Dominic Stone
Numbness is a complete or partial loss of feeling or sensation in any area of the body. It is usually a sign of nerve problems, although it can be a symptom of many different medical conditions. Most cases of numbness are not serious, but severe cases can lead to complications such as not being able to feel pain, which can cause burns or falls. If you are experiencing any numbness, it is important to see a healthcare provider who can diagnose the cause and recommend treatment. Treatment for numbness depends on its cause and can include medication, physical therapy, braces or orthotics, and blood supply increases through heat.
How to Treat Muscle Numbness
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis | A doctor will review a patient's medical history, perform a physical examination, and ask questions about symptoms. |
| Tests | Blood tests, MRI or other imaging tests, electromyography, nerve conduction studies, lumbar puncture (spinal tap). |
| Treatment | Depends on the underlying cause. May include medication, nerve decompression surgery, physical therapy, and massage therapy. |
| Medication | Amitriptyline, duloxetine, pregabalin, gabapentin, antidepressants, corticosteroids. |
| Prevention | Maintaining a healthy diet and staying physically active can help reduce the risk of developing conditions that can cause numbness, such as diabetes. |
| Home remedies | Applying heat to increase blood supply and relax muscles, Epsom salt foot baths, changing posture, braces or orthotic devices to relieve pressure on nerves. |
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What You'll Learn
Seek medical advice to determine the cause of muscle numbness
Numbness, or a loss of feeling or sensation in any area of the body, can be a sign of a problem with your nerves. It is often accompanied by a tingling or pins-and-needles feeling, and in some cases, weakness and paralysis. While most cases of numbness are not serious, severe cases can lead to complications such as the inability to feel pain, which can result in burns or falls.
If you are experiencing numbness, it is important to seek medical advice to determine the cause. A doctor will review your medical history, perform a physical examination, and ask questions about your symptoms. They may also order laboratory tests, such as blood tests, imaging tests, or other studies, to confirm or rule out potential causes. It is important to be forthcoming with your doctor and disclose any recent injuries, illnesses, or infections.
The treatment for numbness will depend on the underlying cause. In some cases, a doctor may recommend medication to directly target nerve pain, such as amitriptyline, duloxetine, pregabalin, or gabapentin. Physiotherapy, including nerve gliding exercises, massage therapy, and electrotherapy, can also be effective in relieving symptoms of numbness.
If your numbness is accompanied by any of the following symptoms, it is important to seek immediate medical attention:
- Weakness or paralysis
- Confusion
- Difficulty talking
- Dizziness
- Severe headache
- Loss of bladder or bowel control
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Apply heat to the affected area
Numbness is a complete or partial loss of feeling or sensation in any area of the body. It usually affects the hands, fingers, feet, arms, or legs, but it can occur in any part of the body. Numbness is often a sign of a problem with the nerves, but it can also be caused by muscle spasms or a rash. In most cases, it is not serious, but severe cases can lead to complications such as not being able to feel pain or sense hot from cold.
Applying heat to the affected area is one way to treat muscle numbness. This can be done using dry heat from heating pads or moist heat from steamed towels or moist heating packs. A warm bath or shower can also help. Applying heat to the affected area can increase blood supply and relax the muscles.
If you are experiencing numbness, it is important to see a healthcare provider, who can diagnose the issue based on your symptoms, medical history, and a physical exam. They may also recommend further testing, such as blood tests or imaging tests, to determine the underlying cause of the numbness.
In addition to applying heat, there are other ways to treat muscle numbness. This includes braces or orthotic devices to relieve pressure on the nerves, massage to increase blood circulation and stimulate the nerves, and foot baths with Epsom salt to relieve symptoms. Physiotherapy techniques such as nerve gliding exercises, soft tissue mobilization, and electrotherapy can also help to reduce muscle tension and improve nerve function.
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Try nerve gliding exercises
Numbness, or a loss of feeling or sensation in any area of the body, is usually a sign of a problem with your nerves. While most cases of numbness are not serious, it is important to seek medical advice if you are experiencing any numbness that does not have an obvious cause.
Nerve gliding exercises, also known as nerve flossing, can help relieve nerve pain and improve mobility. These exercises work by increasing circulation around compressed nerves, allowing them to move freely along the nerve path. When done correctly, nerve gliding can reduce inflammation and tension in both muscles and nerves, leading to improved function and reduced pain.
