Numbness & Tingling in Both Arms (Hands) & Legs (Feet)

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

PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHIES

Peripheral neuropathies (Greek peripheria = outer surface; neuropathy = nerve disease) are disorders affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, thus causing one or more of the following symptoms:

• numbness, tingling, burning, pain or weakness in limbs
• problems with coordination, muscle weakness, partial paralysis, falling from leg buckling or tripping over toes, problem with fine finger movements
• difficulty breathing or swallowing
• heat intolerance
• dizziness at standing up
• early satiety, diarrhea, constipation, unintentional weight loss
• problems with urination
• male impotence

Causes of Numbness Due to Peripheral Neuropathies

Below disorders can cause peripheral neuropaty with arm and/or leg numbness. Additional characteristic symptoms are mentioned to help in recognizing the cause.

1. Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (in diabetes I or II): “stocking-glove” (feet-hands) pattern of numbness
2. Alcoholic neuropaty: long term excessive alcohol drinking, burning feet, wide-based gait
3. Rheumatoid arthritis: swollen warm joints in hands/feet (symmetrical), morning stiffness, numbness
4. Vitamin B-12 and folate deficiency: weakness due to anemia, numb feet and hands
5. Uremia (from kidney failure): weakness, uremic frost, itchy skin, edema, numbness in limbs, urine-like odor to the breath
6. Lyme disease (diseminated form): severe fatigue and headache, behavioral changes, limbs numbness
7. Hepatitis C: history of drug abuse, numbness in limbs
8. Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy is inflammation of peripheral nerves due to abnormal immune response; numbness or tingling usually starts in toes or fingers; arms and legs weaknes and fatigue are common
9. Leprosy: rounded pigmentations on limbs, hands (fingers)/feet (toes) numbness, limbs deformities
10. Amyloidosis: enlarged tongue, right upper abdominal fullness, numbness in hands/feet
11. Friedreich’s ataxia: clumsiness, staggering or lurching gait, trembling when standing still, impaired speech, arm/legs numbness
12. Colorado tick fever: (after prolonged tick attachment) difficulty walking and breatning, limb numbness
13. Arsenic poisoning: discoloration of the skin, numbness in hands and feet; partial paralysis; and blindness
14. POEMS syndrome includes Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy, and Skin changes. The cause is uncertain, unusual skin sensation and weakness may occur in limbs on both sides

Impaired Circulation and Numbness in Arms/Legs

Causes of impaired circulation that can result in arm/leg numbness:

1. peripheral vascular disease is narrowing of arteries due to their calcification (arteriosclerosis). Affected legs (or arms) may be pale, cold, with blue/red discoloration, painful, tingling or numb. Buerger’s disease usually develops in heavy male smokers (20-40 years of age) and cause: pain, numbness and tingling in the feet and/or hands starting with exercise and relieving by rest; ulcers on fingers/toes may appear.
2. polyarteritis nodosa: painful skin changes on the legs, partial limb paralysis, numbness in arms/legs
3. chronic necrotizing vasculitisis a rare vasculitis affecting arterial walls and causing: fever, red spots on limbs, numbness and tingling in the toes, fingers, feet and hands
4. frostnip, chilblains and frostbite: pale, bluish, numb skin on fingers, toes, nose and ears due to prolonged exposure to low temperatures.

SPINAL DISORDERS

Disorders of spinal cord or spine (vertebra), causing numbness and tingling in arms and/or legs:

1. Spinal cord injury. Injuries of cervical spine result in arm paralysis and numbness. Injuries at the thoracic level do not affect arms, but trunk and legs. Lumbar and sacral injuries affect hips and legs.
2. Spinal tumors are rare, symptoms depend on its location and may include: back pain, arm or leg pain, weakness, numbness, partial paralysis, clumsiness, muscle spasms, bowel or bladder problems, or spinal deformity. Symptoms may develop gradually or appear suddenly.
3. Syringomyelia refers to cyst (syrinx) in the spinal cord, symptoms include pain, numbness, stiffness in the back upper trunk, arms and legs
4. Spinal arachnoid cysts are cysts around the spinal cord, which contain cerebrospinal fluid. Symptoms: progressive back and leg pain and tingling or numbness in the legs or arms.

POISONING

Toxins causing tingling in both hands (arms), and feet (legs):

1. Fish or shellfish poisoning. 
   • Ciguatera poisoning. Some big tropic fish like tuna, meckerel, barracuda accumulate ciguatoxin that can, usually few minutes to 30 hours after fish ingestion, cause tingling, or itching in and around the lips, both arms and legs, or elswhere on the body, nausea, diarrhea, excessive sweating, headache, and muscle aches.
   • Paralytic shellfish poisoning. Shellfish like mussels, cockles, clams, scallops, oysters, crabs, and lobsters may cause, 15 minutes to 10 hours after eating, numbness or tingling of the face, arms, and legs, followed by headache, dizziness, nausea, and muscular incoordination, or floating sensation. In severe poisoning, muscle paralysis and death may occur in 2 to 25 hours. 
   • Neurotoxic shellfish poisoning is caused by a toxin in oysters, clams, and mussels. 1 to 3 hours after eating, numbness, tingling in the mouth, arms and legs, incoordination, and gastrointestinal upset,  temperature sensation reversal. Death is rare, recovery normally occurs in 2 to 3 days.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Numbness in Arms/Legs

For diagnosis and treatment options check:

• Numbness and Tingling in Legs and Feet
• Numbness in Arms And Hands