Patient's question:
Weakness in hands and feet. Unsteady gait. Genetic disease.Doctor's answer:
Numbness in the hands and feet is caused by poor peripheral blood circulation, leading to insufficient blood supply to the hands and feet, resulting in numbness. Numbness in the hands and feet is a common symptom in daily life, such as during pregnancy, incorrect sleeping posture, or prolonged squatting while using the restroom. It usually resolves within a short period and does not pose significant problems. However, if numbness in the hands and feet persists for an extended period (more than a day), it may be a sign of an underlying health issue.· Numbness in the hands and feet caused by diseases includes:
★ The factors or causes of numbness in the hands and feet generally fall into four categories:
1. People with diabetes may experience numbness in their hands and feet. If numbness, pain, or swelling occurs frequently in any part of the body, it is important to check blood sugar levels promptly.
2. Numbness caused by medications or chemical substances. For example, taking Huanglian or Litenglin during a cold or diarrhea can lead to numbness in the hands and feet; prolonged exposure to environments containing hydrogen, arsenic, or carbon disulfide can also cause numbness.
3. Numbness caused by neuritis. The most common symptoms of neuritis are numbness in the hands and feet, muscle atrophy, and weakness in the limbs. If diarrhea or a cold persists for half a month, it may lead to neuritis.
4. Dispersed numbness in the limbs. The limbs do not become numb simultaneously but rather in a scattered manner. This indicates that local nerves have been stimulated, such as after a stroke due to alcohol consumption, head nerve stimulation from unconsciousness, nerve stimulation from using a cane in the elderly, numbness in the upper limbs caused by cervical spondylosis, or leg numbness due to lumbar and shoulder nerve stimulation.
Numbness in the hands and feet cannot be treated symptomatically but requires treatment targeting the underlying cause. Regardless of the cause, it is essential to first visit a neurology department in the hospital to assess nerve damage and identify any stimuli. If the issue is related to nerves, an electromyography (EMG) test may be necessary to further determine the extent, scope, and nature of the nerve damage. If the numbness is caused by other factors, the patient should be referred to the relevant department for treatment. For nerve damage, treatment options depend on the severity, scope, and nature of the injury, including medication or surgery. Medication is often combined with acupuncture and physical therapy to promote rapid recovery. Surgical treatment involves redirecting compressed nerves to relieve pressure and reduce stimulation. The outcome of treatment primarily depends on the cause and nature of the nerve damage. Peripheral nerve damage (excluding nerves outside the brain and spinal cord) generally takes longer to recover.
★ Numbness in the hands and feet in the elderly is often closely related to cerebral vascular hardening, with small strokes and hypertension being the most common causes. A "small stroke," also known as "recurrent transient ischemic attack," occurs when ischemia affects brain tissue, particularly the cerebral cortex, leading to functional impairment in the sensory and motor centers, resulting in numbness in corresponding limbs. Cerebral ischemia can cause numbness in one upper or lower limb or half of the body, usually lasting several hours to days. If left untreated, it may progress to hemiplegia or even be life-threatening. In addition to numbness or weakness in the hands and feet, small strokes may also be accompanied by dizziness, headaches, vision problems (blurred or double vision), memory loss (especially recent memory decline), and fluctuations or abnormalities in blood pressure. Numbness is often unilateral, with the thumb or index finger being the most commonly affected. Hypertension can cause small arteries to spasm and narrow when blood pressure fluctuates or rises, disrupting colloidal blood circulation and leading to local blood supply insufficiency in the hands and feet, resulting in numbness. In addition to numbness, patients may experience stiffness, a crawling sensation, and symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, blurred vision, tinnitus, and insomnia. Additionally, sudden drops in blood pressure may sometimes cause numbness in the fingers. In spring, hypertensive patients are more prone to numbness in the hands and feet, often due to dry, cold weather in early spring, which can excite the sympathetic nerves and cause blood vessels to constrict, leading to elevated blood pressure. Hypertension can not only cause numbness in the hands and feet but may also lead to transient ischemia or cerebral hemorrhage, resulting in symptoms such as facial drooping, paralysis, aphasia, and coma, and even death. Cerebral vascular hardening most commonly affects individuals over 60. Therefore, if an elderly person experiences frequent numbness in the hands and feet recently, it should first be considered a potential cerebral vascular disease. Since cerebral vascular diseases are often associated with blood pressure, blood sugar, and blood viscosity, patients should undergo blood pressure, blood lipid, blood sugar, fundus, and hemorheology tests for a definitive diagnosis. Once the primary disease is confirmed, targeted treatment should be administered, such as blood pressure reduction, thrombolysis, blood lipid and blood sugar control.
★ Numbness in the hands and feet may also be caused by cervical problems. Office workers or those who spend long hours at a computer should consider whether they have cervical disease, as cervical spondylosis can compress nerves, leading to poor blood circulation and numbness in the hands and feet.
[Preventive Measures for Office Workers and Computer Users Causing Numbness in the Hands and Feet]
Neck and Shoulder Exercises
1. Interlock the fingers behind the head, placing weight on the hands and arms. Lower the head while keeping the neck straight, and take five deep breaths.
