Numbness in a limb or trunk

Introduction The transmission of various sensations in the limbs of healthy people depends on the unimpeded access of the brain to the limbs. If there is a disorder in a certain part of this nerve pathway, symptoms such as limb numbness may occur. For example, vertebral hyperplasia numbness: This numbness is quite common in the elderly, the main reason is that vertebral bone hyperplasia oppresses the spinal canal nerve, and some patients may also be accompanied by feelings such as limb pain. Bone marrow numbness: In the early stage of some bone marrow diseases, the numbness of the limbs may appear to the bottom, and the disease develops upward as the condition worsens, and symptoms such as limb dysfunction occur.

Cause

Numbness is only a clinical symptom that can occur in many diseases. Common sites of the disease include lips, tongue, scalp, extremities, and thoracic ribs. The cause is not the same.

First, nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disorders of limb numbness: patients may have prolonged gastrointestinal disorders, indigestion, or a history of severe nutritional deficiencies. The above-mentioned diseases lead to a serious deficiency of vitamin B in the patient, which causes limb numbness.

Second, toxic neurological numbness: patients may have a long history of contact with heavy metals or pesticides such as mercury, arsenic, lead or organic phosphorus, as well as chemicals such as furans and isoniazid. Such chemicals can cause toxic neuritis, which can cause numbness in the distal part of the limb at the beginning, often accompanied by pain and skin ants.

Third, the infection caused by neuroinflammatory numbness: This is because the neurotoxins or viruses secreted by the bacteria directly invade the nervous system and cause numbness of the skin. These diseases mainly include diphtheria neuritis, leprosy neuritis, etc., which are manifested by limb numbness and loss of limb sensation.

Fourth, acute multiple radiculitis numbness: the patient first manifested as fever, similar to the symptoms of upper respiratory tract infection, 1-2 months after the emergence of distal numbness of the limb, symmetry. At the same time, limb weakness is caused, and severe convulsions and difficulty breathing may occur.

Fifth, vertebral hyperosteogeny numbness: This numbness is quite common in the elderly, the main reason is that vertebral bone hyperplasia oppresses the spinal canal nerve, and some patients may also be accompanied by limb pain and other feelings.

Sixth, bone marrow disease numbness: In the early stage of some bone marrow diseases, there may be numbness of the limbs up to the top, and the disease develops upwards as the condition worsens, and then symptoms such as limb activity are not working.

Seven, arteriosclerotic numbness: more common in the elderly with cerebral arteriosclerosis, due to brain tissue, especially the cerebral cortex ischemia, the brain's sensory and motor center has a functional disorder, resulting in limb numbness in the corresponding parts. The characteristics of this type of numbness are mostly numbness on one side of the upper limb or lower limb or half body. It usually lasts for several hours to several days. If it is not treated in time, it will develop into a half body.

Eight, autonomic dysfunction numbness: This numbness is not fixed, it is straightforward, light and heavy, patients often accompanied by anxiety, irritability, insomnia, multiple dreams, memory loss, palpitation, shortness of breath and weakness of the body, etc. Symptoms, generally more self-healing.

an examination

Related inspection

Electromyography, neurological examination, cerebrospinal fluid, calmodulin, two-handed grip test

Clinical examination performance:

Numbness can be seen in a variety of parts, more common to the fingertips. The main manifestation is that there are tens of thousands of small insects crawling or squatting in the conscious part. Sometimes the symptoms can resolve or disappear on their own. Sometimes it is numb for years to come. If it is numb for a long time, it may cause local pain, fear of coldness, etc. Generally no obvious functional activity disorder.

No matter what causes the numbness of the hands and feet, you should first go to the hospital neurology to check whether the nerves are damaged or not.

If it is a neurological problem, an electromyogram examination is needed to further confirm the degree, extent, and nature of nerve damage. If the numbness of the hands and feet caused by other reasons, then go to other related departments for treatment.

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnosis:

There is often numbness in the far side of the limb: it is a symptom of a neuroma. Neuroma usually refers to schwannomas from nerve sheath tissue, most of which are located in the limbs, armpits, and also on the clavicle, neck and other parts. It is a benign tumor with slow growth and generally no recurrence after resection. Located in the limb mass, it is fusiform, and its nerves often have numbness, pain, and hyperesthesia on the far side of the dominant limb. Compression of the tumor can also cause numbness.

Limb stiffness: stiffness and mobility disorders are common in rheumatism. Patients often feel joints, limbs, and waist when they start activities in the morning, or when they change to another posture after a certain posture in the body for a long time. The affected part has stiffness and pain.

Limb pain: refers to localized pain in some part of an individual limb, mostly caused by local disease; it can also be induced pain or radiation pain in the proximal part of the disease, or early symptoms of systemic disease.

The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis, or recommended treatments.