Why fingers on the right foot go numb and how to treat it. Little toe numb. What to do

For most of us, toe numbness, or paresthesia, is not a big deal to worry about. The loss of this zone of sensitivity almost does not cause discomfort to a person, and many consider an uncomfortable position to be the only cause of numbness: they say, the leg is numb, and therefore I don’t feel my thumb. Meanwhile, this symptom can indicate a variety of diseases: from problems with the spine to diabetes.

Of course, in isolated cases of numbness of the big toes, it is not worth running to the hospital. Loss of sensitivity in this zone can occur for physiological reasons, when, as a result of mechanical action, the vessels are pinched and the blood begins to circulate poorly in the lower extremities. The main factors that cause paresthesia include:

• tight shoes;
• excessively high heels or narrow toe shoes and boots;
• uncomfortable posture and inability to move your legs for a long time;
• freezing of the feet.

The crossed position of the legs can lead to occlusion of the artery and, as a result, to numbness of the big toe.

Physiological numbness of the thumbs quickly disappears with a change in posture or shoes. If this zone periodically loses sensitivity for no apparent reason, perhaps the whole point is a lack of nutrients, in particular B vitamins. This condition is especially characteristic of the female body during pregnancy. Pass an extended biochemical blood test for the content of useful substances in it. If a deficiency is detected, switch to a healthy diet and enrich your diet with vitamin complexes. If that's the problem, the numbness won't bother you anymore.

Interestingly, paresthesia is often provoked by bad habits. The abuse of nicotine and alcohol leads to disruption of the normal functioning of blood vessels and the circulatory system as a whole. Not enough blood is supplied to the legs, as a result of which the big toes begin to periodically go numb. If this symptom is left unattended, more serious diseases may develop over time.

In cases where all of the above factors are excluded, leg numbness is a symptom of one of the serious diseases, so you need to carefully examine to establish the true cause of the ailment.

Why fingers go numb - video

Numbness as a symptom of illness

First of all, it is worth consulting with an orthopedist to exclude injury. Even chronic untreated fractures can provoke numbness, so it is imperative to do an x-ray examination of the toes. If everything is in order with the bones and the nerve fibers directly in the foot are not inflamed, you should pay attention to the spine. If there are hernias, inflammations and tumors in the lumbar region, a person will periodically feel numbness and pain in the big toes.

In the human body, everything is interconnected: the nerves located in the big toes originate just in the spinal column, in the region of the fourth and fifth vertebrae of the lower back.

It is better to start the examination of the spine with a visit to a neurologist. The specialist will understand the symptoms and prescribe the necessary tests.

Most often, numbness of the thumb is provoked by the following diseases:

Preliminary diagnosis by the nature of numbness - table

By itself, paresthesia of the big toes does not yet indicate the presence of a serious disease. It is possible to make a diagnosis and, moreover, prescribe treatment only after consulting a doctor and passing all the examinations.

Diagnostics

The doctor who is contacted with complaints of paresthesia sends patients to a number of laboratory and apparatus studies. First of all, it is necessary to pass a general and biochemical blood test in order to detect or exclude diseases such as diabetes mellitus, polyneuropathy, cancer, as well as to determine nutritional deficiencies and identify foci of inflammation in the body.

Examination of the spine and blood vessels is carried out by the following instrumental methods:

• radiography;
• magnetic resonance imaging (MRI);
• dopplerography.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine will determine the cause of numbness in the big toes

It is advisable to undergo the most complete examination of the body in order to identify one or more causes that cause numbness of the toes and prescribe adequate treatment.

Treatment

In most cases, treatment will consist in restoring blood circulation in the lower extremities by releasing pinched nerves or normalizing the state of the vessels.

1. Drug therapy - prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs to improve blood supply.
2. Physiotherapy - mud, paraffin and other applications and wraps.
3. In severe cases, with advanced hernias and infringements, surgery may be necessary.

Leeches improve blood circulation well, acupuncture is very effective for pain syndrome, many back problems can be solved by a chiropractor. Do not forget about massage and physiotherapy exercises. In addition, recovery will be significantly accelerated if the patient leads a healthy lifestyle:

• eat properly;
• take vitamins;
• drink at least 2 liters of pure water daily;
• move more and be outdoors.

It is also advisable to completely abandon alcohol, cigarettes, strong tea and coffee.

Along with traditional treatment, you can try traditional medicine methods.

1. Honey wraps. Spread honey on your fingers and foot, wrap with a bandage or a clean cloth, put on a sock on top and leave the compress overnight.
2. To improve circulation, rub your fingers with camphor ointment, pepper oil, lemon juice, or wild rosemary tincture before going to bed.
3. contrast baths. Fingers should be alternately kept for half an hour in cold and hot water. In total, it is recommended to do 5 approaches, after which the problem areas should be smeared with turpentine and put on a warm sock.
4. Lemon-garlic tincture improves vascular function. Pass through a meat grinder 4 peeled heads of garlic and 4 lemons along with the peel. Transfer the resulting mass to a three-liter jar, fill to the top with boiled water and leave for 3 days at room temperature. Then strain the tincture, refrigerate and take on an empty stomach 3 times a day, 100 ml. The course of treatment is 40 days. During this time, the vessels will be cleared of harmful substances and deposits, as far as possible in a particular case.

