SCRIPT NUMBER 95
NUMBNESS OF HANDS OR FEET - NEUROPATHY
(ONE SPEAKER)
PROGRAM NAME: HEALTH NUGGETS
PROGRAM TITLE: NUMBNESS OF HANDS OR FEET - NEUROPATHY
PROGRAM NUMBER: 95
SUBJECT: MULTIPLE CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, COMPLICATIONS,
TREATMENT, PREVENTION OF NEUROPATHY
KEY WORDS: NEUROPATHY, SENSATION, ELECTRICAL IMPULSES,
CODEINE, OPIATS, DIABETES, CALLUSES
DATE OF SCRIPT: JANUARY 18, 2013
AUTHOR: RICHARD YUKL, MD, FACS
What would you do if one day your children pointed out to you an ugly sore on
the heel of your foot? As you examined the area, you could see a large, open
ulcer with swollen and reddened edges, and with pus oozing from a base of dead
skin. Despite the advanced nature of your wound, it remained entirely painless,
and you had experienced no clues to alert you to a problem. All of the normal
sensations you would expect to feel warning you of a problem were absent.
Now, consider another situation. I have a neighbor who has slowly begun
noticing numbness in her feet. She states that her feet feel as though she is
wearing stockings. She is slowly losing her ability to feel the sensations of pain
and of temperature in her feet. She has begun to stumble over uneven surfaces
in the floor of her house, and she is extremely worried of falling and breaking a
bone.
Today, I want to talk about numbness that can develop in your hands or feet – a
condition doctors call neuropathy.
Nerves send information from your brain and spinal cord to all parts of your body
and back again through electrical impulses. They carry information such as
temperature and pain, and they control bodily functions such as your blood
pressure, heart rate and digestion.
Numbness in your hands or feet is the result of damage to the nerves in your
body. People typically compare their loss of feeling to the feeling of wearing a
thin stocking or glove, and they often describe associated tingling or burning.
Most often the numbness will start in your longest nerves, the ones that reach to
your toes. As the condition worsens, tingling may begin to spread upward into
your arms and legs. Sharp, jabbing or electric-like pain with extreme sensitivity to
even light touch may eventually develop. You may develop muscle weakness or
even paralysis.
Nerve damage that causes numbness can occur as the result of a number of
insults - problems such as physical trauma, virus infections, poisons or some
systemic diseases. One of the most common causes is diabetes, especially if it is
poorly controlled. Other risk factors are drinking too much alcohol, and a failure
to include adequate vitamins in your diet, especially the B vitamins. Alcohol
abuse not only poisons your nerves directly, it often results in your eating a poor
diet.
Once the nerves are damaged, parts of your body may become numb, as was
the case of both people whose stories we have just heard. As you lose the ability
to feel pain and changes in temperature, you become more likely to suffer burns
or other skin trauma. Because you do not feel injuries, you are more likely to let
even minor injuries become infected. The good news is that many times the
numbness can be improved or eliminated if its cause is correctly identified and
treated.
Because a number of different causes can cause numbness in your hands or
feet, see a doctor who will take a full history and do a complete physical
examination to accurately identify how well your nerves function. Blood tests will
measure the levels of vitamins and sugar in your blood. X-rays of your back may
be taken to look for spinal damage or a tumor that is pinching nerves as they exit
your spine. A small portion of a nerve may be removed and examined for
abnormalities. Some hospitals have the equipment to measure electrical activity
in your muscles to identify whether muscle weakness you may be experiencing is
caused by nerve damage or by muscle problems.
Once the specific cause of your numbness is identified, treatment is directed at
managing that specific cause, knowing that your numbness may improve as it is
corrected. Another goal of treatment is to relieve pain if it has become an issue
because your problem has advanced. Many types of medicines can be used to
relieve the pain. Mild pain can often be relieved by medicines you can buy
without a doctor’s prescription. For more severe pain, your doctor may
recommend prescription painkillers. Drugs such as codeine, which contain
opiates, can lead to an addiction, so these drugs are generally prescribed only
after all other treatments have failed.
Thankfully, you can take preventative measures to avoid developing numbness
in your hands or feet, or to combat the complications associated with numbness
if it has already developed. If you are diabetic, get your diabetes under control
and take care of your feet. Check your feet daily for signs of blisters, calluses or
cuts. Tight shoes and socks can worsen pain and tingling and may lead to sores
that won't heal, so wear soft, loose cotton socks and padded shoes. Next,
exercise. Regular exercise can reduce nerve pain, and it can help to control your
blood sugar levels if you are diabetic. Also, if you smoke, quit. Cigarette smoking
can harm your blood circulation, increasing the risk of foot problems. Eat healthy
meals. Healthy eating is especially important to ensure that you get the essential
vitamins and minerals your body needs for healthy nerve function. Include lots of
fruits, vegetables and whole grains in your diet, because they are loaded with
vitamins and minerals. And finally, avoid prolonged pressure to any area of your
body. Don't cross your knees or lean on your elbows for long periods of time.
Doing so can cause damage to your nerves.
We were created with a system of nerves that keeps our bodies functioning with
remarkable efficiency. Taking care of that nervous system through reasonable
lifestyle and dietary precautions can keep it functioning as it was intended.
Health Nuggets is written by Dr. Richard Yukl, a medical doctor working in the
United States. The medical views expressed in this program are his and may
differ for your particular health needs. If you need medical advice, please consult
a medical professional in your area.