kumikomini / Getty Images
What Causes Numbness?
There is a host of conditions that can affect peripheral nerves and produce numbness. Many times it is pretty easy for you or your healthcare provider to figure out what has caused the problem, but other times an extensive medical evaluation may be required. Causes of numbness include:
A Limb Falls Asleep
By far the most common cause of numbness and tingling occurs when an arm ora leg “falls asleep”after being held in an unusual position for too long.Most of us have awakened at one time or another with a “dead arm” because we fell asleep with our arm bent beneath our heads.
However, if it does not improve over minutes or persists, sometimes there is lasting damage. Also, if it keeps happening, with little pressure, it could be a sign of a congenital disorder like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease or others.
Why Is My Arm Falling Asleep At Night?
Repetitive Nerve Damage
Carpal tunnel syndrome (and similar syndromes affecting other nerves) can also be seen in pregnant women as well cyclists, carpenters, meatpackers, and many others whose jobs or hobbies involve repetitive actions that place pressure on a particular nerve. Treatment includes rest, intermittent breaks, the use of splints, localized treatment with ice, anti-inflammatory medication,physical therapy, and changing the way the repetitive action is performed in order to reduce pressure on the affected nerve.Rarely, surgery is needed.
Neurological Conditions
On the other hand, numbness andtinglingmay be related to an underlying neurological disorder, and may not be so benign. Almost any neurological problem can produce numbness and tingling. If so, the symptoms of numbness and tingling may be a warning sign that something very serious is going on. Here is a partial list of some of the more prominent conditions that produce nerve problems leading to numbness and tingling:
When Should You See a Healthcare Provider?
It is not necessary to see a medical professional when a limb falls asleep for a readily identifiable cause, and the symptoms go away immediately when you relieve the obvious cause. It also may not be necessary to see a healthcare provider if you have early symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, as long as you take steps to relieve the condition and reduce the chronic pressure on your median nerve.
But if you are experiencing numbness and tingling without an obvious reversible cause, you need to see your practitioner. The list of conditions that can produce these symptoms is quite large, and many of these conditions require treatment not only to relieve the symptoms you are experiencing but also to prevent much more serious problems from developing.
You should call your healthcare provider right away if you have numbness and tingling which comes and goes for no apparent reason, is gradually worsening, affects both sides of your body, or affects only part of a hand or foot.If these symptoms appear suddenly without any hint of a nerve compression situation, or if they follow a recent head injury, don’t bother calling your practitioner—call 911or go to an emergency room.
You should call your healthcare provider right away if you have numbness and tingling which comes and goes for no apparent reason, is gradually worsening, affects both sides of your body, or affects only part of a hand or foot.
If these symptoms appear suddenly without any hint of a nerve compression situation, or if they follow a recent head injury, don’t bother calling your practitioner—call 911or go to an emergency room.
A Word From Verywell
Numbness is a common symptom, and usually, the cause is obvious to us and is completely reversible. But if you should experience numbness for no apparent reason, especially if it persists or keeps coming back, it is time to see your healthcare provider and have a medical evaluation.
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Klein JP.Imaging of progressive weakness or numbness of central or peripheral origin.Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;136:923-37. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53486-6.00047-8Bracker MD, Ralph LP.The numb arm and hand.Am Fam Physician. 1995;51(1):103-16.Wipperman J, Goerl K.Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(12):993-999.Mellion M, Gilchrist JM, De La Monte S.Alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy: nutritional, toxic, or both?Muscle Nerve. 2011;43(3):309-16. doi:10.1002/mus.21946Cohen KR, Salbu RL, Frank J, Israel I.Presentation and management of herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population.P T. 2013;38(4):217-27.Halperin JJ.Chronic Lyme disease: misconceptions and challenges for patient management.Infect Drug Resist. 2015;8:119-28. doi:10.2147/IDR.S66739Okazaki T, Shinagawa S, Mikage H.Vasculitis syndrome-diagnosis and therapy.J Gen Fam Med. 2017;18(2):72-78. doi:10.1002/jgf2.4Saint-lary O, Rébois A, Mediouni Z, Descatha A.Carpal tunnel syndrome: primary care and occupational factors.Front Med (Lausanne). 2015;2:28. doi:10.3389/fmed.2015.00028Additional ReadingEngland JD, Gronseth GS, Franklin G, et al. Evaluation of Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy: the Role of Laboratory and Genetic Testing (an Evidence-Based Review). Muscle Nerve 2009; 39:116.Gilman, S, Newman, SW. Manter and Gatz’s Essentials of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, 8, FA Davis, Philadelphia 1992.Patten J. Neurological Differential Diagnosis, 2nd, Springer, New York 1996.