Folk remedies - gallery

Ledum tincture Honey

Numbness of the toes (disturbance of sensitivity, paresthesia) is a condition characterized by a violation of the ability of the human body to correctly perceive various irritations from its own tissues or the external environment. Often it is combined with tingling, pain or burning, redness or blanching of the skin.

Why does toe numbness occur?

Short-term loss of sensation is usually caused by an uncomfortable position of the lower limb or mechanical compression of the foot by narrow shoes. In this case, the blood vessels are compressed, the blood supply to the soft tissues is disturbed, which leads to the occurrence of paresthesia. When you change your posture or remove narrow shoes, blood flow is quickly restored, and discomfort disappears.

Long-term paresthesia of the foot is usually caused by pathology. Therefore, if such sensations occur very often or last more than 4-5 hours and are not associated with a long stay of the foot in an uncomfortable position, you should consult a doctor.

The table shows the main diseases, one of the symptoms of which may be a violation of the sensitivity of the lower extremities:

Diagnostics

As mentioned above, short-term paresthesias of the toes are most often caused either by an uncomfortable position of the body, or by squeezing them with uncomfortable shoes. Therefore, if, for example, your little toe on your foot goes numb when wearing narrow model shoes, and this feeling quickly passes when changing shoes, there is nothing to worry about. But if sensitivity disorders persist for a long time, you should definitely consult a doctor.

It must be understood that paresthesia can occur against the background of pathological processes. Therefore, only a specialist can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe the necessary treatment after a full examination. Depending on the specific clinical situation, this may include:

• MRI, CT, radiography of the lumbosacral spine;
• biochemical blood test with the determination of the concentration of glucose, urea, creatinine, uric acid, C-reactive protein;
• foot radiography;
• MSCT of the brain;
• blood test for the presence of tumor markers;
• Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
• dopplerography of the vessels of the lower extremities.

If necessary, the patient is consulted by narrow specialists:

• traumatologist;
• orthopedist;
• rheumatologist;
• neurologist;
• oncologist;
• nephrologist;
• vascular surgeon.

Numb toes - what to do?

It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to this question, since the actions depend on the cause of the appearance of unpleasant sensations. Only a doctor, after conducting an examination and making a correct diagnosis, can prescribe one or another drug. For example, with hypovitaminosis conditions, patients are shown taking B vitamins, with gout - Allopurinol, and with Raynaud's disease - vasodilators.

How to treat numb toes at home

1. Sit in a chair or chair in a comfortable position.
2. Take off your shoes and move your foot up and down, left and right (10-15 repetitions each);
3. Dip your feet in a basin of warm water and hold them for 10-15 minutes. To enhance the effect, pine needle extract can be added to the water.
4. Dry your feet with a clean towel, dab gently. Pay special attention to the skin between the fingers.
5. Apply a nourishing cream to the skin and perform a foot massage.

Traditional medicine offers many prescriptions for the treatment of paresthesia. Some of them are quite effective, but should be used only after consulting a doctor. Consider the most popular of them:

1. Infusion of sweet clover. Pour a small pinch of grass with a glass of boiling water. Insist 15-20 minutes. Strain and take half a glass 3 times a day.
2. Camphor ointment with eucalyptus oil. Add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to a jar of pharmacy camphor ointment and mix thoroughly with a wooden stick. The ointment is applied to the problem area with light massaging movements at night.
3. pumpkin compress. Bake a piece of pumpkin and grind into a puree with a blender. Apply the resulting mass in a warm form on the feet, cover with waxed paper and wrap with a woolen scarf. Keep the compress for at least 2-3 hours.
4. pepper oil. In 100 ml of sunflower oil, add 10 g of ground black pepper. Heat the resulting mixture over low heat for 10 minutes. Strain. Rub into problem areas 2 times a day.
5. pepper tincture. Grind 3 medium pickled cucumbers and a pod of red hot pepper. Pour the resulting mass with a liter of good vodka. Insist in a dark place for 10 days, shaking occasionally. Strain. Use to rub numb areas as needed.

Prevention

To prevent numbness of the toes, you must:

• to live an active lifestyle;
• give up bad habits (smoking, drinking alcohol);
• adhere to a balanced diet;
• refuse to wear uncomfortable shoes;
• timely treat infectious and somatic diseases.

Video

We offer you to watch a video on the topic of the article.

If the big toe goes numb, this is a very unpleasant symptom, familiar to many firsthand. But how should one behave in this case - go to a specialist or not pay attention? How dangerous are these sensations and should they be treated, or is it just a temporary physiological factor that does not require medical intervention?

Leaky limbs are not a big deal for most people. And this is correct when discomfort occurs, for example, after prolonged sitting in an uncomfortable position. But if the feeling of numbness seems to arise for no reason and quite often, this is a reason to seek help from a specialist.

Why the big toe goes numb: reasons that do not require the intervention of a doctor

• Loss of sensation and slight tingling in the leg and fingers in particular are most often associated with circulatory disorders due to wearing tight shoes or staying in an uncomfortable position for a long time when the vessels and arteries are pinched.

