Numbness is actually a symptom of a nervous breakdown. This condition is generally harmless and temporary. However, you need to be careful if numbness is accompanied by other symptoms, such as stinging or tingling, because this condition can also be caused by certain diseases.
Numbness is a condition when certain body parts cannot feel any stimulation, either in the form of touch, vibration, or exposure to cold or hot temperatures on the skin.
This condition generally goes away on its own. However, don't let your guard down, because numbness can also be a sign of certain diseases, such as tumors or strokes.
Recognizing the Cause of Numbness
Numbness can be caused by many things. This condition can be said to be harmless if it is caused by pressure in certain body parts for a long period of time, so that blood flow to that part of the body is reduced.
For example, when sitting with your legs crossed for a long time, sleeping with your arms holding your head, or staying in the same position for a certain time.
Numbness can also occur due to damage to one or more parts of the nerves. This condition is generally caused by certain diseases, such as:
- Diabetes
- Vitamin B deficiency
- Alcohol abuse
- Spinal problems, such as herniated nucleus pulposus and spinal cord injuries
- Neurological diseases, such as transverse myelitis and encephalitis
- Carpal tunnel syndrome, which causes numbness, tingling, and pain in the hands and fingers
- Herpes zoster
- Brain damage, for example in stroke, epilepsy, and brain aneurysms
- Tumor pressing on the brain or nerves
- Exposure to temperatures that are too cold (frostbite)
- Leprosy
- Syphilis
- Side effects of cancer treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
- Poisoning by certain chemicals, such as heavy metals
- Damage to organs, such as kidney or liver failure
- Multiple sclerosis, which is an autoimmune disease that has the potential to paralyze the brain and spinal cord
- Lyme disease, which is a disease caused by bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi and spread through the bite of a tick infected with the bacteria
- Vasculitis, which is inflammation of the blood vessels
Beware of the Following Numbness Symptoms
You are advised to be more vigilant if your numbness is accompanied by other conditions, such as:
- daze
- Difficult to speak
- Dizzy
- Muscle spasm
- Severe headache that comes on suddenly
- Difficulty holding back urination and defecation
- Paralysis or not being able to move
- Loss of consciousness
- Numbness occurs after a head injury or spinal cord injury
- Numbness in feet worsens when walking
If you experience numbness accompanied by the above symptoms, consult a doctor immediately. The doctor will perform a CT scan or MRI, especially if you have had a head injury, a brain tumor is suspected, or a stroke is suspected.
Other investigations may also be needed to determine the cause of numbness, namely blood tests, analysis of brain fluid or cerebrospinal fluid, and examination of nerve electrical conduction.
If the results of the examination show that numbness is caused by certain conditions, special treatment is needed so that the numbness that appears can be resolved immediately.
For example, if you have diabetes, your doctor will advise you to keep your food intake to maintain blood sugar levels and give diabetes medication.
Although it looks mild, numbness should not be taken lightly. Therefore, consult a doctor if the numbness you experience does not go away or is accompanied by the above symptoms. Thus, the doctor can determine the appropriate treatment steps.