On Pins and Needles: What You Should Do about Tingling and Numbness

Everyone at some point has felt the unpleasant sensations of pins and needles and numbness. Maybe your foot falls asleep and loses feeling after you’ve been standing in a certain position for too long. Perhaps your arm tingles because you slept in an odd way. Most of the time, numbness and tingling in your extremities is just an annoying part of having a human body.

But what about consistent or long-lasting numbness or tingling? Is that something to worry about? If this is happening to you, it could point to a more serious problem. In this post, you’ll learn more about numbness and tingling, why you shouldn’t ignore it, and how a chiropractor can help you overcome these symptoms.

Pay Attention to Tingling and Numbness

It is fairly normal to get the pins and needles sensation or feel your arm or foot go numb on a somewhat rare occasion. These feelings should only last for a short while; in fact, most of the time, the sensation subsides after a few minutes.

Numbness and tingling are rarely a sign of a serious concern, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore when they happen. They most often occur in the extremities and are the result of nerves and blood vessels being pinched, compressed, or irritated. As a result, it’s important to monitor how and when you experience these sensations to make sure your body is receiving proper blood flow.

When should you seek medical help with numbness and tingling? If you notice any of the following:

• The sensation lasts for more than a few hours or days.
• Numbness or tingling happens regularly (more than once a week).
• You feel numbness or tingling in your neck or upper back.
• You experience a sensation like burning or itching.

Understand the Causes of Tingling and Numbness

Again, tingling and numbness typically occur because blood vessels or nerves are impinged. Sometimes, the source can be obvious, such as when you sleep funny on your arm, but this is not always the case. In some situations, a lower back injury can lead to tingling in the leg because these areas of the body are directly connected.

In order to address these unpleasant symptoms, you need to get a better understanding of the reason behind it. That’s where a chiropractor comes in. As an expert in the nervous system and body alignment, they can help your medical team diagnose and treat tingling and numbness.

Treat Tingling and Numbness

Once you’ve been properly diagnosed, your chiropractor can use several non-surgical, non-invasive techniques to alleviate the pressure on your blood vessels and nerves. These include adjustments, spinal manipulation, deep-tissue massaging, and cold and heat therapies.

Although you shouldn’t panic if you have numbness or tingling, you may want to consider seeing a doctor for diagnosis and a chiropractor for treatment to help your body have normal feeling again.

About the Author

Dr. Chad Wills has been a practicing chiropractor in Naples for more than 20 years. He graduated from Life Chiropractic University in Atlanta and has continued to hone his knowledge and skills ever since. He is an active member of the Florida Chiropractic Association and is certified in Chiropractic Biophysics. If you would like to meet with Dr. Wills to discuss your tingling and numbness, you can schedule an appointment by contacting Wills Chiropractic online or by calling 239-331-6060.