Read also:

Take a close look at what you put on your feet. Tight, pointed high-heeled shoes disrupt the normal blood flow in the tissues. Subsequently, this will lead to the appearance of corns and numbness of the entire foot. If discomfort occurs, eliminate the first possible cause: change your everyday shoes, regularly do self-massage of the feet (massage and stretch your toes), refuse to wear narrow and tight shoes, even if they are made of genuine leather.

• Loss of sensation can be caused by frostbite, injuries and severe bruises of the toes that disrupt normal blood circulation.
• Excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, coffee, nicotine, fatty foods (fast food) leads to impaired blood supply throughout the body. Under the influence of harmful substances, the vessels constantly expand and narrow, which disrupts their normal functioning. The toes and hands suffer the most - they begin to numb, hurt.

If all of the above does not apply to you, and you feel discomfort even at night, you should contact a specialist.

Why does the big toe on the right or left foot go numb if you wear comfortable and comfortable shoes in accordance with the size? At the same time, unpleasant sensations occur with some frequency and for no apparent reason, and self-massage does not help restore sensitivity. All this is a serious reason to consult a neurologist, since the cause may be a number of “difficult” diseases that require special treatment.

Osteochondrosis

This disease is characterized by pathological changes and destruction of the intervertebral discs and ligamentous apparatus of the spine. The lower (lumbar) section of the spinal column is responsible for the normal functioning of the legs. Against the background of exacerbation of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias often form in this area.

Neoplasms deform the vertebral discs and put pressure on the nerve endings, which causes loss of sensation in the fingers of the right or left foot. It depends on the specific location of the hernia, which only a doctor can determine - as well as choose the appropriate treatment. It is worth adding that an intervertebral hernia that does not always increase in size is accompanied by a pain symptom in the lower back at the initial stage. With the growth of a hernia, numbness of the limbs is accompanied by constant aching pain in the thigh or foot.

Inflammation and pinching of the sciatic nerve is a problem also caused by osteochondrosis. Unlike an intervertebral hernia, in this case a person experiences a sharp pain, and numbness of the fingers or certain parts of the leg is a minor syndrome.

Gout

This disease develops slowly over many years. At the same time, salts and uric acid are not excreted from the body, but are deposited in the articular tissues. The very first sign that the disease has reached its peak is the numbness of the big toe of the right or left foot. Discomfort occurs at night, sensitivity usually returns during the day.

As the disease progresses, the big toe swells, turns red, the pain intensifies at night, and numbness can spread throughout the leg.

Metabolic disease

If the left or right big toe goes numb, this may be due to the poisoning of the body with toxins due to improper metabolism. The first signs are loss of sensation on the big toes, and then on the entire foot. In rare cases, stiffness extends to the lower leg and thigh, gait is disturbed.

The risk group includes people suffering from such diseases:

• obesity;
• diabetes;
• atherosclerosis;
• polyneuropathy;
• phlebeurysm;
• rheumatoid arthritis.

Raynaud's disease

The disease is characterized by pathological changes in the arteries and capillaries. They can be hereditary or acquired (permanent stress, alcohol and cigarette abuse, etc. are to blame). Characteristic signs: the big toe becomes numb, spasm of arteries and capillaries occurs, damaged skin tissues become pale and cool to the touch. An attack can last from a couple of minutes to several hours. Then the sensitivity and color of the skin are restored.

Tuberculosis of the spine

A rare infectious disease that affects the body's motor apparatus, which can also cause the big toes to go numb. The disease attacks the vertebrae in the lumbar region, causing their deformation and gradual destruction. A person feels discomfort, the nerve endings are pinched, and, as a result, there is a feeling of stiffness of the toes, and then the whole leg.

Neoplasms in the region of the lumbar spine

Malignant and benign tumors that occur in the spinal cord cause deformation of the vertebrae. She begins to put pressure on the nerve endings - as a result, numbness of one or more toes appears. With the progression of the tumor, constant, pulling pain can bother.

Numbness of the fingers of the left foot is an unpleasant sensation that should alert. If it appears after a long stay in an uncomfortable position or wearing narrow or uncomfortable shoes, when the legs are squeezed and blood flow is disturbed, then there is nothing to worry about, remove the root cause and everything will work out. But if the fingers become numb systematically in the morning or at night, when the body is in a calm position, it indicates a serious illness.

The causes of numbness of the fingers of the left and right feet are associated with problems with the spine, disorders in the work of the heart, thyroid gland:

• In 90% of cases, the toes become numb due to osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. With protrusion and hernia of the intervertebral discs.
• Oncological neoplasms in the spinal column, curvature of posture, leading to compression of nerve endings. This causes a lack of sensation in the leg that is associated with them.
• Spinal tuberculosis and osteoporosis. Diseases destroy bone and connective tissues, the vertebrae are strongly pressed against each other, which causes unbearable pain, provokes numbness of the fingers on the left, right or both legs.
• Injuries that caused complete or partial immobility of the lower extremities. The blood in the legs stagnates, the tissues of the fingers practically do not receive oxygen and nutrients. This leads to their partial necrosis, insensitivity.

