Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesRelated DisordersTreatmentWhen to See a Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Related Disorders
Treatment
When to See a Provider
Rheumatoid arthritis(RA) can cause numbness and tingling. An inflammatory, autoimmune disease that mainly affects the joints,RA inflammationcan spread to surrounding nerves, leading to pins-and-needles sensations.
Symptoms like numbness and tingling shouldn’t be ignored. They can be a sign of nerve compression, nerve damage, and inflammation that indicates RA is worsening.
This article discusses the connection between rheumatoid arthritis and numbness and tingling and how to find relief.
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Numbness and Tingling as a Symptom of RA
Numbness and tingling can either occur apart or together, depending on the conditions that cause them. Numbness is a loss of sensation in one or more parts of the body.
Tingling can be mild to severe and usually feels like a “pins and needles” sensation you may experience when your limbs are asleep. Tingling most commonly occurs in areas of the body, such as the arms, legs, hands, fingers, feet, or toes.
Symptoms of numbness and tingling in rheumatoid arthritis can vary based on the extent of damage or compression to nerves, but can include the following:
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What Causes Numbness in the Feet?
Causes of Numbness and Tingling in RA
NeuropathyNeuropathy is nerve damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves, affecting how nerve cells can communicate with each other and the brain. It can result in physical symptoms like numbness and tingling in the affected areas.
Neuropathy
Neuropathy is nerve damage or dysfunction of one or more nerves, affecting how nerve cells can communicate with each other and the brain. It can result in physical symptoms like numbness and tingling in the affected areas.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory, autoimmune condition that causes the body to create antibodies that attack healthy joints. This results in joint pain, inflammation, and swelling affecting the joints and surrounding ligaments and nerves.
Over time,cartilagebreaks down, narrowing the space between bones, and joints can become unstable or stiff. In addition, the ligaments that connect bones to support joints also become inflamed, causing them to become lax and less able to provide support to the joints.
This can cause joints to shift out of proper alignment. If left untreated, rheumatoid arthritis can cause permanent and irreversible joint damage.
Related Nerve Disorders
Because of these inflammatory changes to joints and surrounding structures, several other conditions that affect parts of the nervous system are often linked with rheumatoid arthritis, including:
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndromeoccurs when the median nerve that passes through the wrist from the arm to the hand becomes compressed, resulting in numbness, tingling, and weakness in the fingers. The median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel that’s formed from thecarpal bonesof the wrist and finger flexor tendons.
Because rheumatoid arthritis commonly affects the wrists, causing bone destruction and ligament laxity, the height of the carpal tunnel often becomes narrowed, causing increased pressure on the median nerve within the carpal tunnel.
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Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathyresults from damage to the peripheralnervous systemthat is made up of the many nerves of the body, including those of the arms and legs, that send signals to and from the brain and spinal cord.
A small study investigating peripheral neuropathy in people with rheumatoid arthritis suggests that peripheral neuropathy can occur in up to one-third of people with the autoimmune condition and that the risk increases with age.
There are multiple causes of peripheral neuropathy that can result in nerve pain in the hands and feet in people with rheumatoid arthritis. These include:
Medications used to treat RA can also cause neuropathy. In particular,tumor necrosis factor(TNF) inhibitors have been shown to increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy.
TNF inhibitors used to decrease inflammation in RA and other autoimmune conditions include:
If you suspect numbness and tingling in your feet or hands are related to your medication, talk to your healthcare provider. Changing your medications may help.
Joint Pain Causes and Treatment Options
Autonomic Neuropathy
Autonomic neuropathy occurs with damage to the nerves that control your internal organs.
While the exact cause underlying autonomic neuropathy in rheumatoid arthritis isn’t fully known, circulating autoantibodies and increased inflammatory proteins are thought to damage the vagus nerve.
Autonomic neuropathy can causeparesthesia, or a burning or prickling feeling in the limbs, as well as numbness and tingling.
