Numbness, sometimes called ‘paresthesia’, means you lose some or all sensation in the affected part of your body. You won’t feel a light touch, pain or temperature. Numbness is due to a problem with the nerves sending signals to the brain. Show
You can experience numbness anywhere in your body, but it’s most commonly felt in the fingers, hands, feet, arms, or legs. You might also feel a tingling, prickling, or ‘pins and needles’. Having a numb limb can lead to other problems, such as falling or not noticing an injury, infection or sore. What causes limb numbness?There are many causes of limb numbness. Usually it’s just because you’ve been sitting on one of your legs or sleeping on an arm and this has compressed the nerves that go to the area. Many more serious conditions can also make your limbs go numb. These include: Nerve damage can also be caused by some medicines, including chemotherapy medicines, as well as by too much alcohol or tobacco. When should I see my doctor?Seek emergency medical help by calling triple zero (000) for an ambulance if your limb is numb and you also suddenly have: See your doctor if your limb is numb for a long time, if it's not caused by your posture, and if you have any other symptoms, including:
FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — Our Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services. ASK YOUR DOCTOR — Preparing for an appointment? Use our Question Builder for general tips on what to ask your GP or specialist. How is limb numbness treated?Your doctor will order tests to find out the cause of your numbness. Make sure you tell them if you have had any recent injuries, illnesses or infections. The treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the numbness. Long-term nerve problems can sometimes be treated with medicines including antidepressants, corticosteroids or gabapentin and pregabalin (if you have fibromyalgia, MS or diabetic neuropathy). Can limb numbness be prevented?You can massage the affected limb to help improve blood flow. Sometimes putting an ice pack or heat pack on the area for 15 minutes can help — but be very careful not to damage the skin. If the area is numb you won’t notice if it’s getting too hot or cold. Exercise frequently to improve your blood flow and fitness. Make sure you get plenty of rest. Eat a healthy diet and avoid too much alcohol. Some alternative therapies, such as massage or acupuncture, might also help. If your numbness is caused by a vitamin deficiency, your doctor may advise you to take supplements. Tingling in your left arm is a pretty common sensation, though you might describe it with a different name, like prickling, "falling asleep," pins and needles, or numbness. Like tingling, all of these are known medically as paresthesia. Depending on the cause, paresthesia can range from slightly noticeable to intensely uncomfortable and painful. In general, tingling in your left arm relates either to a nerve issue or a problem with blood circulation — but the specific cause can range from something as minor as sleeping on your arm, to a major issue like a heart attack or stroke. Note: You might use "numbness" and "tingling" interchangeably, but they mean slightly different things. Though they can have the same cause, tingling is a type of sensation, whereas numbness is a total inability to feel. Below, you'll find seven explanations for tingling in your left arm and how to treat this symptom. 1. A pinched nerve in your neck"A pinched nerve in the neck is one of the most common causes of tingling in the left arm," says Dave Candy, a physical therapist and owner of More 4 Life. You may also feel pain, numbness, or weakness in your arm, depending on what's causing the pinched nerve and how severe it is. One possible cause is age-related wear and tear, called cervical spondylosis, when disks in your vertebrae thin and weaken. To compensate, your body can grow bone spurs to support the weakened disks. The downside, though, is that spurs can compress nerves, causing pain or tingling in your arm. A herniated disk can also cause a pinched nerve. When the hard outer layer of a spinal disk weakens and cracks, whether due to aging or injury, the gel-like substance inside the disk can leak out and put pressure on your spinal nerves, causing tingling in your arm. Keep in mind a pinched nerve in your neck won't always cause pain in your neck — tingling in your arm may be the only symptom. What to do next: You can often treat a pinched nerve in your neck at home with the RICE method — rest, ice, compression, elevation — or with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), like Advil or Motrin. If the tingling doesn't improve, a good next step involves checking in with your doctor. You'll also want to call your doctor if you notice any weakness in your hands, fingers, or arm. It's especially important to get medical attention if you feel numbness or tingling along your bicep and forearm to your thumb, or on the back of your upper arm, down your forearm to your middle finger. The path tingling takes down your arm can help indicate which spinal nerve is being compressed. Your doctor might recommend:
2. Heart attackDuring a heart attack, a coronary artery is completely or partially blocked, along with nerves that supply the heart. This lack of blood flow can indirectly cause tingling or numbness in the left arm, says Dr. Sean Ormond, a specialist in interventional pain management at Atlas Pain Specialists. Common signs of a heart attack include chest pain or pressure and shortness of breath. But heart attacks can also have subtle signs that may go unnoticed or be mistaken for other health concerns, especially in women and older adults. Other potential signs of a heart attack include:
