Feeling Numb
If You Are Feeling Numb
There are literally hundreds of conditions which can lead to one feeling numb. We're not talking about emotional numbness here, but the physical kind, which can be brought on by any number of diseases, disorders, toxins, accidents and so on. Sometimes feeling numb in one part of the body is a blessing, as if often the situation when a bone has been broken. Other times, especially when the cause isn't readily apparent, numbness can be of some concern, if not downright scary.
Try Sleeping On Your Arm - Feeling numb can be a little difficult to describe sometimes. It is closely related to, but not quite the same as a loss of sensation. When one suffers from a loss of sensation, say in one hand for example, one doesn't feel anything. It is as if the hand were not there. Numbness on the other hand (no pun intended) is something that is felt. Numbness is often preceded by pain, or at least a prickly or pins-and-needles sensation. We most commonly experience this upon awakening to find out we've been sleeping on our arm and it's still “asleep”. We experience both numbness and pins and needles, both of which quickly dissipate.
Feeling numb in one place or another can be the result of something rather mundane, or it can be a symptom of something more serious. Numbness is the result of a nerve disorder, which can be very temporary, or in the event of serious nerve or nervous system damage, can be more permanent. A pinched nerve can at some times be quite painful, at other times can cause numbness in a certain part of the body. The same is true with a compressed nerve, or an entrapped nerve. These conditions occur fairly often in athletic events, especially contact sports.
Symptomatic Of Some Diseases - Feeling numb often is a symptom associated with a specific disease. Diabetics are sometimes prone to numbness in one or more limbs, as are those who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, or multiple sclerosis. Most familiar, is the numbness often accompanying a stroke, which can affect one half of the body. Another more common source of numbness, often accompanied by pain as well, is carpal tunnel syndrome, which affects the wrist and hand. One of the more scary instances of feeling numb is when the left arm, and only the left arm, is involved. This feeling can be associated with angina, and sometimes is a precursor to a heart attack.
Allergies And Toxic Substances - Some food allergies can cause a numbing sensation, with various gums, lecithin, saffron, salicytes, and some sulfite compounds most often to blame. Then, there are a host of things that are to some degree toxic to humans, which if ingested can cause numbness, be it only in the mouth or tongue, or much more extensive in more serious cases. Lead and mercury are two of the more common causes of toxic-induced numbness. Exposure to carbon monoxide may leave one feeling numb, while carbon disulfide can cause both numbness and a loss of sensation. There are a host of chemical compounds which if ingested or inhaled can cause feelings of numbness. Even things we consider good for us, and which indeed are very beneficial, can cause numbness if taken in excessive amounts, Vitamin B6 is one of these, which in large doses can be toxic. There are also a number of plants, and some types of seafood which are toxic, and if ingested can cause numbness, or at times something worse.
If you've suffered a blow or an injury, the resulting numbness can either be expected, or at least is usually not surprising. Also if you have a certain disease, numbness may be one of the symptoms frequently experienced. We don't normally eat things which will cause numbness unless we mistakenly eat something we're allergic to. Feeling numb can of course be the first symptom experienced if there is a nervous system disorder, and a persistent numbness in any part of the body should not go unattended for that reason.