Toes go numb: why and what to do. Why does numbness occur in the big toes?

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Why are my toes numb?

Numbness of the extremities is an unpleasant sensation experienced by a person, which is often accompanied by a burning sensation, a feeling of tightness, burning or chilliness.
Why are my toes numb? There can be several reasons for numb toes.

Finger numbness may be a sign the following diseases:

Osteochondrosis;
Migraine;
Circulatory disorders in the leg area;
The presence of an intervertebral hernia;
Diabetes;
Severe deficiency of trace elements and vitamins;
Ischemic attacks involving one leg, a specific area of the leg, or both legs;
Multiple sclerosis;
Nerve damage caused by vascular deformity in rheumatoid arthritis or other diseases;
Some hereditary diseases associated with nerve damage.

What is the right thing to do for a person who has numb toes: see a doctor or wait until the symptoms disappear on their own? You should definitely consult a doctor in cases where attacks of numbness of the toes occur frequently, if they are accompanied by pain, as well as weakness, loss of sensitivity, if the fingers do not feel heat and cold.
Numbness of the toes can occur when a nerve is pressed for a short time as a result of a person taking an uncomfortable position for a while. When you change that position, the numbness disappears within a few minutes. If the numbness of the toes does not disappear after changing the position and occurs quite often, you should consult a doctor.

Numbness of the toes can appear due to a disease located in the legs of the arterial vessels. This disease can provoke inflammation of the inner lining of blood vessels, the occurrence of obstruction in the arteries, as well as a violation of blood circulation. As a result, partial gangrene of the limb may develop. Also, numbness of the toes can occur due to nerve injury caused by osteochondrosis, tunnel neuropathy, or carpal tunnel syndrome.

Why do toes go numb- the most common reasons:

Uncomfortable posture when sitting or lying down. In such cases, there is a tingling sensation that disappears with a change in posture;
Lack of vitamin B12 in the body. This vitamin is involved in various metabolic processes of nerve fibers, so its deficiency leads to general weakness, fatigue, as well as to a violation of the sensitivity of irritability, a violation of the heart rhythm;
Pinched nerve, which is caused by problems of the spine, for example, osteochondrosis;
Raynaud's disease. This disease is manifested by circulatory disorders of the arteries and can be triggered by hereditary factors, stress and alcohol or nicotine intoxication.
Excessive alcohol consumption;
Obliterating endarteritis. Arterial vessels of the lower extremities are exposed to this disease. With it, there is a significant vasoconstriction, causing a violation of blood circulation, accompanied by a feeling of numbness and cooling of the extremities. If the disease progresses, complete occlusion of the vessels and even the appearance of gangrene may occur.
Neuropathy. This disease affects the nerves. It is caused by intoxication or metabolic disorders. Symptoms of this disease: itching, burning, tingling, sensations of tightening of the toes, spontaneous pain may occur.
Ischemic stroke of the inferior cerebellar or vertebral arteries.
Sometimes numbness of the toes can occur due to hyperventilation, which is accompanied by shallow, rapid breathing in a state of fear or anxiety.

The consequences of numbness of the toes can be very different - from violations of blood circulation to gangrene of the extremities. The consequences depend on the cause that caused the numbness.
If the numbness of the toes is caused by osteochondrosis, gradually the person may lose the ability to walk.
Oncological diseases can also lead to numbness of the toes, in which the tumor grows inside or outside the spinal cord, creating pressure that causes numbness.
Treatment of numbness of the toes is the treatment of the disease that caused it.

Loss of sensation in the fingers of one of the legs is an unpleasant symptom. Many fear that its cause may be pathology. In some cases, this is a really dangerous feeling. In this article, we will consider the main reasons why the fingers on both limbs go numb at once or only on the right leg. They can be divided into chronic and temporary.

What causes temporary paresthesia

Paresthesia of the lower extremities is a condition in which the toes become less sensitive. Additional symptoms:

burning;
goosebumps;
tingling;
pale skin;
pain.

