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Call your health care provider if
Go to a hospital or call your local emergency number (such as 911) if:
- Weakness or paralysis occurs with numbness or tingling
- Numbness or tingling occur just after a head, neck, or back injury
- You cannot control the movement of an arm or a leg or you have lost bladder or bowel control
- You are confused or have lost consciousness, even briefly
- You have slurred speech, change in vision, difficulty walking, or weakness
Call your doctor if:
- Numbness or tingling has no obvious cause (like a hand or foot "falling asleep")
- You have pain in your neck, forearm, or fingers
- You are urinating more often
- Numbness or tingling is in your legs and worsens when you walk
- You have a rash
- You have dizziness, muscle spasm, or other unusual symptoms
What to expect at your health care provider's office
Your health care provider will take a medical history and perform a physical examination, with careful evaluation of your nervous system.
Medical history questions may include the following:
- What part or parts of your body have numbness or tingling? The trunk? Your legs or feet? Your arms, hands, or fingers?
- Which side of your body is involved?
- Which aspect of the specific body part? For example, is your inner thigh, calf, or foot affected? Your palm, fingers, thumb, wrist, or forearm?
- Does the numbness or tingling affect your face? Around your eyes? Your cheeks? Around your mouth? Is one or both sides of your face involved?
- Does the part of your body with numbness or tingling change colors? Does it feel cold or warm?
- Do you have other abnormal sensations?
- Do you ignore everything on the affected side?
- How long have you had the numbness or tingling?
- When did it start?
- Does anything make it worse like exercise or standing for long periods of time?
- Do you have any other symptoms?
Your doctor may also ask you questions to determine your risk for stroke, thyroid disease, or diabetes, as well as questions about your work habits and medications.
Blood tests may include:
- Complete blood count ( CBC)
- Electrolyte level (measurement of body chemicals and minerals)
- Thyroid function tests
- Measurement of vitamin levels
- Heavy metal or toxicology screening
Imaging tests may include:
- CT scan of the head
- CT scan of the spine
- MRI of the head
- MRI of the spine
- Angiogram (A test that uses x-rays and a special dye to see inside the blood vessels)
- CT angiogram
- X-ray of the affected area
- Ultrasound of neck vessels to determine your risk for TIA or stroke
- Vascular ultrasound
Other tests that may be done include:
- Electromyography and nerve conduction studies to measure how your muscles respond to nerve stimulation
- Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to rule out central nervous system disorders
- Cold stimulation test may be done to check for Raynaud's phenomenon
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Reviewer Info: Jacob L. Heller, MD, Emergency Medicine, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, Washington, Clinic. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. ; ADAM Health Illustrated Encyclopedia, 04/21/2009 |
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