  Leg injury

• Raynaud's syndrome. At the same time, the network of capillaries is poorly branched, they are thin and fragile. Capillaries often break and do not deliver blood to the extremities. Nutrients and oxygen in small quantities get to the fingers and toes, which causes their constant freezing, poor sensitivity, and numbness.
• Violation of metabolic processes in the body, which are caused by poor functioning of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands, hormonal imbalance, diabetes mellitus.
• Multiple sclerosis affecting the central and peripheral nervous systems.
• Diseases of the heart and blood vessels: arthritis, microstroke or microinfarction, thrombosis, arrhythmia, preventing blood from moving normally through the vessels. At the same time, the fingers of the left and right legs become numb (with poor work of the heart, the left hand becomes insensitive and poorly working).
• Flat feet, which creates an uneven load on the leg, leads to excessive compression of the foot, can be the cause of insensitivity of the fingers.

There are many factors that cause numbness of the toes and all are serious to become a cause for concern. Therefore, when unpleasant sensations appear, it is important not to delay the visit to a specialist.

Symptoms of numbness

The condition when a part of the body goes numb is difficult to confuse, but sometimes it is so mild or severe that the person is not aware of what is happening. If the numbness of the fingers is caused by slowly developing diseases, the symptoms will increase gradually, causing some kind of addiction. This will appear to be normal. Therefore, it is worth knowing the signs that the toes are numb:

Finger numbness

• decreased sensitivity of the fingers or its complete loss. This is easy to check by touching them, trying to lightly prick your fingers with a needle;
• constant freezing of the fingers, a feeling of coldness at a warm temperature and the normal state of the whole body. Those suffering from numbness have cold feet and hands even in the summer;
• feeling as if there were goosebumps in or on the surface of the fingers. It may cause itching;
• sometimes a person feels a burning sensation in the numb places of the leg;
• unpleasant sensations cause increased nervousness of the patient, affect the frequency of urination (increases);
• when walking, a tingling sensation is sometimes felt, especially after a long stay in one position. The blood begins to circulate more actively while walking and enter the weakened areas, causing discomfort.

If they are constantly felt, it is important to check the fingers for sensitivity with a needle, and whether they are cold or not by touching them with your hands.

Sometimes the causes of numbness are serious illnesses that require urgent medical attention. In addition to the above, there may be:

• dizziness;
• shortness of breath or heavy breathing;
• loss of consciousness;
• movement problems;
• lethargy;
• weakness;
• paralysis;
• speech disorders;
• deterioration of vision.

visual impairment

Diagnostics

To find out why the toes go numb, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination. An MRI, CT scan of the spine and an X-ray are performed to see hernias, disc displacements, tumor processes, whether the integrity of the vertebrae and the fluid between them is broken. If nothing is confirmed, the examination continues. It is advisable to examine the person completely, there may be several reasons for numbness at once.

To see how well the body is working as a whole, general blood and urine tests are taken. They allow you to identify possible oncological diseases, indicate a lack of vitamins and minerals in the body (because of this, the nutrition of tissues in some places may be too weak), determine the presence of inflammatory processes, indicate too much blood density. Its biochemical analysis reveals how well the blood supplies organs and tissues with oxygen and useful substances.

It is also important to donate blood for a rheumatic factor - pain and fatigue in the joints, numbness of the extremities can be a sign of rheumatism. Blood for sugar helps to confirm or refute the presence of diabetes. Analysis for hormones - to identify problems in the work of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands, metabolic disorders. It is important to determine if there is flat feet. It is suspected when the big toe or little finger goes numb.

It is necessary to do an ultrasound of the extremities, angiography of the vessels (contrast X-ray examination). This will reveal Raynaud's syndrome, violations of the integrity of the capillaries. Rheovasography of the arteries of the legs allows you to diagnose blood circulation in them.

When there is a suspicion of bone tuberculosis, as well as osteomyelitis, they are biopsied - using a special device, bone tissue is taken in several places and examined in the laboratory. Oncological diseases are also detected.

Oncology in a patient

How to get rid of the problem

Treatment of numbness of the fingers of the left and right foot is aimed at eliminating the cause. Consider the main ways to deal with diseases that can cause numbness in the toes.

If osteochondrosis, curvature of the spine, intervertebral hernia or other problems with the musculoskeletal system are detected, then he will be prescribed physiotherapy exercises, massage, hydromassage, reflexology, manual therapy, spinal traction, physiological procedures, diet, as well as drugs that help strengthen bones and restoration of intervertebral fluid. What kind of treatment should be and what to focus on will be determined by the doctor, based on the diagnosis and severity of the disease.

In case of problems with blood vessels, it is important to follow a diet rich in vitamins that strengthen them, make them more elastic, and relieve cholesterol plaques. Eat foods rich in:

• vitamin C - a strong antioxidant, prevents vascular damage by bacteria (rosehip broth, black currant, citrus fruits);
• vitamin E - is responsible for the elasticity and elasticity of blood vessels (greens, nuts, especially pine nuts, sea kale);
• vitamin A - a good antioxidant, strengthens blood vessels (found in vegetables and fruits colored in red, yellow and orange);
• vitamin B3 - dilates blood vessels, accelerates blood flow (animal products, most importantly, not fatty; nuts, in particular, peanuts);
• vitamin B6 - enhances the contractile function of blood vessels (seeds, nuts, legumes).

It is necessary to abandon salt and fatty foods that clog blood vessels, contributing to the formation of cholesterol plaques in them. It is important to drink more water, walk in the fresh air, do not hard physical work.