This condition is not uncommon. It can be observed both in a healthy person and in a sick person. Most often, people who do not have dangerous pathologies find themselves with temporary paresthesia. It arises due to mechanical causes and passes without a trace as soon as the provoking factor ceases to act. You can feel numbness in your fingers due to the following reasons:

wearing uncomfortable shoes (most often, the sensitivity of the little finger is lost);
uncomfortable posture in a dream;
prolonged stay in one position (for example, tucking only the right limb);
long stay in the cold;
destruction of blood vessels due to bad habits (smoking or regular alcohol intake).

It is the mechanical causes that most often lead to the fact that the fingers on only one leg go numb. The limb that is most often exposed to negative effects suffers. For example, if you press your right leg while sitting, then her fingers will go numb.

When to See a Doctor

Everything in the body is interconnected, so a failure in one of its systems can lead to paresthesia. There are several situations in which
need to see a doctor:

Fingers hurt and go numb for no apparent reason. Before contacting a specialist, it is necessary to exclude possible mechanical problems. For example, walk around in more comfortable shoes for a while.
You often lose coordination of movements: you stumble, twist your legs. An unsteady gait may also be an indirect sign.
You feel additional symptoms: excessive weakness, drowsiness, dizziness, tinnitus.
You can't feel the change in temperature with your toes. To confirm this sign, prepare two basins of water - warm and cool. Dip your toes first in cool water and then in warm water. A healthy person will definitely feel the difference.

If you notice these signs in yourself, it is best not to postpone a visit to the doctor. They may indicate life-threatening pathologies - it will be too late to apply later. The first thing to do is visit a therapist. When you come to him, he will collect an anamnesis, appoint a consultation with a narrow specialist and refer you for additional diagnostics (X-rays, tests and other types of research).

The only period when you should not worry about numbness of the toes is pregnancy. The appearance of a symptom should be reported to the doctor, but in most cases its presence will be explained by the physiological characteristics of the female body. Along with the growth of the fetus, the uterus increases, which compresses the nerve roots and large vessels. This is what leads to numbness. After childbirth, the symptom of the female legs will be as sensitive as before.

Why does the patient suffer from chronic numbness

If the fingers go numb almost constantly, and this feeling does not leave you for a long time, then the cause may be an illness. Pathology is easy to recognize - it progresses over time: first you lose sensitivity from the little finger to the middle finger, and then this symptom covers the rest of the joints. As a rule, the last numbness covers the thumb. The following diseases can be the cause of such an unpleasant symptom:

Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, intervertebral hernia. This is the most common cause of paresthesia. During the treatment of these pathologies or after surgery, you again begin to feel the feet.
Damage to the nerve of the lower extremities as a result of trauma. In this case, the symptom develops atypically - first, the movable thumb, index or ring finger, loses sensitivity, and the rest retain their functions in full.
Diabetes mellitus of the second degree leads to the fact that in the first place they lose the sensitivity of the foot. Also, this disease and other pathologies of metabolic processes lead to loss of sensitivity of the fingers.
Multiple sclerosis leads to paresis and paralysis. One of the first symptoms that occurs with it is numbness of the toes.
With Raynaud's syndrome, blood circulation in the arteries is disturbed, and small vessels also suffer.
Polyneuropathy occurs against the background of a lack of B vitamins. This disease is characterized by numbness of the fingers of only one leg.
Launched vascular pathologies lead to complete blockage of blood vessels. If you do not pay attention to the appearance of numbness, then gangrene may develop.

Less commonly, this symptom accompanies other diseases: microstroke, tumors of the spine, damage to the peripheral nervous system, rheumatoid arthritis, transient ischemic attacks.

