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Suggest Treatment For Numbness In The Foot

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Posted on Tue, 5 Sep 2017
Question: Hi i am a 29 yr old male

I play football frequently and am prone to heavy tackles. This week i felt some numbness on top of mid right foot and just above right ankle. Feels numb but not tingly, and can only feel it when i touch it or move it against my bed sheets other wise i dont feel it. I have no weakness but it is numb in only those areas of the foot other areas of foot feel normal. I may have been stepped on or tackled there however dont remember. I have general anxiety and was reading on google saying it may be a brain tumor, i did have a minor headache today but has gone away no other symptoms. Just wondering if you think these symptoms could be a brain tumor if not what are typical symptoms of a brain tumor and do you think it may just be a pinched or damage nerve from football?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Definitely not brain tumor

Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

Let me reassure you right away about the brain tumor concern, those symptoms are definitely not related to a brain tumor. Symptoms of a brain tumor vary depending on its location and hence the affected brain areas. Most typical is headache, persistent, progressively increasing over weeks/months, with nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms may include seizures, weakness or numbness of the body and limbs on one side, coordination issues, speech issues etc, as I said depends on location.

That type of numbness you describe doesn't correspond to brain tumor given its location and distribution. As I said it involves the whole half of the body, both limbs, not simply such a limited area. Also numbness would be constant not when you touch it or move it against something else.

Given your sporting activity a damaged nerve would be a possibility. Some mild joint inflammation would be another possibility. At times even anxiety could play a role. But in any case it is not indicative of something serious, should regress with time and rest.

I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (16 minutes later)
Thank you for the response it is definetly alomg the nerve that runs through my left part of right foot along the right part above ankle. I remember i may have been hit in that area could that cause damage to the nerve and if so how long would it take to reside. But is definetley numb when i touch it. I also am right footed. But definetly dont think it is anxiety related
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (3 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Read below.

Detailed Answer:
Times for nerve regeneration vary depending on degree of damage and among individuals. Usually takes 1-3 months but may go as long as 6-12 months or leave permanent damage. However in your case since there is no weakness I would say the degree of damage is mild, so given also your young age most probably about 1 month.

If symptoms persist and a more objective evaluation of the nerve damage extent is needed a test such as nerve conduction studies might provide more information regarding degree of damage.

Let me know if I can further assist you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Olsi Taka (17 hours later)
Thank yu again

Today i also realised my pupils are a little dilated i havnt had much sleep as my wife had another baby and am being kept up at night, could this be a cause, my eyes feel tired also. Was worried it may also be a symptom of a brain tumor, i have also had a bit of a headache which i got after this weeks soccer game, i feel it at the back of the left side. Any thoughts?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Olsi Taka (48 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Not brain tumor.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again!

I really am confident that a brain tumor is not in question, rest assured about that. Pupil changes are not the first signs of brain tumor, you'd have to have a really developed tumor for that, would be a later sign. Also changes are asymmetrical. I also wonder how you assessed that, pupils do not have a constant fixed size, and it varies depending on lighting conditions.

Remember that headache has a myriad of causes, the classification of the headaches alone is about 200 A4 pages, do not let what you see on google affect you. There are much more common origins like stress and anxiety, lack of sleep, sport related concussions etc which you all have, brain tumor is the last hypothesis.

Whether the lack of sleep and fatigue could be a cause, yes, it can, they can present with symptoms like numbness or tingling. It is more common for them to present symptoms such symptoms on both sides though, so wouldn't consider it the primary hypothesis especially given the history of local trauma you provide.

I hope to have been of help.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Olsi Taka

Neurologist

Practicing since :2004

Answered : 3673 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Numbness In The Foot

Brief Answer: Definitely not brain tumor Detailed Answer: I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. Let me reassure you right away about the brain tumor concern, those symptoms are definitely not related to a brain tumor. Symptoms of a brain tumor vary depending on its location and hence the affected brain areas. Most typical is headache, persistent, progressively increasing over weeks/months, with nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms may include seizures, weakness or numbness of the body and limbs on one side, coordination issues, speech issues etc, as I said depends on location. That type of numbness you describe doesn't correspond to brain tumor given its location and distribution. As I said it involves the whole half of the body, both limbs, not simply such a limited area. Also numbness would be constant not when you touch it or move it against something else. Given your sporting activity a damaged nerve would be a possibility. Some mild joint inflammation would be another possibility. At times even anxiety could play a role. But in any case it is not indicative of something serious, should regress with time and rest. I remain at your disposal for other questions.