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?

Leg Numbness

This article describes causes of numbness and tingling that appear only or mostly in legs (or feet or toes).

What Means Numbness and Tingling?
Numbness In the Arms, Hands and Fingers
Head/Face Numbness

What Means Tingling, Numbness and Paresthesia?

Paresthesia(Greek para- = abnormal, esthesia = feeling) is abnormal sensation on the skin that has no apparent physical cause (1). Affected person may describe it as tingling, feeling of pins and needles, tickling, pricking, creeping, skin crawling, etc.

Numbness is a commonly used term for decrease or loss of sensation in the skin. People often say that their limb has fallen asleep when temporary paralysis of the limb occurs together with numbness.

Tingling is sometimes incorrectly described as itchiness. Itchiness provokes desire to scratch while tingling does not.

Burning is also not the same as tingling but rather a form of pain.

Tingling, numbness, burning, itchiness and pain may appear in some disorders like restless leg syndrome at the same time in various combinations.

Paresthesia may appear at any part of the body: on the limbs, fingers, toes, face or entire head. Touching and comparing sensations in affected and unaffected skin areas can help in determining if paresthesia is present.

continue reading Causes of Tingling and Numbness (Paresthesia)