What to do if you often get numb toes

Self-treatment for finger numbness can lead to loss of a limb or a severe deterioration in health. The course of therapy should be only doctors. It will depend on the pathology that led to the appearance of the symptom. You can be treated in the following ways:

The use of painkillers, anti-inflammatory, vasodilating drugs. The therapy has several goals: it restores the blood supply to the lower extremities and helps to deliver nutrients to them. So that the patient does not suffer from a lack of useful blood components, vitamin therapy is used.
Surgical intervention, if necessary, to restore blood supply or the functioning of the nervous system.
Massage of the lower extremities and back.
Physiotherapeutic methods - from electrophoresis to body wraps.
Non-traditional methods of treatment: acupuncture, hirudotherapy.
Passing a course of physical therapy.

As a rule, several methods are used at once. At the insistence of a doctor, a diet (if diabetes is the cause) or another measure to restore health can be included in the complex. All patients with numbness of the fingers are recommended to purchase comfortable shoes, eliminate bad habits, take contrast baths in the evenings and rub relaxing balms into the feet after physical exertion.

Nog, a natural question arises, what is the reason for this? Most often, this problem torments older people, but sometimes young people also face it. Experts say that the reason for this change may be any change in a person's lifestyle, for example, when applying for a sedentary job or abusing cigarettes.

Doctors conditionally distinguish a group of diseases that are most often found in medical practice. First of all, this, of course, is radiculoneuritis, that is, a disease in which nerve endings are destroyed, and, consequently, the transmission of impulses is inhibited. Spinal problems can often explain why toes go numb. These include osteochondrosis, that is, the curvature of the vertebrae, which compresses the nerve endings, or In some cases, such a seemingly unremarkable symptom should be paid special attention, as it may indicate the presence of cancer at a late stage of development. Especially actively develops during the period of adverse weather conditions and low temperature on the street Raynaud's disease with a complete violation of circulation or multiple sclerosis. Numbness can be felt with a microstroke, in which there is an increase in pressure in the vessels of the brain.

Sometimes the toes become numb when a person sits in one position for a long time or presses something on a limb. This condition does not pose any danger to the health and life of the patient, and after a certain period of time passes without a trace. It is worth remembering that if the decrease in sensitivity to complete numbness of the fingers happens too often, then you should consult a doctor and undergo a general examination.

Of course, in order to receive qualified treatment, it is necessary to find out the exact cause of this state of affairs. And depending on the identified disease, the intervention of a neuropathologist, angiologist or endocrinologist is required. However, smokers and people who abuse alcohol should think about their own lifestyle, because bad habits contribute to intoxication of the body. Even caffeine in large quantities creates numb toes.

So, first of all, if there is a symptom, you should contact the surgeon, who conducts an examination and either reveals a pathology of a surgical nature, or excludes it. The next specialist should be a neurologist. He usually orders an MRI or CT scan of the spine, increasingly the lumbar region. Once a clear diagnosis has been established and a specific treatment prescribed, the discomfort of this symptomatic manifestation can be alleviated at home.

If the toes are numb, then daily therapeutic exercises should be carried out. As a rule, the attending physician only welcomes such an initiative and even recommends a specific effective set of exercises. Contrasting foot baths will produce a good effect. As preventive measures, cigarettes and alcohol should be completely abandoned, and the number of cups of coffee drunk per day should be minimized. And replace bad habits with the tradition of consuming only foods rich in vitamins and beneficial trace elements, especially iron and B vitamins. Any kind is perfect, as it improves blood circulation.

When the toes go numb, special means should be selected, because their effectiveness is purely individual and depends on the specific diagnosis. That is, what will have a positive trend in the treatment of osteochondrosis will not be of any benefit in restoring the state of diabetes.

It’s a good thing to fall asleep sweetly and soundly, and even see a colorful dream. But after that, it happens that numbness of the toes or the entire leg appears, as well as numbness of the fingers. This happens from the fact that the arm or leg is pinched, which causes compression of the nerve trunks and blood vessels. But after a light warm-up and rubbing or legs for a few minutes passes. But what to do if it does not go away and worries constantly?

Numbness of the toes- this is a symptom that indicates damage to the nerves or blood vessels at different levels, which requires a detailed examination in a clinical setting.

