Numbness and tingling could have any number of causes. The most common cause, however, is lack of blood flow to a particular area in the body. Tingling or numbness can also be caused by sitting or standing in one place for an extended period of time, or by injured nerves. Another possible cause is too much exposure to heat or cold. A condition called carpal tunnel syndrome can cause numbness in the wrist or forearm. More seriously, numbeness and tingling can indicate an ischemic attack or a stroke. They can also indicate serious conditions like diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Deficiencies in vitamins B12, or imbalances in levels of potassium, calcium and sodium can also cause numbness and tingling. If a checkup has determined that the cause of numbness and tingling is a deficiency in these vitamins and minerals, than supplements can be taken to restore nutritional balance. Exercise to imporve muscle tone is important in the treatment of numbeness and tingling, and will often be an advised course of action by a physician for initial treatment. If you are experiencing numbeness and tingling with pain in the neck, which travels down the arm and to the fingers, you need to be more cautious. Watch out for pain that increases with movement, and also be alert for other symptoms such as vertigo, nausea or spasms. IF these symptoms are present alongside the numbness and tingling, it is strongly advised that you get immediate medical advice.
Lumbar spine problems can cause symptoms of tingling and numbness in the lower extremities. One important function of nerves is to provide information about sensations from the body to your brain. In many common spine conditions, these nerves that travel to your brain are pinched or compressed. This pressure on the nerve can cause abnormal sensations, commonly experienced as tingling or numbness. When the nerve that runs from your foot to you brain is pinched, you may experience a numb foot — even if that nerve is pinched all the way up in your back. This is the same reason your hand experiences tingling when you bump your “funny bone.”