Paresthesia is numbness or a burning feeling that occurs most often in the extremities, such as the hands, artillery, legs, or feet, but that can happen elsewhere in the body equally well.

Information technology is the same "pins and needles" feeling that happens when someone sits on their leg or foot for too long. Commonly a temporary awareness, it is acquired when force per unit area is placed on the nervus that supplies a limb. One time that pressure is relieved, the discomfort goes away.

Some people have chronic or long-term paresthesia, which can be a sign of a more serious nervus injury or condition.

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Paresthesia is a burning sensation that may bear on limbs and extremities, such equally hands and feet.

There are many dissimilar causes of chronic paresthesia, including:

  • stroke
  • multiple sclerosis
  • tumor in the spinal cord or encephalon
  • high levels of vitamin D or other vitamins
  • diabetes
  • fibromyalgia
  • high blood pressure
  • infection
  • nervus injury
  • compressed, or pinched, nerve

A pinched nerve occurs when there is too much pressure level put on it past the surrounding tissue. This pressure causes paresthesia in the area supplied by that nerve, and its role is interrupted. A pinched nervus can happen anywhere in the body, such every bit the face, the neck, the wrist, or the back.

A herniated deejay in the lower spine can crusade pain in the back, leg or foot on the affected side.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a pinched nerve in the wrist that causes numbness and tingling in the fingers.

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High blood pressure level level is one potential cause of paresthesia, alongside fibromyalgia, a trapped nerve, or stroke.

The symptoms of paresthesia or a pinched nerve include:

  • tingling or a "pins and needles" sensation
  • aching or burning pain
  • numbness or poor feeling in the affected area
  • feeling that the afflicted area has "fallen comatose"
  • prickling or itching feeling
  • hot or cold skin

The symptoms can be constant or intermittent. Usually, these sensations occur in the afflicted area simply may spread or radiate outward.

Some factors increment the take chances of having a pinched nerve:

  • Gender: Women are more likely to get carpal tunnel syndrome, possibly due to a narrower nerve canal.
  • Obesity: Extra weight tin put force per unit area on nerves.
  • Pregnancy: Weight and water proceeds associated with pregnancy tin cause swelling and pressure level on nerves.
  • Thyroid disease: This puts a person at risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.
  • Diabetes: Having diabetes tin crusade nervus and tissue impairment.
  • Rheumatoid arthritis: This causes inflammation, which tin likewise compress nerves in the joints.
  • Prolonged bed rest: Lying downwards for extended periods can cause nervus compression and increase the take chances for paresthesia.
  • Overuse: People who accept jobs or hobbies that crave repetitive motion of the hands, elbows or feet are at a college risk for a pinched nerve, paresthesia or nerve damage.

Anyone can get a pinched nerve, and most people will have experienced paresthesia at some point or another.

To diagnose paresthesis, a doctor will showtime take a medical history and inquire questions virtually a person's symptoms.

Next, the doctor volition likely perform a physical exam and, depending on the findings, may recommend tests, including.

  • Nerve conduction study: This measures how fast nerve impulses travel in the muscles.
  • Electromyography (EMG): To look at the electric action of how fretfulness and muscles interact.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This can be used to look at the different areas of the body in loftier detail.
  • Ultrasound: Used to produce images of the torso, this can exist applied to smaller areas to look for nerve compression or damage, such as occurs in carpal tunnel syndrome.

The type of exam that the dr. prescribes will depend on the results of these tests, plus a person's symptoms and medical history.

The treatment options for paresthesia depend on the crusade. If there is an underlying medical condition causing the symptoms, then treating the condition should besides treat the paresthesia.

Rest and bracing

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A brace may be recommended to treat paresthesia, alongside rest to allow the tissue to heal. A medical professional will propose the most suitable option.

Balance is commonly recommended for a pinched nerve.

Information technology is important to cease the activities that are causing the nerve compression to allow the tissues to heal. This may mean resting, or sometimes a brace or splint is needed to stop motility of the area.

For example, a wrist caryatid can be used to immobilize the wrists in a person with carpal tunnel syndrome.

However, using a brace for extended periods of fourth dimension can crusade other problems. Hence, the recommendations of someone'south medico should always be followed.

Physical therapy

Physical therapy can exist used to build forcefulness in the muscles surrounding the affected nerve. Stronger muscles can help relieve tissue compression and prevent information technology reoccurring. Fit muscles can also improve flexibility, the range of motion and mobility.

Medications

Some medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) and even steroid injections into the affected surface area can be given to salvage pain and decrease swelling and inflammation.

For long-term paresthesias due to fibromyalgia, medications, including pregabalin (Lyrica) or duloxetine (Cymbalta), may be useful.

Surgery

If these treatments do non relieve the symptoms, surgery may be needed to reduce the pressure on a pinched nerve.

Surgery tin can mean releasing the carpal ligament, removing a bone spur, or even role of a herniated disk in the back.

The blazon of surgery will depend on the specific symptoms a person is experiencing, as well every bit their cause.

While not every pinched nerve is preventable, there are things a person can exercise to assist minimize the take chances of ane happening.

Maintaining expert posture and body positioning is vital to avoid unnecessary pressure on the nerves.

Avoiding injuries that can occur from heavy and incorrect lifting is besides critical. Past being mindful of the body'south position, and by irresolute positions frequently, a person can avert nervus compression, which may pb to paresthesis.

Also, limiting repetitive movements, or at least taking frequent breaks while doing those activities, can prevent paresthesia that is acquired by overuse.

As always, maintaining a good for you weight and participating in regular exercise, including forcefulness and flexibility exercises, are proficient strategies for building potent and healthy muscles.

The outlook for someone with paresthesia varies and depends on what is causing the symptoms. A pinched nervus that only lasts for a brusque time usually causes no permanent harm.

If the pinched nervus continues, all the same, it can lead to permanent damage, chronic pain, and loss of office and sensation.

In some cases where medical treatment and therapy accept not helped, surgery may be necessary to correct the trouble.