You get out of bed or stand up from a chair, and suddenly your foot feels like it has completely disappeared. Or maybe you’ve been sitting in the same position for too long, and now your hand is tingling as if a colony of tiny ants has moved in.
Numb or tingling hands and feet are something that happens to almost everyone at some point. And most of the time, it’s nothing to worry about: a nerve has simply been compressed for a while and gradually returns to normal once you change position.
But when numbness is frequent, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms, it can also be a sign that a nerve, blood circulation, or an underlying health condition needs a little more attention.
So, why do your hands and feet go numb or tingling? And more importantly, when should you be concerned?
Numbness is a reduced or complete loss of sensation in a part of the body. It can make your skin feel less sensitive, almost as if you were wearing a glove or a thick sock.
Numbness can also be accompanied by tingling, that familiar “pins and needles” sensation that doctors call paresthesia. Some people may also experience burning, vibrating or crawling sensations under the skin.
These sensations usually occur when the nerves that carry information between the brain, spinal cord and the rest of the body are compressed, irritated or damaged.
And sometimes, it doesn’t take much for numbness to set in.
1. Staying in the same position
This is probably the most common cause.
Sleeping on your arm, sitting in the same position for a long time, or crossing your legs for too long can temporarily put pressure on a nerve. As a result, your hand, foot or leg starts to tingle.
Don’t panic! Usually, all it takes is moving, changing position, and giving your nerves a little time to return to normal.
2. A compressed nerve
Nerves run throughout the body, from the neck to the hands and from the legs to the feet. When a nerve is compressed or irritated, it can cause numbness in the area it serves.
For example:
Repetitive movements, such as spending a long time typing or performing certain manual tasks, can also make symptoms worse when a nerve is already irritated.
In some cases, a ganglion cyst can also put pressure on a nerve. These small, fluid-filled lumps commonly develop around joints, particularly in the wrist and hand. Depending on their size and location, they can cause pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness in the hand.
3. Diabetes
Diabetes is an important cause of peripheral neuropathy, which is damage to the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.
Symptoms often start in the feet and may include tingling, numbness, a burning sensation, or reduced sensitivity. They can later affect the legs and sometimes the hands.
This is one of the reasons why recurring numbness should be evaluated rather than simply ignored.
4. High blood pressure and circulation problems
High blood pressure does not usually cause numbness directly. However, when it is not well controlled over time, it can contribute to problems that affect the blood vessels and, indirectly, nerve health.
In addition, some medications used to treat high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions can cause tingling or numbness as a side effect in some people.
If your numbness started after beginning a new treatment or changing your dose, it’s important to talk to a healthcare professional.
5. Vitamin or mineral deficiencies
Certain nutrients play an essential role in healthy nerve function. A deficiency, particularly in vitamin B12, can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the hands, arms, feet or legs.
A deficiency in certain minerals, such as potassium or magnesium, can also be linked to unusual sensations.
Before taking supplements on your own, however, it’s best to talk to a healthcare professional. Too much of certain nutrients can also cause nerve problems.
6. Certain medications
Certain medications can cause numbness, tingling or other unusual sensations in the hands and feet. This includes some treatments for cancer, HIV or AIDS, seizures and certain infections. Medications used to treat heart conditions or high blood pressure may also be responsible.
If your symptoms started after beginning a new medication or changing your treatment, talk to a healthcare professional. They can determine whether the medication could be contributing to your symptoms and, if necessary, adjust your treatment.
However, never stop taking prescribed medication on your own.
7. Cold temperatures
Have you ever had completely numb fingers after spending time outside in the winter? Cold temperatures naturally reduce blood flow to the extremities as the body tries to conserve heat.
Your fingers and toes may become cold, pale, and numb.
In some cases, particularly in people with Raynaud’s disease, the small blood vessels in the fingers and toes constrict too much in response to cold or stress. The affected areas may turn white or blue before returning to their normal colour.
8. Certain habits, injuries or toxic substances
Nerves can also become irritated or damaged by:
Heavy, long-term alcohol use can lead to alcoholic neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that can cause numbness, tingling, or weakness in the arms and legs.
Certain toxic substances can also damage nerves, including lead, mercury, certain industrial solvents, some pesticides and carbon monoxide.
9. Certain medical conditions
Less commonly, persistent numbness can be associated with various medical conditions, including neurological, autoimmune, and infectious diseases, as well as conditions affecting the kidneys, liver or blood vessels.
Multiple sclerosis, for example, can cause abnormal sensations such as numbness and tingling.
Certain infections can also cause inflammation or damage to the nerves, leading to tingling or numbness. These include shingles, certain types of hepatitis, HIV, and Lyme disease.
Lyme disease is an infection transmitted through the bite of certain infected ticks. Early symptoms may include fatigue, fever, body aches, or a skin rash. If left untreated, Lyme disease can sometimes cause neurological symptoms, including pain, tingling, or numbness in a limb. If you have been exposed to ticks and develop unusual symptoms, talk to a healthcare professional.
Guillain-Barré syndrome is another, much rarer cause. It is a neurological condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves. It can begin with tingling or numbness in the feet or hands and may then progress quickly to muscle weakness.
That said, numbness does not automatically mean that you have a serious medical condition. There are many possible causes, and the context and other symptoms are important when determining what may be going on.
As a starting point, you can have your symptoms analysed for free using BonsAi, Bonjour-santé’s AI assistant. Available by chat around the clock, BonsAi can assess your symptoms, provide possible causes, and direct you toward the most appropriate care.
When tingling or numbness affects both the hands and feet, it can mean that multiple nerves are affected. This can happen with certain types of peripheral neuropathy, including those related to diabetes, certain infections, or neurological conditions.
Other factors can also cause tingling in several parts of the body, including anxiety and hyperventilation.
The duration, frequency, progression, and other symptoms are therefore important in determining whether the situation should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
If the numbness is mild and occurs after staying in the same position for too long, a few simple steps may help:
Depending on the cause, a healthcare professional may also recommend physiotherapy, occupational therapy, a splint, medication, or other treatments.
Not always, since some causes are difficult to prevent. But a few healthy habits can help protect your nerves and blood circulation:
Occasional numbness that goes away quickly after changing position is generally not a cause for concern.
However, book an appointment with a healthcare professional if the numbness:
A healthcare professional can assess your symptoms. Depending on the situation, blood tests or other examinations may be needed to determine the cause.
Numbness that appears suddenly should be taken seriously, especially if it affects one side of the body.
Go to the emergency department or call 911 if the numbness occurs suddenly along with:
These symptoms can, among other things, be associated with a stroke or another medical emergency.
If in doubt, it’s better to seek medical attention quickly.
Having a hand or foot “fall asleep” from time to time is usually nothing to worry about. In many cases, simply changing position is enough to make those familiar pins and needles go away.
But persistent or recurring numbness, or numbness accompanied by other symptoms, deserves attention. Causes can range from a simple compressed nerve to nutritional deficiencies, certain medications, diabetes, or other health conditions. And when numbness appears suddenly along with weakness, speech, vision, or bladder or bowel control problems, it’s important to act quickly.
In short, if your hands or feet regularly play hide-and-seek with their sensation, it may not just be a matter of being in the wrong position: your body may be trying to tell you something.
To find an appointment with your doctor or at a clinic in your area, visit Bonjour-santé. With a Bonjour-santé membership, members can chat with our nursing team or book unlimited virtual appointments to discuss their health questions.
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