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Klein JP.Imaging of progressive weakness or numbness of central or peripheral origin.Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;136:923-37. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53486-6.00047-8Bracker MD, Ralph LP.The numb arm and hand.Am Fam Physician. 1995;51(1):103-16.Wipperman J, Goerl K.Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(12):993-999.Mellion M, Gilchrist JM, De La Monte S.Alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy: nutritional, toxic, or both?Muscle Nerve. 2011;43(3):309-16. doi:10.1002/mus.21946Cohen KR, Salbu RL, Frank J, Israel I.Presentation and management of herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population.P T. 2013;38(4):217-27.Halperin JJ.Chronic Lyme disease: misconceptions and challenges for patient management.Infect Drug Resist. 2015;8:119-28. doi:10.2147/IDR.S66739Okazaki T, Shinagawa S, Mikage H.Vasculitis syndrome-diagnosis and therapy.J Gen Fam Med. 2017;18(2):72-78. doi:10.1002/jgf2.4Saint-lary O, Rébois A, Mediouni Z, Descatha A.Carpal tunnel syndrome: primary care and occupational factors.Front Med (Lausanne). 2015;2:28. doi:10.3389/fmed.2015.00028Additional ReadingEngland JD, Gronseth GS, Franklin G, et al. Evaluation of Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy: the Role of Laboratory and Genetic Testing (an Evidence-Based Review). Muscle Nerve 2009; 39:116.Gilman, S, Newman, SW. Manter and Gatz’s Essentials of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, 8, FA Davis, Philadelphia 1992.Patten J. Neurological Differential Diagnosis, 2nd, Springer, New York 1996.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Klein JP.Imaging of progressive weakness or numbness of central or peripheral origin.Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;136:923-37. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53486-6.00047-8Bracker MD, Ralph LP.The numb arm and hand.Am Fam Physician. 1995;51(1):103-16.Wipperman J, Goerl K.Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(12):993-999.Mellion M, Gilchrist JM, De La Monte S.Alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy: nutritional, toxic, or both?Muscle Nerve. 2011;43(3):309-16. doi:10.1002/mus.21946Cohen KR, Salbu RL, Frank J, Israel I.Presentation and management of herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population.P T. 2013;38(4):217-27.Halperin JJ.Chronic Lyme disease: misconceptions and challenges for patient management.Infect Drug Resist. 2015;8:119-28. doi:10.2147/IDR.S66739Okazaki T, Shinagawa S, Mikage H.Vasculitis syndrome-diagnosis and therapy.J Gen Fam Med. 2017;18(2):72-78. doi:10.1002/jgf2.4Saint-lary O, Rébois A, Mediouni Z, Descatha A.Carpal tunnel syndrome: primary care and occupational factors.Front Med (Lausanne). 2015;2:28. doi:10.3389/fmed.2015.00028
Klein JP.Imaging of progressive weakness or numbness of central or peripheral origin.Handb Clin Neurol. 2016;136:923-37. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-53486-6.00047-8
Bracker MD, Ralph LP.The numb arm and hand.Am Fam Physician. 1995;51(1):103-16.
Wipperman J, Goerl K.Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Diagnosis and Management.Am Fam Physician. 2016;94(12):993-999.
Mellion M, Gilchrist JM, De La Monte S.Alcohol-related peripheral neuropathy: nutritional, toxic, or both?Muscle Nerve. 2011;43(3):309-16. doi:10.1002/mus.21946
Cohen KR, Salbu RL, Frank J, Israel I.Presentation and management of herpes zoster (shingles) in the geriatric population.P T. 2013;38(4):217-27.
Halperin JJ.Chronic Lyme disease: misconceptions and challenges for patient management.Infect Drug Resist. 2015;8:119-28. doi:10.2147/IDR.S66739
Okazaki T, Shinagawa S, Mikage H.Vasculitis syndrome-diagnosis and therapy.J Gen Fam Med. 2017;18(2):72-78. doi:10.1002/jgf2.4
Saint-lary O, Rébois A, Mediouni Z, Descatha A.Carpal tunnel syndrome: primary care and occupational factors.Front Med (Lausanne). 2015;2:28. doi:10.3389/fmed.2015.00028
England JD, Gronseth GS, Franklin G, et al. Evaluation of Distal Symmetric Polyneuropathy: the Role of Laboratory and Genetic Testing (an Evidence-Based Review). Muscle Nerve 2009; 39:116.Gilman, S, Newman, SW. Manter and Gatz’s Essentials of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, 8, FA Davis, Philadelphia 1992.Patten J. Neurological Differential Diagnosis, 2nd, Springer, New York 1996.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
