Numbness of the foot is a very serious symptom that can occur as a result of a serious illness or as a consequence of certain natural causes. In the second situation, it will be enough to massage and warm your legs to get rid of tingling. It is worth noting that numbness is not considered a separate pathology and develops along with other diseases, so it is necessary to carry out not only a comprehensive treatment, but also an examination. If the feet are numb, the reasons should be found out as soon as possible.
Possible reasons
There can be many reasons for the appearance of such an unpleasant problem. When the feet are numb, the causes can be diseases such as atherosclerosis or diabetes. Sometimes the cause is problems with blood supply to the lower extremities. Discomfort appears as a result of pinching of the main nerves. It is worth noting that a pinched nerve will provoke numbness or tingling in only one foot, in its upper or lower part.
Blood circulation may be disturbed as a result of the influence of physiological factors. For example, if a person has been in the same position for a long time. If your feet get numb, the reason may be uncomfortable shoes or clothing, which causes compression of the arteries. If you often wear high-heeled shoes, then not only problems with arteries appear, but also nerves get pinched, compression of nerve endings occurs.
What are the forms of numbness of the lower extremities
When contacting a specialist, it is worthwhile to tell him in detail about what kind of unpleasant sensations arise. Pay attention to what area is affected and how often numbness occurs. An important role is played by the severity of discomfort.
Chronic numbness
This form occurs, as a rule, when the feet are numb, and the causes are various diseases. Also, a symptom may appear regularly as a result of wearing uncomfortable, tight shoes. In this case, irreversible changes will appear in the joints. Of course, at the first stages you can solve the problem, but if you do nothing, then soon it can turn into a chronic one. Permanent numbness occurs not only at rest, but also with fairly intense movement.
Acute form
If the lower limbs go numb very sharply, and discomfort occurs only from time to time, then physiological causes of various kinds can provoke this. If the feet are numb, and the reasons are unknown, then the doctor must prescribe a comprehensive examination. As a rule, solving the problem is quite simple, because in most cases there are no changes in the joints.
Physiological reasons
If the foot of the left leg is numb, the reason may be that a person has been in an uncomfortable position for a long time, focusing on the left limb. In this case, arteries and small vessels begin to be strongly compressed, which becomes a cause of circulatory disorders in a certain leg. In order to eliminate discomfort, it will be quite enough to change the pose, do a little exercise, which will allow you to quickly resume normal blood circulation. When the foot of the left leg is numb, the reason may be that you incorrectly chose the corrective device or wear uncomfortable shoes, clothes. It also negatively affects blood circulation.
If discomfort occurs from time to time, the cause may be hyperventilation. Too frequent breathing negatively affects the metabolism, over time, the balance of magnesium and calcium is disturbed. Biological fluids change their acidity level. Because of this, a person can quite often faint, feel numb and tingling in the limbs, a feeling of anxiety appears. Quite often, hyperventilation occurs as a result of psychological discomfort.
Physiological reasons also include insufficient hygiene, frequent overstrain. Extremities suffer due to growths on the skin, violations of the anatomical location of the joints. If the legs go numb from the knee to the foot, the reasons may lie in a wrongly made pedicure, especially when skin is left near the edge of the heel. Nerve endings and blood vessels begin to compress strongly, which leads to tingling and severe pain. Due to overstrain, muscle injuries can occur, which over time will turn into quite solid growths.
Possible pathologies
If the legs go numb from the knee to the foot, various causes of illness can occur during movement and at rest. In this case, you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible to determine violations. It is worth doing this on time due to the fact that pathologies can greatly affect blood circulation, and over time, nerve tissue can begin to grow. If the case is neglected, then the person has paralysis or tissue necrosis, a persistent violation of the mobility of the limbs.
Diabetes
This disease occurs due to the fact that a serious metabolic disorder occurs, the necessary enzymes begin to be produced worse. Along the way, over time, neuropathy appears, nerve endings begin to die off, or they cease to fulfill their functions and do not transmit impulses. As a result of this, tingling and numbness first appear, which gradually develop into a complete loss of sensitivity. If the foot of the right leg is numb, the cause may be a violation of the nerve endings in one limb.
