causes of numbness in limbs
Quick Answer. Numbness and tingling in the arms, legs, hands and feet are caused by a number of conditions, including pressure on the spine or peripheral nerves, atherosclerosis, nerve damage or injury, and animal or insect bites, according to MedlinePlus. Other causes include abnormal levels of calcium, sodium and potassium.
Disorders of the spinal cord or spine (vertebra), causing numbness and tingling in arms and/or legs: Spinal cord injury. Injuries of the cervical spine result in symmetrical arm and leg paralysis and numbness. Injuries at the thoracic level affect trunk and legs, and lumbar and sacral injuries affect hips and legs.
Below is a list of causes of peripheral neuropathies with arm or leg numbness or tingling as common symptoms: 1  Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (in diabetes I or II): âstocking-gloveâ (feet-hands) pattern of numbness. 2  Alcoholic neuropaty: long term excessive alcohol drinking, burning feet, wide-based gait.
Sitting or standing in the same position for a long time. Injuring a nerve (a neck injury may cause you to feel numbness anywhere along your arm or hand, while a low back injury can cause numbness or tingling down the back of your leg) Pressure on the nerves of the spine, such as from a herniated disk.