Numbness of the toes can be a transient condition or persistent, disturbing for a long time. Numbness of the toes is described as crawling, tingling, burning. In fact, this is a violation of sensitivity. Numbness of the toes is often the first symptom of an emerging disease that causes. Sometimes, simultaneously occurs or throughout the leg, the function of the limb is impaired.

Causes of numbness in toes

Numbness of the toes often occurs in an uncomfortable position, also in the position of throwing one leg over the other, which causes compression of the nerve trunks and blood vessels. And this is a passing condition that passes on its own and does not require seeking help. But there are multiple ones in which one of the symptoms is numbness. Therefore, with prolonged numbness of the toes, which does not go away on its own, you need to contact a specialist.

The most common causes of toe numbness are:

osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine,;
, in which numbness of the toes occurs;
protrusion or disc, very rarely - lead to irritation of the nerve roots ();
, inflammation of the sciatic nerve (), which are the result of the above conditions;
- numbness of the toes occurs when the nerve trunks are squeezed in the popliteal fossa;
- swelling causes compression of the nerves and numbness of the toes;
Tunnel syndromes: irritation of the obturator nerve in the canal of the same name; compression of the sciatic nerve between the piriformis muscle and the sacrospinous ligament (piriformis syndrome); infringement of the lateral cutaneous nerve of the thigh under the inguinal ligament (Bernhardt-Roth disease); compression of the tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel (tarsal tunnel syndrome); compression of the plantar digital nerves (metatarsalgia or). All of them somehow cause numbness of the toes.
Occlusive vascular diseases: obliterating endarteritis, diabetic angiopathy, atherosclerosis. Violation of sensitivity and numbness of the toes comes from a violation of the blood supply to the tissues.
Damage to the central nervous system: microstroke, multiple sclerosis also lead to numbness of the toes.
Tumors of the spine, tuberculosis also cause numbness and.

In order to find out the cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment, it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination, taking into account all clinical and physical data. It is also necessary to take into account the data of x-ray examination, conduct computed tomography or MRI, if necessary, ultrasound diagnostics is performed,.

Treatment for numbness in toes

Treatment at the Mednean center includes activities that directly affect the cause, that is, it is carried out, namely its complications: elimination of vertebral displacement and instability, and so on. It is effective in this regard, which allows you to eliminate functional blocks and displacements of the vertebrae, influence the regression of protrusion and hernia, restore mobility and anesthetize immediately after use. This technique is really capable of eliminating the cause of numbness, but only in the hands of an experienced specialist.

It is also used in the form of various procedures that are carried out on the latest equipment to ensure safe and effective treatment. Among them, ultrasound therapy should be noted, which is an excellent tool for reducing inflammation and swelling, as well as pain relief and elimination of muscle trigger zones.

It is the tool without which it is impossible to imagine the process of treating this condition, because the laser is able to restore nerve conduction and sensitivity, as well as stimulate the regeneration of cartilage tissue. The Mednean Center uses various types of laser, from low-intensity to high-power laser (HILT-therapy) and MLS-therapy.

To stimulate the muscles of the lower extremities or, conversely, to relax them in the presence of spasms, electrotherapy is performed with the appropriate types of currents. High-tone therapy is also used as an anesthetic and stimulating the overall metabolism of the body. It is indispensable for the destruction of pathological deposits of calcium salts in the form of osteophytes and spikes, which irritate the nerve roots and lead to impaired sensitivity and numbness of the toes. Used mechanical or manual, if necessary - hydromassage and ozone baths.

An individual approach and complex treatment will allow you to get rid of not only leg numbness, but also its cause. After eliminating the cause and resuming nerve conduction and tissue innervation, numbness disappears and recovery occurs. If you influence only the symptom, without eliminating the causes, the therapeutic effect will be short-lived or not come at all.