Also during diabetes, there is a strong load on the blood vessels and the circulation gradually begins to deteriorate. Tissues receive several times less than the usual beneficial components, oxygen. Due to numbness, trophic ulcers may soon appear, and necrosis develops. Initially, discomfort is felt in the feet, gradually spreading higher and higher. If the sole of the foot is numb, the cause may be this disease.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is a pathology that results in the death of nerve endings. In the case of development in one limb, this may be the cause of numbness of the foot of the right leg. The disease occurs due to severe damage, depletion of cells. Often the cause is a strong drop in blood sugar. Depending on what form of neuropathy is present in a person, the symptoms will also differ.
Additionally, with diabetes there is an increased load on the blood vessels and impaired circulation. Tissues receive less nutrients and oxygen. Numbness is accompanied by the appearance of trophic ulcers and tissue death. Unpleasant sensations first occur in the feet, then spread higher. Often, specific manifestations of the disease can occur due to the fact that the peroneal nerve was affected. In this case, the indicator of mobility decreases, soft tissues begin to sag noticeably, the patient often gets injured. To avoid the development of the disease when the feet are numb, determine the causes and treatment as soon as possible in a medical institution.
Multiple sclerosis
Doctors say that it is the numbness of the lower extremities that is the first symptom of a disease such as multiple sclerosis. At the same time, tingling will occur not only in the legs, but also in the face and hands. Pathology implies damage to the nerve endings in the spinal cord and brain.
If the case is neglected, then the nerve fibers begin to gradually be replaced by connective tissue, which causes the lack of transmission of impulses. This can occur as a result of severe intoxication, radiation, frequent stress, malnutrition, serious injury. Often, in addition to numbness, the patient can feel a loss of sensation in the legs, severe itching and even burning. When the left foot is numb, and the treatment and causes are unknown, seek the help of a doctor.
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a serious disease, as a result of which, due to metabolic problems, the gaps in the vessels begin to narrow significantly. In the arteries, cholesterol plaques gradually form, which do not allow the blood to fully function. Depending on how large the affected area is and what stage of the disease is observed, a variety of symptoms can occur. Most often this is shortness of breath, fainting, dizziness, tingling in the limbs, and more. In advanced cases, severe damage to the vessels may appear. If the feet and toes are numb , and the reasons are unknown, do not exclude the likelihood of developing this disease.
Venous insufficiency
In this case, there is insufficient blood flow from the legs. The main cause of the pathology is considered to be upright posture. When too much stress is placed on the legs, pressure begins to increase in them, which negatively affects the condition of the venous valves. They can not fully perform their functions, so the outflow of blood becomes involuntary. In some patients, fluid stagnation is observed, which causes severe deformation of the veins and a decrease in the amount of nutrients that can reach the legs. If your right foot is numb, only the doctor will determine the causes and treatment. Do not self-medicate!
Transient Ischemic Attacks
This disease involves a microstroke that does not cause damage to brain tissue. The cause is a strong spasm of the vessels or the appearance of a blood clot. Due to the fact that a short-term circulatory disturbance occurred, the patient develops severe weakness and dizziness, fainting. In some cases, partial or total memory loss is observed. All symptoms, including numbness of the lower extremities, disappear half an hour after the onset. If the left foot foot and fingers are numb, this disease may be the cause.
Raynaud's disease
The disease occurs as a result of circulatory disorders in the lower extremities. Until today, experts can not give a definite answer about what exactly are the causes of pathology. It is classified as autoimmune. Raynaud's disease leads to the fact that blood vessels gradually begin to break down. They lose their resistance to both temperature and stressful situations. Because of this, an outburst of compounds appears, which provokes spasms and does not allow blood to flow normally to the legs. The disease affects both limbs symmetrically. Therefore, if the right leg, foot and fingers are numb, this disease cannot be the cause. Discomfort spreads gradually as the pathology begins to progress over time.
Pathological problems with blood circulation
This occurs as a result of exposure to various kinds of diseases. Blood flow is disrupted due to narrowing of the lumen in the vessels or blockage of the arteries. Feet begin to not only go numb. Over time, severe pain and lameness appears. It is worth noting that symptoms can occur even at rest. This may be the cause of numbness of the sole of the foot.