The doctor can prescribe medications in the form of tablets, injections, droppers, vitamins to strengthen and restore vascular tissues, and purify the blood. Physiotherapy, contrast shower, massage can be prescribed.

• When diabetes is detected, a diet is prescribed that excludes sugar and easily digestible carbohydrates. It is important to identify why diabetes appeared - due to a lack of insulin or due to poor cell sensitivity to it. In the first case, treatment can be carried out with the introduction of insulin, drugs are prescribed that support the functioning of the pancreas and thyroid gland. In the second, medicines are provided to increase the body's sensitivity to insulin produced by the pancreas.
• If the metabolism, hormonal balance is disturbed, then in addition to the diet (aimed at consuming more seafood and foods rich in iodine), remedies are prescribed that restore the functioning of the thyroid gland and adrenal glands. If treatment fails, hormone therapy is prescribed.
• With flat feet, a massage of the left and right legs is recommended for a person; charger; special insoles or patches that will normalize the load on the feet; orthopedic shoes.
• If bone tuberculosis is detected, it is treated with special antibiotics that kill the bacteria that caused the disease. Treatment is accompanied by a restorative course, uncontrolled intake of antibiotics will lead to an even greater weakening of the immune system, which can provoke an exacerbation of tuberculosis. To know which drugs should be prescribed against certain microorganisms, it is important to analyze their sensitivity to drugs.
• In oncological diseases, chemotherapy, radiation, and, if necessary and possible, surgical intervention to remove the tumor are performed.

The causes of toe numbness are varied and very serious. Therefore, harmless symptoms should not be left unattended. Timely treatment can save a person's health and even life.

• Specialist - neurologist
• Angiologist-
• Vascular surgeon-
• Manual surgeon-
• Neurosurgeon.

• Inflammation of the sciatic nerve
• Osteochondrosis-
• Deformation of the spine
• The occurrence of an intervertebral hernia
• Squeezing of nerve endings
• Circulatory disorders.

Video: Numb big toe on left foot

• Diabetes-
• Damage to blood vessels due to inflammatory and infectious diseases in the body, especially progressive ones that are in a chronic form;
• Raynaud's disease is a pathological disorder of blood circulation in the blood vessels.
• Pathological blockage of arteries by cholesterol plaques
• Atherosclerosis-
• chronic diseases-
• Alcohol addiction-
• Smoking-
• Eating unhealthy fatty foods

• Pathological damage to the arteries
• Pinched nerve endings
• Diabetes-
• A pathology called polyneuropathy-
• Sciatica-
• Multiple sclerosis-
• Raynaud's syndrome disease
• Osteochondrosis-
• The disease is carpal tunnel syndrome
• Ischemic heart disease
• Cardiovascular disorders-
• Rheumatoid arthritis.

Attention, only TODAY!

Numbness of the toes is a non-specific symptom of a certain pathological process, which is characterized by the formation of "goosebumps" and loss of sensitivity in the fingertips of the lower extremities. A similar symptom can appear both against the background of the course of any pathological process, and without the presence of a disease. Moreover, the numbness of one or another finger can accurately indicate an ailment.

Although such a manifestation in itself is a clinical sign, it can be accompanied by other symptoms, including pain, changes in gait, redness and swelling of the legs. Establishing the correct diagnosis requires an integrated approach and will differ depending on what served as the source of the disease. The elimination of such an unpleasant symptom, in the vast majority of cases, is conservative.

Etiology

Numbness of the toes is a fairly common condition, the occurrence of which is influenced by a large number of predisposing factors, both pathological and physiological.

Among the conditions that have nothing to do with the course of a particular disease, it is worth highlighting:

• prolonged exposure to an uncomfortable position, which leads to compression of the nerves and blood vessels located in the area under the knee. Often this is observed with prolonged sitting on bent legs or in a cross-legged position;
• wearing excessively narrow shoes, as well as high heels, is the main factor influencing why the big toes go numb;
• hypothermia of the fingers of the lower extremities affects the violation of their sensitivity;
• abuse of bad habits, in particular smoking and drinking large amounts of alcohol. Such addictions affect metabolism and blood supply, which causes frequent numbness of the fingertips;
• lack of vitamins involved in the functioning of peripheral nerves.

Periodic or prolonged numbness of the middle finger on the left or right foot may indicate pathologies with the lumbar spine.

Constant numbness of the little finger often indicates the presence of vascular disorders, infectious processes and other pathologies. Among the most common ailments are:

• osteochondrosis;
• malignant or benign formations in the lower back;
• radiculoneuritis;
• the course of diabetes;
• tuberculosis of the spine.

Numbness of the toes is often noted at night, which is often the body's response to:

• muscle fatigue;
• lack of calcium and magnesium;
• vitamin B complex deficiency;
• sedentary lifestyle or sedentary working conditions;
• stress and nervous strain;
• oncological diseases;
• polyneuritis;
• osteochondrosis.

Osteochondrosis - a possible cause of numbness of the toes

Often, patients have complaints about the appearance of a similar symptom in the lower extremities while walking or running. This is due to the following factors:

• uncomfortable shoes;
• pinching of the muscular nerve of the thigh;
• intervertebral hernia;
• a consequence of a wide range of traumatic leg injuries;
• thrombosis of the leg.

