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What Causes Numbness And Tingling In Legs And Hands?

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Posted on Tue, 23 Sep 2014
Question: Hello Doctor -

I have been having numbness and tingling in my legs and hands for past several months.
I feel these symptoms especially when I sleep on my sides. I used to have occasional numbness and tingling in my hands and legs in the past but now it's getting worse for past few weeks. I cannot sleep on sides because I experience these symptoms.

When I wake up in the morning, I have both my hands and legs feeling numb. I was not having these symptoms few months back even though I sleep on my sides. It just started few weeks back.

What can be cause of these symptoms? Do I need to see a doctor and get any tests done to rule out any problems?

I will greatly appreciate your response.

Thanks for your time and expert advice.

Best Regards

-XXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Richard Jackson (13 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Yes you should see a doctor

Detailed Answer:
These are the signs of nerve damage. We can try to figure out a little but more what type of nerve damage but I need some more information.

-How far up your legs does the numbness go?
-Is it the front or back of your legs and is the foot involved?
-Which fingers go numb and does it go past your wrist?
-Do you have back or neck pain?
-Do you have diabetes, syphilis or multiple myeloma?
-What type of job do you do?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Richard Jackson (14 hours later)
Hello Dr. XXXXXXX -

Thanks for your response.

Here's the answers to your questions:

-How far up your legs does the numbness go?

Generally, I feel numbness and tingling in my feet and calf in both legs.
The numbness go till ankle.

-Is it the front or back of your legs and is the foot involved?

Yes, I have tingling and numbness in both feet often.
Generally the back of the legs involved - calf area.

-Which fingers go numb and does it go past your wrist?

Generally index finger is involved and tingling and numbness in palm area.

-Do you have back or neck pain?

Yes, I occasionally have back and neck pain.

-Do you have diabetes, syphilis or multiple myeloma?

I don't think so. My A1C was 6.1 1 month back.
syphilis or multiple myeloma - Never been diagnosed.

-What type of job do you do?

I am a software engineer. Most of the time I'm sitting in front of the computer.


Do I need to see a Neurologist? What test I need to figure out cause of the symptoms?

Thanks again for your help and expert advice.

Best Regards

-XXXXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Richard Jackson (14 hours later)
Brief Answer:
A neurologist is definitely the place to dtart

Detailed Answer:
the treatments for your problem depend in the cause and unfortunately there are many different disease processes that can cause your symptoms ranging from damage to the nerves called a polyneuropathy, damage to the nerve roots called radiculopathies, and damage to individual nerves called entrapment neuropathies such as carpal tunnel syndrome or maybe a combination if two or all three. a neurologist might be able to sort it it based in examination and if not a test called an emg/nerve conduction could help decide what the cause is. after you find it what it is treatment options could be discussed. hope this helps
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Richard Jackson

Neurologist

Practicing since :2010

Answered : 120 Questions

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What Causes Numbness And Tingling In Legs And Hands?

Brief Answer: Yes you should see a doctor Detailed Answer: These are the signs of nerve damage. We can try to figure out a little but more what type of nerve damage but I need some more information. -How far up your legs does the numbness go? -Is it the front or back of your legs and is the foot involved? -Which fingers go numb and does it go past your wrist? -Do you have back or neck pain? -Do you have diabetes, syphilis or multiple myeloma? -What type of job do you do?