The feeling of numbness is always associated with a violation of the process of conducting a nerve impulse. To ensure innervation, the entire human body is literally permeated with a neural network consisting of tiny nerve endings. All of them are interconnected with the structures of the brain, where the centers of motor activity, the analysis of feelings, the formation of response command reactions are located.

If the little finger on the leg goes numb, then the violation of the impulse transmission process can be at any level. If we consider this process from a physiological point of view, then everything will look like this:

the epidermis, muscles and fascia of the little finger are permeated with nerve fibers that collect information and actuate this finger;
the nerve endings responsible for sensitivity receive signals from contact with the external environment and transmit them to the cerebral structures through the autonomic nervous system;
then, in response, a signal is sent to the motor axons, which contribute to the compression and unclenching of the muscles;
if there is a break in some part of this path, then the signal does not pass, the little finger is felt as numb.

Therefore, if the little finger on the leg goes numb, then you need to look for the place where the deformation of the transmission path of the nerve impulse occurs. About what diseases can provoke the appearance of such a symptom and what to do if such conditions occur, we will talk in the proposed material.

Why does the little finger go numb on the right and left foot?

There are many factors why the little finger on the leg goes numb, and all of them can be conditionally divided into two large groups. The first includes exclusively pathologies associated with impaired innervation in the form of a primary reaction. The second group is a violation of tissue trophism due to impaired blood supply, causing dystrophic and atrophic manifestations in the axon structure of the nerve fiber.

Before you begin to figure out why the little toe goes numb, you need to understand that the nervous structure is a network with certain centers for processing the information received and transmitting paths. Conduction of the nerve fiber is provided mainly by soft tissues, such as subcutaneous adipose tissue, epidermis, muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia and cartilage. Scar connective tissue does not have the ability to provide nerve fiber conductivity. Roughly speaking, all fibrin scars can only interrupt the pathways of innervation.

Accordingly, after a severe sprain of the ankle joint and without appropriate subsequent rehabilitation, the axon pathway of the sensory or motor nerve can be interrupted by cicatricial changes in the structure of the tissue. Invariably, this is accompanied by a violation of sensitivity and a feeling of numbness of individual parts of the foot, including the fingers.

There are no distinctive pathologies for the left and right legs. Their innervation is completely symmetrical. Therefore, all the reasons why the little finger on the right leg goes numb are similarly suitable for explaining the appearance of this unpleasant sensation on the left lower limb.

Let us consider only some pathologies in which there may be signs of a violation of the innovation process. Here are the most common reasons why the little finger on the left or right foot goes numb:

osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region (deformation of the intervertebral cartilaginous disc occurs and this leads to infringement of the radicular nerve);
radiculopathy in the lumbosacral spine (total dysfunction of the radicular nerves associated with an inflammatory response after their prolonged compression);
pinching of the sciatic nerve in the lumbar, gluteal, or femoral structures;
infringement of the small tibial nerve in the popliteal fossa;
incorrect positioning of the foot with deformity of the metatarsal bones of the foot and impaired conduction of the nerve fiber;
fractures of the small and large tibia;
fractures and fissures of the calcaneus;
sprains and ruptures of the ligamentous and tendon apparatus of the ankle joint;
knee bursitis;
tendovaginitis, myofascial syndromes, inflammation of the synovial membranes;
rheumatoid inflammatory processes;
local and generalized forms of metabolic disorders in the body (gout, systemic lupus erythematosus, diabetes mellitus).

Such conditions can also provoke circulatory disorders. Most often in men, numbness of the little finger is the first sign of developing obliterating endarteritis. With this disease, the muscular wall of small blood vessels is damaged. They spasm and do not conduct arterial blood saturated with oxygen to the soft tissue structures. Oxygen starvation and trophic disorders begin. It causes pain. In subsequent stages, numbness shows that the trophic disorder has also affected the nerve fibers.