There are several nerve gliding exercises that can be performed to target different areas of the body. For the upper body, Hinge Health physical therapists recommend exercises to manage nerve pain in the hands and arms, which can be helpful for carpal, ulnar, or cubital tunnel syndrome. One such exercise involves sitting tall and reaching the affected arm out to the side, level with the shoulder, with the hand facing the floor. The hand is then flexed and fingers pulled up toward the ceiling, before the arm is bent and brought toward the shoulders. This movement is repeated slowly for 5 times.
For the lower body, two main nerves are targeted: the sciatic nerve and the femoral nerve. These exercises can be beneficial for those experiencing lower back pain. Additionally, nerve gliding exercises have been found to be effective in treating neck pain. One such exercise involves starting with the hand touching the top of the shoulder, with the palm facing down, and the head in a neutral position. The elbow is then straightened and the wrist extended, while the opposite ear is brought towards the opposite shoulder. After a brief pause, the movement is returned to the starting position and repeated.
It is recommended to perform 2 to 3 sets of 15 repetitions of these exercises, and mild pain during the exercise is acceptable. However, if the pain does not settle down after completing the exercise, it is advised to stick with more gentle techniques or consult a physical therapist for manual therapy.
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Use braces to relieve nerve pressure
Numbness, sometimes called 'paraesthesia', refers to the complete or partial loss of feeling or sensation in any area of your body. It usually affects your hands, fingers, feet, arms, or legs, but it can occur in any part of your body. Numbness is often a sign of a problem with your nerves, although it can be a common symptom of many different medical conditions.
In some cases, muscle numbness can be caused by putting too much pressure on your nerves due to overuse or injury. This can result in a pins-and-needles sensation or numbness. If you are experiencing too much pressure on your nerves, braces can help to relieve that pressure, and any subsequent pain and numbness.
Braces can be used to immobilize the affected area of your body, providing support to your wrist, elbow, or other joints. This can be especially helpful in cases of ulnar nerve entrapment, which occurs when something irritates or puts pressure on the ulnar nerve that runs down your arm. Similarly, carpal tunnel syndrome, which is a common type of nerve compression syndrome, can be treated with braces to support the wrist.
To determine if a brace is the right treatment for your muscle numbness, a healthcare provider will assess your symptoms, medical history, and perform a physical exam. They may also recommend other treatments such as rest, ice and heat, or over-the-counter pain relievers. In more severe cases, surgery may be required to release the pinched nerve.
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Take medication to target nerve pain
Numbness, or a loss of feeling or sensation in an area of your body, is usually a sign of nerve damage. In most cases, this isn't serious, but it's important to get it checked out by a healthcare professional.
If your doctor diagnoses you with nerve pain, they will discuss medication options with you. There are several types of medication that can help with nerve pain, but not all will work for your specific type of pain. The best choice for you depends on the cause of your pain, the severity, the potential side effects, and other factors.
Anticonvulsants
These medications were originally developed for people with epilepsy to control seizures. However, their effects on the nervous system can also help to dull pain. Side effects may include drowsiness, dizziness, and nausea. Not all anticonvulsants will help with nerve pain, so your doctor will choose medications that have been proven to work in studies.
Antidepressants
Certain types of antidepressants can also be a first-choice treatment for neuropathic pain. These medications can have a synergistic effect in people who experience depression alongside chronic pain. Chronic pain often causes depression, and depression can intensify a person's sensitivity to pain. Antidepressants that are used to treat nerve pain include tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (usually at a lower dose than that prescribed for depression), and serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as duloxetine.
Combination therapy
Many studies have shown that combining certain drugs, often an anticonvulsant and an antidepressant, has a better effect on nerve pain than either medication alone.
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Frequently asked questions
Muscle numbness is the complete or partial loss of feeling or sensation in any area of your body. It usually affects your hands, fingers, feet, arms or legs, but it can occur in any part of your body.
Muscle numbness is usually a sign of a problem with your nerves. It can be caused by a variety of conditions, including multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and diabetic neuropathy.
A healthcare provider will diagnose muscle numbness based on your symptoms, medical history, and a physical exam. They may also order laboratory tests, such as blood tests, to confirm or rule out potential causes.
The treatment for muscle numbness depends on the underlying cause. In some cases, medication may be prescribed to directly target nerve pain. Other treatments include physical therapy, nerve decompression surgery, and addressing any underlying conditions.
If you are experiencing muscle numbness that does not have an obvious cause, it is recommended to see a healthcare provider. Additionally, if the numbness is accompanied by other symptoms such as weakness, paralysis, confusion, or difficulty talking, seek immediate medical attention.
