Nerve compression at the level of the thoracic vertebrae, or thoracic radiculopathy, is less common than in the cervical radiculopathy or lumbar nerve compression because of the lower amount of pressure and movement that the thoracic vertebrae are subjected to. However a pinched nerve at the thoracic level may cause symptoms that just as severe, usually presenting as pain, tingling, and numbness in the arms, chest, abdomen or pelvis.

continue reading Pinched Thoracic Nerve – Radiculopathy, Compression

The term ‘pinched nerve‘ actually refers to any condition where compression of the nerve causes a range of sensory (’feeling’) and motor (’movement’) related symptoms in the affected area. While a pinched nerve if often believed to affect the spinal nerves only, due to compression between parts of the spine, it can actually affect any nerve in the body. The severity of the symptoms will depend on the site that is affected, the extent of the nerve compression, movement or other aggravating factors as well as duration of the compression.

continue reading What is a Pinched Nerve?

The lips enclose the mouth in the form of two folders – upper and lower lip. Each lip consists of a red fleshy border, skin, muscles and mucosa on the mouth side.

Tingling is abnormal feeling in the lip and numbness is decreased or absent feeling in the lip. Both sensations, medically called paresthesia, arise from conditions that affect sensory nerves in the lips but usually not from neurological disease. Skin diseases rarely cause tingling or numbness but rather itch, burning or pain.

Main causes of tingling and numb lips are listed below.

continue reading Causes of Tingling or Numb Lips

What Is Sciatica?

Sciatic pain (sciatica) is a pain in the lower back, buttock, leg and/or foot, usually on one side at a time, caused by one of disorders affecting the sciatic nerve:

• Pinched nerve due to:
  • Bulging or herniated disc 
  • Degeneration disc disease (DDD)
  • Spinal stenosis (narrow spinal canal)
  • Fracture of one or more of spinal vertebra or direct injury of the nerve
  • Tumor of the spinal cord or spine
  • Spondylolysthesis (slipping disc – from several reasons)
  • Piriformis syndrome (pressure from piriformis muscle that extends from the sacrum to the outer hip bone)
  • Spondylosis – degeneration due to wear and tear of spinal vertebra
  • Spondylitis – inflammation of spine
  • Osteoporosis
  • Tuberculosis or osteomyelitis of spinal vertebra
• Peripheral neuropathy e.g. from diabetes or alcoholism  

continue reading Sciatic Nerve Pain – Causes and Symptoms

What Is Leprosy?

Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by bacterium Mycobacterium leprae that usually affects skin, peripheral nerves (usually in the limbs and face), upper airways and eyes. Another name for leprosy is Hansen’s disease (after Dr. G.A. Hansen who discovered it in 1873) (1).

The first sign of a disease is usually one or more discolored patches of the skin with reduced sensibility. Later, disfiguring plaques and nodules may appear. Because of damaged nerves in the limbs, affected person may lose a sense of touch and pain and may not be aware of injuries what may in long term lead to permanent damage of limbs.

continue reading What Is Leprosy (Hansen’s Disease): Cause, Facts, Epidemiology

The exact cause of nocturnal leg cramps is unknown (idiopathic). However certain individuals with chronic conditions may be at risk of leg cramps at night. Nocturnal leg cramps are more common in older persons, especially women, and primarily affects the calf muscles and small muscles of the feet.

Leg cramps may occur as a symptom, side effect or complication to a multitude of secondary causes.

continue reading Risk Factors & Causes of Severe Leg Cramps at Night

Nocturnal leg cramps are the painful cramping of muscles, usually the calf muscles, which commonly occurs during sleep. In some cases, night leg cramps may occur while the sufferer is in bed and between the sleep-wake stage. Nocturnal leg cramps are considered to be one of the parasomnia disorders that affect a person’s body functions when asleep.

continue reading What is Nocturnal Leg Cramping? Leg Cramps at Night

What is Allergy?

Allergy is abnormal reaction of a sensitive person to certain foreign substances (like food or drugs), heat, or physical contact that themselves are not harmful. It includes production of IgE antibodies and release of histamine what results in typical allergic symptoms: itch, hives, wet eyes, sneezing, runny nose, cough, or eczema, or, in severe cases, short breath or fainting.

Above is description of the IgE allergy.

continue reading Can Allergy Cause Headache?

What is Itching?

Itching (Latin pruritus) is a skin sensation that provokes a desire to scratch (1). Itching occurs when certain substances produced by the body (e.g. biliary salts, histamine) or those coming from the outside (e.g. wool, nickel) irritate nerve endings in the skin.

Itching is not the same as tingling, or burning pain; they may all appear together though.

Numbness and Tingling in Legs and Arms

This article describes disorders that may cause numbness and tingling in BOTH arms (hands) and legs (feet), even if symptoms appear only in arms or only in legs in particular occasion.

Check disorders causing:

• Numbness ONLY IN ARMS
• Numbness ONLY IN LEGS
• HEAD/FACE numbness
• Numbness ANYWHERE IN THE BODY