Osteochondrosis
The disease implies a huge number of pathological changes that cause tissue displacement, impaired leg mobility. In this case, the left foot and sole of the foot are numb, the reasons for which must be clarified as soon as possible. Gradually, cartilage begins to break down, the muscle corset weakens, and incorrect posture forms. Because of this, blood flows poorly to tissues, nerve impulses are transmitted worse.
Spinal hernia
A hernia appears when the pulpous nucleus leaves its cavity. This leads to the appearance of an abnormal formation caused by displacement of the vertebrae. Symptoms in this case may resemble osteochondrosis, because in both cases there is a change in the position of the structures.
Heel spur
Severe pain during movement occurs due to a bone growth on the foot, which is called a heel spur. Most often, the problem arises as a result of serious injury. The plantar ligament is initially damaged, but the pain is almost imperceptible and disappears very quickly. In this case, the consequences of the injury themselves do not disappear, and the tissues are constantly injured, which leads to their replacement. As a rule, pathology is detected during the examination. The initial stages make it possible to determine the presence of a heel spur by palpation.
A bone growth begins to squeeze soft tissues, pinches over time the blood vessels, nerve endings. If nerves are injured, then an inflammatory process occurs in the fibers, which will increase over time. The affected area becomes very sensitive. Initially, the symptoms are described by the sensation of a nail driven into the foot, later the gait may begin to change and flat feet gradually develop. Together with this, the foot of the left foot or right is numb.
Vibratory disease
Discomfort occurs due to too long the effect of vibration on the body. In most cases, it occurs in people whose activities are related to the industrial and mining industries. Less often appears as a result of working with equipment, cars. Vibrations lead to the appearance of various kinds of deviations in the bone tissue, as well as in the nerve endings, blood vessels. Patients begin to worry about cramping, tingling and numbness, the skin of the lower extremities pales. Blood pressure may increase dramatically. People become less resistant to low temperatures.
Symptoms that occur along with numbness
Various concomitant symptoms may occur depending on the type of degenerative disorder. There are a lot of them, but most often the following symptoms are observed in patients:
- Painful sensations. They occur during numbness, before or after. Their intensity can be very different and depends on the pathology and its stage. In most cases, very severe pain occurs as a result of damage to nerve endings.
- The skin begins to turn pale, a feeling of cold. This symptom appears, regardless of what temperature the environment has. This occurs due to disturbances in blood circulation.
- Sensitivity problems. Appear due to narrowing of the lumen of the vessels, the intensity will depend on how much the vessels are blocked. In most cases, it occurs in the later stages of the defeat of nerve endings.
Depending on the pathology, symptoms can occur in one or in both lower limbs. If there is a violation of blood circulation, then both feet will hurt. During the defeat of nerve endings, numbness is present only in one foot, therefore, if the foot of the right leg or left is numb, this may be a consequence of the violation described above.
Diagnosis of diseases
If there is such a problem as numbness of the feet, then it is worthwhile first of all to seek the help of a therapist. This can be explained by the fact that the symptom can be caused by a variety of diseases. Depending on the degree of its severity and as a result of the examination, the therapist will write a referral to the right doctor.
If there is a suspicion of problems with blood circulation, then you should definitely visit a phlebologist. Due to the fact that not every hospital has this specialist, treatment can be selected and prescribed by a cardiologist or surgeon. If you have problems with the transmission of nerve impulses, you should contact a neurologist. In rare cases, you may need the help of other doctors. In any case, when the foot is numb, the treatment should be selected by a qualified specialist.
General blood analysis
This analysis is carried out without fail, especially if the specialist has suspicions that there are systemic disorders. Elevated hemoglobin levels and some other symptoms will indicate that the fluid is excessively thickening. During the decryption of the analysis, it is worth paying attention to the number of platelets in the blood. Diabetes mellitus will lead to an increase in this indicator. If various additional deviations are present, then this may indicate a blockage of blood vessels, which, as a rule, occurs during the development of atherosclerosis.
Ultrasound of blood vessels, spine
Thanks to this examination, it is easy to detect the presence of narrowing of the gaps in the vessels. A comprehensive examination allows you to establish an accurate diagnosis, so you can choose the right treatment. , . , .
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