Healthcare Providers Consider Other Diseases Before Diagnosing Rheumatoid Arthritis
Spinal Cord Compression
Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine can cause inflammation and joint space narrowing within the spinal vertebrae, which can lead to spinal cord compression and result in nerve pain, weakness, numbness, and tingling.
If compression occurs in thecervical spineof the neck, symptoms are usually experienced in the arms, while if compression occurs in thelumbar spineof the low back, symptoms often occur in the legs.
Where Do Symptoms Occur?Symptoms most commonly occur in the hands, feet, and limbs.
Where Do Symptoms Occur?
Symptoms most commonly occur in the hands, feet, and limbs.
Treatments and Management of Numbness and Tingling
Regularphysical activityand stretching can help improvejoint mobility, increase flexibility, and decrease nerve compression to help treat numbness and tingling.
Specific muscles to focus on stretching to relieve muscle tightness and potential nerve compression include:
Additionally, nerve glides, also callednerve flossing, can help decrease nerve tension and improve the mobility of nerves to help reduce compression. Nerve flossing can be used to target the following nerves:
Treating peripheral neuropathy can depend on its underlying cause. Other times, treatment focuses on managing symptoms. Options for managing peripheral neuropathy include:
Healthy Habits for Rheumatoid ArthritisHealthy habits that can help decrease inflammation throughout your body include regular exercise, following ananti-inflammatory diet, coping and managingstresseffectively, and having adequate social support from friends and family members.
Healthy Habits for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Healthy habits that can help decrease inflammation throughout your body include regular exercise, following ananti-inflammatory diet, coping and managingstresseffectively, and having adequate social support from friends and family members.
When to See Your Healthcare Professional
Numbness and tingling can occur for a variety of different reasons, some more urgent than others. It’s a good idea to seek your healthcare provider if your numbness and tingling:
Rheumatoid vasculitis, an inflammation of the blood vessels, is a rare but serious complication of RA. It can cause numbness and tingling along with the following symptoms:
Earlydiagnosiscan prevent serious complications. Call your healthcare provider immediately if you notice any of these symptoms.
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Summary
Regular physical activity and stretching can help improve joint mobility, increase flexibility, and decrease nerve compression to help treat numbness and tingling. Other healthy habits like following an anti-inflammatory diet and managing stress effectively can help reduce inflammation in the body.
Treatment for numbness and tingling from rheumatoid arthritis is reliant on managing the underlying cause of nerve compression. It can include physical therapy, OTC treatments, and prescription medication, to name a few.
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10 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.
MedlinePlus.Peripheral neuropathy.
Sakthiswary R, Singh R.Has the median nerve involvement in rheumatoid arthritis been overemphasized?Rev Bras Reumatol Engl Ed.2017;57(2):122-128. doi:10.1016/j.rbre.2016.09.001
NIH National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.
Sim MK, Kim DY, Yoon J, Park DH, Kim YG.Assessment of peripheral neuropathy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who complain of neurologic symptoms.Ann Rehabil Med.2014;38(2):249-255. doi:10.5535/arm.2014.38.2.249
Kaeley N, Ahmad S, Pathania M, Kakkar R.Prevalence and patterns of peripheral neuropathy in patients of rheumatoid arthritis.J Family Med Prim Care. 2019;8(1):22-26. doi:10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_260_18
Etminan M, Sodhi M, Samii A, Carleton BC, Kezouh A, Antonio Avina-Zubieta J.Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and risk of peripheral neuropathy in patients with rheumatic diseases.Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2019 ;48(6):1083–6. doi:10.1016/j.semarthrit.2018.09.006
American College of Rheumatology.Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.
Syngle V, Syngle A, Garg N, Krishan P, Verma I.Predictors of autonomic neuropathy in rheumatoid arthritis.Auton Neurosci. 2016;201:54-59. doi:10.1016/j.autneu.2016.07.008
Cedars-Sinai.Rheumatoid vasculitis.
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