should see a doctor.

1. Symptoms: When you sit in one posture for too long, or when you wake up from a deep sleep, the limbs under your body feel tingling like needles.

Possibility: It is caused by compression of nerves or blood vessels, resulting in poor blood flow.

Treatment: No treatment is needed, it will get better after some exercise.

2. Symptoms: Numbness and tingling in the hands and stiffness in the neck.

Possibility: Cervical spondylosis is caused by compression of nerves and blood vessels by the cervical joints. It mostly occurs in people over 50 years old.

Treatment: The doctor may arrange for the patient to undergo an X-ray examination first. If the diagnosis is cervical spondylosis, the doctor may use a neck collar to immobilize the patient's neck. Reduce movement and stress on your neck. Take aspirin or acetaminophen if necessary.

3. Symptoms: Numbness and tingling in the hands, which is worse at night, and pain spreads from the wrist to the hand.

Possible: Carpal tunnel syndrome.

Treatment: See a doctor. The doctor may need to perform necessary examinations on the patient, and once the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor may inject anti-inflammatory drugs into the wrist joint. Surgery may also be required.

4. Symptoms: Tingling on one side of the body, accompanied by one or all of the following symptoms: blurred vision, confusion, difficulty speaking, and inability to move the legs and arms. Later, all these symptoms disappeared.

Possibility: Stroke caused by cerebral blood vessel obstruction. If the above symptoms disappear completely later, it may be a temporary imbalance of blood supply to the brain, commonly known as cerebral ischemia.

Treatment: See a doctor immediately.

5. Symptoms: When it is cold, fingers and toes become numb, purple, red and painful.

Possible cause: Raynaud's syndrome, which is caused by excessive sensitivity of fingers and toes to low temperatures, affecting blood circulation, or it may be an adverse reaction to α-receptor blocking drugs taken by hypertensive patients.

Treatment: The doctor may use medication to improve the patient's symptoms. Placing fingers in warm water during an attack can help relieve the symptoms. Patients should pay attention to keeping their hands and feet warm.

6. Symptoms: When sleeping on your side and falling asleep, the upper arm becomes numb.

Possible: Low blood pressure.

Treatment: If this phenomenon occurs occasionally, no treatment is needed. If it occurs frequently, you should consult a doctor.

7. Symptoms: numbness in the extremities (fingers or toes).

Possible: Caused by other diseases (such as diabetes).