What to do next: A heart attack can be life-threatening. If these symptoms come on suddenly, it's best to get emergency medical attention by calling 911 — even if your symptoms don't feel all that severe. 3. Type 2 diabetesType 2 diabetes and consistently elevated blood sugar can cause peripheral neuropathy — damage to the nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, Ormond says. This type of nerve damage usually begins in the feet and legs, but it can also affect your hands and arms as it progresses. Along with numbness and tingling, it can cause a burning sensation or sharp pain in your extremities. It can have other serious consequences, too: If you can't fully feel your arm, you may have a harder time noticing changes in temperature, pain, or injuries that could lead to dangerous infections. What to do next: To lower your risk of peripheral neuropathy, you can:
You should seek prompt medical care if you start to notice unusual tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, as early treatment can help prevent further nerve damage. 4. Transient ischemic attack (mini stroke)A transient ischemic attack (TIA), also called a mini stroke, can cause temporary tingling in your limbs, including your left arm. TIAs occur when a blockage temporarily disrupts blood flow to the brain. Unlike a stroke, which often has severe and long-lasting repercussions, symptoms of a TIA typically last just a few minutes — they come on suddenly and usually will resolve within one hour to one day. Along with tingling, weakness, or numbness in your arm, a TIA can cause:
What to do next: Though TIAs don't cause permanent damage, they can suggest you have a higher risk of stroke. About one in three people who have a TIA will go on to have a stroke, and half of those strokes occur within one year of a TIA. If you experience any symptoms of a TIA, you should call 911 or go to the emergency room right away for an evaluation. Your doctor may prescribe blood thinners like aspirin to help prevent the blood clots that can cause a stroke. In some cases, your care team may recommend surgery to clear your carotid artery of plaques which can lead to stroke, either by:
5. Carpal tunnel syndromeCarpal tunnel syndrome can develop due to compression of the median nerve, which gives sensation to parts of your hand. "Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually caused by repetitive use of the hands such as manual labor, typing, using a mobile phone too much, or working on an assembly line," Candy says. With carpal tunnel syndrome, you'll mainly feel tingling or numbness in your thumb, index, and middle finger, typically on one side of your body, but you could also experience tingling and pain that travels up your forearm. What to do next: A healthcare professional can diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome and recommend treatment, which may include:
6. Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system — the brain and spinal cord — that affects nearly one million people in the United States. In MS, damage and deterioration of the myelin sheath, or the lining of your nerves, can cause a wide range of symptoms. Tingling in your arm is often an early symptom — but unexplained tingling in your arm doesn't always suggest MS. With MS, you'll likely also experience numbness and tingling in your legs, torso, and face — not just your left arm. What to do next: It's a good idea to make an appointment with a healthcare professional if you experience tingling in your arm along with other common initial symptoms of MS, such as:
There is no cure for MS. Treatment focuses on managing symptom flare-ups with medications like glucocorticoids and physical or occupational therapy to help maintain mobility and function. Medications that modify immune system activity can also help reduce inflammation and slow the progression of MS. 7. How you sleepTingling in your left arm can also relate to your sleeping position. Certain sleep positions can cause the nerves in your arm or neck to compress during the night. For example, this might happen if you:
What to do next: If you consistently wake up with your arm tingling, it could help to try a different sleep position. To find a more comfortable sleep position, try:
Insider's takeawayTingling in your left arm is a common sensation. If it happens now and then but goes away on its own, you most likely have nothing to worry about. However, you'll want to pay attention to tingling in your arm that keeps coming back, shows up with other symptoms, or gets worse over time. This kind of tingling can suggest an underlying health condition, so you'll want to make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. They can help determine the cause of the tingling and offer more guidance on options for treatment. Adam Barnes Adam Barnes is a licensed acupuncturist and freelance writer for Insider who specializes in acupuncture and holistic healthcare. He maintains a private acupuncture practice in Olympia, WA. Read more Read lessWe may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective. What can make your left arm feel weird?However, more serious causes of left arm numbness or tingling that require medical attention include the following:. Heart attack. During a heart attack, a coronary artery becomes blocked. ... . Stroke. ... . Spinal problems. ... . Nerve problems. ... . Trauma. ... . Poor blood circulation. ... . Allergic reaction. ... . Multiple sclerosis.. Why does my left leg have a weird feeling?Long-term numbness or a tingling feeling in the legs and feet may be due to conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, peripheral artery disease, or fibromyalgia. The sensation may be felt in the whole leg, below the knee, or in different areas of the foot.
Does your left arm tingle before heart attack?Left arm numbness may also be a sign of a heart attack. If it happens with changes in the left side of the face, this could indicate a stroke. Anyone with symptoms that suggest either of these issues needs immediate medical attention.
Why does my arm and leg tingle?There are many possible causes of numbness and tingling, including: Sitting or standing in the same position for a long time. Injuring a nerve (a neck injury may cause you to feel numbness anywhere along your arm or hand, while a low back injury can cause numbness or tingling down the back of your leg)
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