In addition to the above factors, numbness of the big toe, in most cases, as well as the appearance of similar sensations on other fingers, can be caused by:

• atherosclerosis;
• metastasis of a cancerous tumor;
• Raynaud's disease;
• polyneuropathy;
• gout;
• tuberculosis and other pathologies of the spine leading to its deformation;
• varicose veins - while the numbness will spread to the entire surface of the foot;
• neuralgia of the sciatic nerve;
• arthritis or arthrosis;
• pathologies from the cardiovascular system, namely arrhythmia, heart rate disturbance, congenital or acquired heart defects;
• arterial hypertension;
• multiple sclerosis;
• microstroke;
• pathologies from the nervous system;
• lack of vitamin B complex in the body;
• chemotherapy.

Classification

Toe numbness can be:

• temporary - characterized by mechanical action, the exclusion of which will lead to the complete elimination of such a symptom;
• chronic - differs in that in almost all cases it is associated with the course of one or another chronic disease. Such a sign will be present in a person until the disease is completely eliminated.

Symptoms

In situations where the fingers on the right or left foot go numb, which is expressed in short-term attacks without additional symptoms, then people have nothing to worry about. But it happens that the main symptom disturbs a person on an ongoing basis and is accompanied by such clinical manifestations:

• severe pain syndrome;
• tingling in the legs;
• inability to distinguish hot from cold;
• distribution of the main symptom to the entire foot and leg;
• the feeling that a person “lay down” a limb after sleep;
• change in the shade of the fingertips - they may become cyanotic or acquire a reddish tint;
• change in gait;
• inability to stand for a long time;
• weakness and severe dizziness.

Blue toes

This is the main list of symptoms that may accompany numbness of the feet and fingers. Each patient's symptoms will be individual.

Diagnostics

If one or more of the above clinical signs occur, it is necessary to consult a general practitioner, after an initial examination, he will refer patients to more specialized specialists.

First of all, the doctor needs:

• get acquainted with the medical history and anamnesis of the patient's life - to identify the reason why the toes go numb;
• conduct a thorough physical examination;
• question the person in detail about the severity of symptoms.

Laboratory studies have practically no diagnostic value, however, they are carried out to search for signs of a pathological process. The main ones are a general analysis and biochemistry of blood, as well as a general analysis of urine.

Among the most commonly used instrumental studies are:

• Vascular ultrasound;
• X-ray of the spine;
• MRI and CT.

In addition, you will need advice from specialists such as:

• neurosurgeon;
• endocrinologist;
• chiropractor;
• vascular cardiologist;
• phlebologist.

Treatment

To eliminate the disease, which led to the fact that the fingers on the left leg or right limb go numb, appropriate basic therapy is carried out. Treatment tactics will be individual for each patient, but often it is based on:

• taking medications;
• medical gymnastics;
• physiotherapy procedures.

Drug treatment includes taking such drugs:

• antispasmodics and painkillers;
• muscle relaxants and chondroprotectors;
• substances aimed at improving the blood supply to the limbs;
• vitamins and mineral complexes.

Types of muscle relaxants

Physiotherapy for a condition in which the tips of the toes go numb includes:

• hirudotherapy;
• acupuncture;
• healing stone massage;
• moxibustion.

Good results can be achieved by non-traditional methods, the use of which is best started after consulting with your doctor. The most effective means are:

• tincture based on lemon and garlic;
• black pepper oil;
• lotions with honey;
• implementation of foot baths with the addition of medicinal herbs or plants;
• contrast baths - you need to alternately dip the numb limb into a basin with cold and hot water.

Before using these therapies, you should consult your doctor.

Prevention

In order for people not to have problems with the appearance of such a rather unpleasant symptom, you need to:

• completely abandon bad habits;
• minimize the consumption of strong coffee and black tea;
• eat hot meals regularly;
• move more and walk more;
• wear only comfortable shoes;
• exclude the influence of physical and emotional overwork;
• fully rest;
• avoid hypothermia;
• change posture more often while sitting;
• keep normal body weight.

However, the main preventive measure is the regular implementation of a complete clinical examination, which in the early stages will reveal pathologies that answer the question of why the toes go numb.

Why are my fingers numb on my left foot? In this article, we will answer the most common question from patients. It is asked to doctors in medical institutions, and on the Internet. Very often, even small children ask their parents a question: - “Why do my toes go numb?”. In this article we will try to find answers to these questions - read carefully.

The first thing you can answer this question is that you may have lost sensation in your toes as a result of impaired blood circulation. Try to do self-massage. If this does not help, then in this case it will be necessary to seek advice from specialists.

Which specialists should be consulted in case of loss of sensation in the toes of the left foot?

If you understand that you have lost the sensitivity of your left toes, then contact doctors such as:

• Specialist - neurologist;
• Angiologist;
• Vascular surgeon;
• Manual surgeon;
• Neurosurgeon.

So, if you just sat out your leg, or if you started to feel numb after a long sleep, then you don’t have to worry. Everything is fine with your limbs, you are healthy.

Often a person (both an adult and a child) can pin down the left leg under their own weight. If you somehow sat down uncomfortably, turned your left leg, then because of this, blood vessels and capillaries are squeezed. When you do not feel your legs after a night's rest, then be patient a little - walk, stretch your limbs and blood circulation should be restored.