In women, the little finger usually goes numb with venous insufficiency and edematous syndrome. Their tissue trophism is disturbed due to compression of blood capillaries by effusion of intercellular fluid in the subcutaneous layer. Venous stasis over time leads to thrombosis and the development of trophic ulcers of the lower leg. They can affect the pathways of the nerve fibers of the small and tibial nerve. This is what subsequently causes a violation of sensitivity.

For what other reasons does the little finger go numb on the left and right foot?

As mentioned above, the reasons why the little finger on the leg goes numb are divided into neurological and vascular. They are identical for the left and right lower limbs. The structures of nerve fiber damage were discussed in some detail in the previous paragraph. Now we will pay attention to another common pathology - antipathetic or toxic angiopathy in combination with neuropathy.

It should be understood that if the little finger goes numb on the leg, then this has reasons, and they can be hidden behind various diseases. Of course, the first thing to always exclude is lumbosacral osteochondrosis, infringement of the sciatic nerve, cauda equina syndrome, tibial nerve tunnel syndrome, etc.

But the likelihood of developing systemic angiopathy or neuropathy should not be discounted. The following people are at risk:

those who are overweight and do not follow the process of eating carbohydrates (they have a high probability of having type 2 diabetes mellitus);
leading a sedentary lifestyle (physical inactivity leads to gradual degeneration of muscles, nerve fibers and the vascular wall);
having chronic diseases of the liver, kidneys and urinary system (ketoacidosis, hyperbilirubinemia and high levels of creatinine in the blood contribute to the deterioration of the nerve fiber and vascular wall);
patients with a predisposition to the development of atherosclerosis (high blood cholesterol leads to blockage of blood vessels and disruption of the process of blood supply to nerve endings);
persons who consume alcoholic beverages (regardless of type and strength);
active and passive smokers.

The reasons why the little finger on the left leg goes numb in the listed categories of citizens may be associated with deep trophic disorders and changes in the internal acid-base balance of the blood. These are serious conditions that require mandatory correction. But manual therapy can provide constant assistance in restoring the normal functioning of the body.

Whatever the reasons that the little finger on the right leg goes numb, it is important to understand that, having eliminated them, you need to actively restore lost health. And in this regard, therapeutic exercises become mandatory. It helps to restore the elasticity of muscles and the vascular wall. With active muscular work, the saturation of all tissues with oxygen and nutrients begins. The reverse process occurs and the nerve fiber is restored.

If the little finger on the left and right foot goes numb

In the event that you notice that the little finger on the left or right foot is numb, you need to contact the doctor as soon as possible. Only an experienced doctor will be able, during the examination and examination, to establish the exact cause of this unpleasant sensation. It should be understood that if the little finger on the right or left leg goes numb and this sensation has no apparent reason (for example, tight shoes or the wrong sleeping position), then this will not go away on its own. Moreover, the disease will develop and "grow" with various unpleasant complications and consequences.

In medical practice, cases are not uncommon when it all started with a feeling of numbness in the little finger, and a year later a person lost his limb as a result of emergency amputation. Although everything could be corrected with a modern appeal to a doctor.

Don't delay your visit. Moreover, you have a great opportunity to make an appointment with a neurologist of the highest category. We have a doctor of medical sciences in the clinic of manual therapy. You can sign up for his initial free consultation. During the appointment, you will be given an accurate diagnosis and told about all the possibilities and prospects for treatment.

We can help both patients with osteochondrosis, tunnel syndromes and the consequences of sports (domestic) injuries, as well as people with manifestations of various neuropathies. Restoration of sensitivity and performance of the entire musculoskeletal system becomes possible with an integrated approach. You can start the processes of spontaneous recovery in the human body with the help of reflexology. Impact on biologically active points leads to the fact that regeneration begins in the body. Osteopathy allows you to restore the normal movement of not only the main physiological fluids in the human body, but also establish energy metabolism.

The use of kinesitherapy and therapeutic exercises will increase blood flow, eliminate stagnation of lymphatic fluid and speed up the process of tissue nutrition. In combination with massage and other types of manual influence, all this allows you to quickly "put" a person on his feet and restore lost health.