2. Place the right hand behind the left ear and gently pull it, tilting the head to the right, and take five deep breaths. Repeat several times, then switch to the left side.
3. Slowly rotate the neck clockwise and counterclockwise, five times each.
4. Raise the shoulders, exhale, and lower them, repeating four to five times.
5. Swing the shoulders backward five times and forward five times.
6. Look to the right and slightly downward, repeating three to five times, then do the opposite.
7. Sit relaxed with arms straight on the knees, then lift the head and chest alternately, repeating three to five times.
Foot and Ankle Exercises
Bend the legs to parallel with the chest, lifting and lowering them five times each, for a comfortable sensation. Rotate the ankles clockwise and counterclockwise ten times each. Bring the toes together, bend them upward, and straighten them downward alternately five times. Place the feet flat on the ground and repeat on the other side, practicing 20 to 30 times.
Hand and Facial Exercises
1. Press the fingertips on the top of the head and move them up and down (gentle pressure).
2. Gently massage from the temples to the lower jaw with the fingertips.
3. Pinch the upper eyelids with the index and thumb, pulling outward, and repeat multiple times.
4. Massage around the eyes along the cheekbones, from the sides of the nose outward to the lower jaw, then back to the starting point. Massage downward along the lower jaw. Move the lower jaw left and right five times.
5. Press the palms against the tip of the nose and make circular movements in each direction, five times each.
6. Pinch the earlobes upward, downward, and outward three times each, then rotate them forward and backward three times each.
13 Office Health Exercises
1. Cover the ears with both hands and tap the head with fingers 10 to 20 times to promote cerebral blood circulation.
2. Pull the ears: With the right hand, pull the left earlobe over the back of the head; then, with the left hand, pull the right earlobe over the back of the head, repeating 10 to 20 times.
3. Exercise the eyes: Look far into the distance, then force the eyes downward, to relieve strain on the lens.
4. "Rotate the neck": Turn the neck left, right, forward, and backward, then clockwise and counterclockwise, to relax tense neck nerves.
5. Apply pressure, grip, and rub the most painful point in the shoulder joint to alleviate pain.
6. "Massage the face": Rub the face with both hands until warm to promote blood circulation.
7. "Stretch like a cat": Repeat several times.
8. Extend both arms overhead and press them against a wall downward to stretch and relieve tired muscles.
9. "Massage the abdomen": Rub the abdomen clockwise and counterclockwise to aid digestion.
10. "Diaphragmatic deep breathing": Instead of chest breathing, use abdominal breathing, inhaling and exhaling deeply.
11. "Tighten the rectum": Contract and relax the rectum to prevent conditions like hemorrhoids.
12. Take a walk.
13. Avoid elevators and take the stairs; simple and practical office exercises.
★ Numbness in the hands and feet may also be a sign of a stroke.
★ If numbness in the hands and feet is accompanied by discomfort such as lower back pain, leg pain, or cramps, it may indicate calcium deficiency in the body. Drinking milk or engaging in more exercise can help resolve this.
★ If numbness is accompanied by symptoms such as sweating, blurred vision, weakness in the limbs, or nosebleeds, it may be due to anemia and requires a blood test at the hospital.
★ Additionally, if high blood pressure, high blood lipids, and high blood sugar occur together, poor peripheral blood circulation may lead to numbness in the hands and feet.
· Non-disease-related causes of numbness in the hands and feet:
[☆ According to traditional Chinese medicine, humans have seven emotions and six desires. The seven emotions are joy, anger, sadness, pensiveness, grief, fear, and shock. The key among these are that joy damages the heart, sadness and anger damage the liver, pensiveness damages the spleen, worry damages the lungs, and shock and fear damage the kidneys. If these emotions are too intense, they can harm the body. After prolonged crying, both the liver and lungs are "shocked." Since the liver governs blood, anger damages the liver, causing the blood reserves to fluctuate and blood vessels to become chaotic. The lungs govern qi, and when they are "hurt," the respiratory system may temporarily "fail," leading to numbness in the hands and feet, weakness, uncontrollable facial spasms, dizziness, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. This is a problem of internal organ physiology, not nerve issues. The solution is to control emotions, avoid excessive crying or sadness, and drink more water or rest after crying to alleviate symptoms.
☆ Numbness in the hands and feet may also be caused by insufficient qi and blood, known as blood deficiency. This occurs when yang qi is weak, leading to blood deficiency, and the yang qi fails to circulate blood, causing it to reach the periphery of the blood vessels. The hands and feet are the body's periphery, so blood deficiency can cause numbness. In daily life, it is important to take care of oneself, and people with yang deficiency should avoid cold and cool foods.
[Solution] For these non-essential disease-related numbness in the hands and feet, taking some traditional Chinese medicine can help regulate the body over time.
■ Additionally ■: Occasionally, insufficient rest, lack of exercise, and physical weakness in office workers may also lead to numbness in the hands and feet. The best solution is to run in the morning and ensure adequate rest.]