An alarming symptom of limb numbness is the lack of reaction of the lower limbs to high or low temperatures. That is, if you substitute your left foot under hot water and then under cold water and do not understand the temperature difference, then immediately consult a doctor.

Causes of loss of sensitivity

Let's try to find the answer to the question: Why is the sensitivity of the fingers of the left foot lost?

There can really be many reasons for this. A very common occurrence is:

• Inflammation of the sciatic nerve;
• Osteochondrosis;
• Spinal deformity;
• The occurrence of an intervertebral hernia;
• Squeezing of nerve endings;
• Circulatory disorders.

All of the above reasons lead to the fact that the nerve endings of the left limb are squeezed in a person and all this leads to a loss of sensitivity.

Often, not all the fingers of the left foot may become numb, but only, for example, one big toe. Never ignore these symptoms! The sooner you identify a possible ailment, the higher the chances of a positive prognosis.

Other causes of loss of feeling in the toes

Other more serious causes of numbness of the fingers of the left foot can be pathological situations such as:

• Diabetes;
• Damage to blood vessels due to inflammatory and infectious diseases in the body, especially progressive, chronic ones;
• Raynaud's disease is a pathological disorder of blood circulation in the blood vessels;
• Pathological blockage of arteries by cholesterol plaques;
• Atherosclerosis;
• chronic diseases;
• Alcohol addiction;
• Smoking;
• Eating unhealthy fatty foods;
• Hypodynamia, that is, it is a complete or partial lack of physical activity.

Some people may not suffer from alcohol dependence, but, for example, after drinking one glass of wine, they begin to pathologically destroy blood vessels. No need to expose your body to bad habits!

Complete numbness of the fingers of the left foot can occur with diseases such as:

• Pathological damage to the arteries;
• Pinched nerve endings;
• Diabetes;
• Pathology called polyneuropathy;
• Sciatica;
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Raynaud's syndrome disease;
• Osteochondrosis;
• The disease is carpal tunnel syndrome;
• Ischemic heart disease;
• Cardiovascular disorders;
• Rheumatoid arthritis.

How can I eliminate the numbness of the fingers of the left foot?

This is really a very simple reason, but still, numbness of the toes of the left foot can be due to the constant wearing of tight, narrow shoes. Often women who walk in heels all day long return home with complaints of numbness of the toes of their left foot. Of course, both legs can be affected by numbness. Try swapping out your shoes for looser ones and compare how you feel.

If you are tired after a hard day at work, then your limbs may also go numb. In this case, you need to rest. Do a foot massage or take a relaxing shower (bath).

Try to move more, in particular, do preventive exercises in the morning. Again, if the limbs are numb, then, as a rule, a regular walk can restore blood circulation. You can easily eliminate the numbness of the fingers of the left foot without the use of drugs.

At least for a while, try to give up bad habits, start taking multivitamin complexes (they can be purchased at any pharmacy).

Pain and numbness of limbs

Is the cause of limb numbness a disease? In this case, without a preliminary diagnosis, you will not be able to eliminate the pain syndrome on your own.

Today, sign up for a consultation with a doctor - for example, such as a surgeon, a neurologist, as well as a phlebologist and therapist. These specialists will help you get the appropriate diagnosis and prescribe therapy.

To temporarily relieve pain in your toes, you can resort to some folk methods:

• Apply natural honey to the numb toes of the left foot, then wrap the foot with a plastic bag and put on a warm sock. A warm wrap can help you regain sensation in your left leg for a while.
• Another effective technique is to make baths contrasting. First, direct a jet of cold shower on your feet, and then hot. You need to do this in 5 approaches. If the sensitivity has not returned, then you will definitely have to go to the hospital.
• Camphor ointment is a very quick method for restoring sensation to the toes of the left hand. Apply a small amount of ointment to your feet, then put on your socks and go to bed.

Remember! Self-treatment of such symptoms in the body as loss of sensitivity can lead to very serious consequences! Don't put your health at risk!

Many people are familiar with such sensations as tingling of the big toes, crawling on them, or, in general, loss of sensation in the big toes on the lower extremities. All this speaks of numbness of the big toes.

In medicine, the sign of numbness is called paresthesia. There are many reasons why this symptom occurs.

It happens that this symptom is temporary, goes away on its own and does not pose any threat. And the opposite happens, when a serious disease lies behind the symptom of numbness that has arisen, and if treatment is not started in time, the pathology can lead to serious consequences. Therefore, let's find out why the big toe goes numb, the probable causes, which specialist to contact, treatment methods.

Causes of paresthesia

All possible reasons due to which the big toes go numb can be divided into two groups: physiological or temporary and pathological.

Temporary reasons

• Uncomfortable posture. With a long sitting position or being in an uncomfortable position, blood vessels are compressed and blood circulation worsens in the corresponding part of the body (squatting, one leg thrown over the other). When the posture changes, blood circulation is restored and paresthesia disappears without a trace.
• Tight shoes. When walking for a long time, the feet tend to swell. And if the shoes are initially cramped, the fingers will be squeezed, which will worsen the blood flow in them and numbness of the big toes will occur. Therefore, when choosing shoes, pay attention that there is a small margin in size.
• Long-term static load. Numbness in this case occurs due to poor blood flow to the fingers of the lower extremities. After the load stops, the blood flow is restored and the uncomfortable symptom disappears.
• Hypothermia. Prolonged exposure to cold often causes numbness in the big toe. However, not only the toes, but the entire foot can become numb.
• Abuse of alcoholic beverages and nicotine. Over time, this causes a deterioration in blood circulation in the body. First of all, the distal parts of the lower and upper extremities are affected. At the same time, the thumbs and toes become numb at the same time.
• Pregnancy. The uterus, as it grows, compresses the vessels and nerve fibers, which causes the appearance of this symptom. After childbirth, numbness goes away on its own.

