What diseases can cause numbness and stiffness in the lower limbs?

Some people may experience loss of sensation, numbness and stiffness in their lower limbs if they sit in one position for a long time, which will improve with proper exercise. However, we need to be vigilant that some diseases can also cause numbness and stiffness in the lower limbs, such as taking certain medications for illness, neuritis, or diabetes.

Numbness in the hands and feet is caused by poor peripheral blood circulation. Numbness occurs due to insufficient local blood supply to the hands and feet. Numbness in the hands and feet may be caused by:

★The causes of numbness in hands and feet are generally the following four aspects:

First, people with diabetes may experience numbness in their hands and feet. If you experience frequent numbness, soreness, or swelling in any part of your body, you should check your blood sugar promptly.

The second is numbness caused by drugs or chemicals. For example, if you have a cold or diarrhea, taking berberine or furazolidone may cause numbness in your hands and feet; numbness in your hands and feet may also occur if you stay in an environment containing hydrogen, arsenic, carbon disulfide, etc. for a long time.

The third is numbness caused by neuritis. The most common symptoms of neuritis are numbness of hands and feet, muscle atrophy, and weakness in the limbs. If you have diarrhea or a cold for half a month, it will cause neuritis.

Fourth, numbness occurs scattered in the limbs. Numbness does not occur in the limbs at the same time, but occurs in a scattered manner. This means that local nerves are stimulated, such as a stroke after being drunk, coma causing stimulation of the head nerves, stimulation of the hand nerves by the elderly using crutches, upper limb numbness caused by cervical spondylosis, and leg numbness caused by stimulation of the lumbar shoulder nerves.

★Treatment of numbness and stiffness in hands and feet

Numbness in the hands and feet cannot be treated symptomatically, but the cause must be treated. No matter what causes numbness in the hands and feet, you should first go to the hospital's neurology department for examination to determine whether the nerves are damaged and what kind of stimulation they have received.

If it is a neurological problem, an electromyography examination will be required to further confirm the extent, range, and nature of the nerve damage. If the numbness of hands and feet is caused by other reasons, then transfer to other related departments for treatment.

For numbness of hands and feet caused by nerve damage, the choice of whether to use medication or surgery should be based on the degree, scope, and nature of the nerve damage. Drug treatment is usually combined with acupuncture and physical therapy to promote rapid recovery. Surgical treatment is to divert the compressed nerves through surgery to relieve the compression and stimulation of the nerves.

The degree of cure depends mainly on the cause and nature of the neuropathy. If it is peripheral nerve damage (nerves other than the brain and spinal cord), the recovery time is generally longer.