Group of pathological causes

This includes all diseases that can cause a symptom of numbness of the thumbs on the lower extremities.

1. Pathology of the lumbar spine. This department is responsible for the function of the lower extremities. The thumbs on the lower extremities are innervated at the level of 4-5 lumbar vertebrae. Therefore, pathologies such as intervertebral hernia and osteochondrosis, scoliosis, and sciatica are the most common causes of numbness in the big toes. These pathologies cause compression of nerve endings and vasospasm, which is why paresthesia appears.
2. Vascular pathologies of the lower extremities. With such pathologies, edema is formed, blood flow is disturbed and there is a lack of tissue oxygen (Raynaud's disease, obliterating endoarthritis, and others). If these pathologies are not treated, the feeling of numbness eventually changes to persistent soreness.
3. Violation of metabolic processes. If the big toe on the right or left foot goes numb, the cause may be hiding in a change in metabolism, which leads to damage to the peripheral nerves. At the initial stages, numbness occurs in the fingers, and over time it can spread to the entire foot. This symptom may occur in people suffering from the following diseases:
   • Diabetes;
   • Obesity;
   • Atherosclerosis;
   • polyneuropathy;
   • Gout;
4. Pathology of the lower extremities. When the big toes go numb, the causes can be hidden in such diseases:
   • flat feet;
   • Arthrosis and arthritis of the ankle joint;
   • Gout.
5. Violations of cerebral circulation (strokes, microstrokes). These are very dangerous conditions for a person, requiring immediate ambulance. Numbness of body parts with these pathologies occurs suddenly for no apparent reason. At the same time, there is also a general clinic:
   • Headache;
   • Noise in ears;
   • Dizziness;
   • Nausea.
6. Lack of vitamins and minerals. Lack of vitamin B12 in the body leads to nerve damage. Therefore, the big toes become numb and at the same time a tingling sensation appears. Lack of calcium leads to increased bone fragility, and in more advanced stages, osteoporosis is formed. As a result, under the influence of heavy loads, numbness and soreness may appear.
7. Multiple sclerosis. The causes of this disease are not fully understood. With this pathology, separate parts of the spinal cord and brain are affected. The feeling of numbness appears not only on the toes, but also on the hands. In addition, there are other neurological symptoms.
8. Post-traumatic paresthesia. When the injuries of the lower extremities are healed, for some time a person may feel numbness in the big toes or the entire foot.
9. Tuberculosis of the spine. One of the rarest causes of numbness symptom.
10. Malignant and benign tumors of the lumbar region, metastases.

So, there are a lot of reasons for the appearance of such a symptom, insignificant at first glance, and most of them are very serious. Therefore, if the big toe periodically or constantly goes numb and you do not find obvious reasons for this, do not postpone your visit to the doctor.

When to beware

Paresthesia may be accompanied by other symptoms that indicate threatening conditions.

Such symptoms include:

• The feeling of numbness is gradually replaced by soreness;
• Paresthesia extends to the foot or to the entire lower limb;
• The skin of the affected parts of the body became bluish in color;
• Together with the feeling of numbness, temperature sensitivity disappeared;
• The gait of a person has changed;

If these signs appear, contact a specialist immediately.

Numb big toes: what to do

If the numbness of the big toe of the left or right foot is caused by temporary factors, they must be eliminated.

Eliminate wearing tight and uncomfortable shoes, and women should also give up high-heeled shoes.

If you often encounter physical and static stress, do not neglect rest, relax more often, periodically massage your legs, take contrast baths, and maintain moderate physical activity. To do this, do exercises in the morning, walk more during the day, if possible, it is recommended to arrange periodic runs.

Limit or completely eliminate the use of coffee, alcohol, quit smoking, make sure that all vitamins and minerals are present in the diet. Try to lead a healthy and proper lifestyle.

If the big toes become numb due to diseases, then you can’t do without a specialist’s consultation. With such complaints, you should contact the therapist, who, based on the examination and diagnostic examination (MRI, ultrasound, radiography), if necessary, redirect the patient to the right specialist:

• Neurologist;
• Endocrinologist;
• Traumatologist;
• surgeon.

Only after the diagnosis is established, the doctor prescribes a comprehensive treatment, which includes therapy for the underlying disease that caused the sign of numbness, and symptomatic treatment designed to alleviate the condition.

Treatment

It depends on the cause of the paresthesia and may include:

1. Drug therapy:
   • Painkiller;
   • Anti-inflammatory;
   • Improving blood flow;
2. Physiotherapy treatment:
   • Massage;
   • Paraffin applications;
   • electrophoresis;
   • Electromyostimulation;
   • Healing mud;
   • contrast baths;
   • Magnet.
3. Surgical treatment practiced for advanced pathologies associated with varicose veins, tumors or hernia of the spine.