How is numbness in the hands and feet treated?
Disease description:
Recently, I don't know what's going on, but my hands and feet keep getting numb for no apparent reason. Sometimes they go numb even when I'm sitting still, and although moving around a bit helps temporarily, the numbness returns after a while. What could be causing this condition, and how should it be treated?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
Hand and foot numbness may be caused by nerve compression, poor blood circulation, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, vitamin B12 deficiency, and other reasons. Common treatments and recommendations:
1. Change body position: If numbness in hands and feet is due to prolonged maintenance of the same posture leading to local blood supply insufficiency, try changing position first to ensure adequate blood supply to the affected area and observe if symptoms improve.
2. Diabetes: For hand and foot numbness caused by diabetes, it is necessary to control blood glucose levels, including the use of antidiabetic medications or insulin therapy. Neurotrophic agents such as vitamins B1, B12, and mecobalamin may also be used to improve peripheral nerve nutrition.
3. Cervical spondylosis: Conservative treatments for this condition include cervical traction, neck bracing, acupuncture, and massage to relieve nerve compression and alleviate numbness in hands and feet. For patients who do not respond to conservative treatment and whose symptoms severely affect their quality of life, surgical options such as disc decompression, bone grafting, fusion, and internal fixation should be considered.
4. Poor circulation: Improve lifestyle habits, such as quitting smoking, controlling body weight, exercising regularly, avoiding prolonged maintenance of the same posture, and using medications to promote blood circulation when necessary.
5. Vitamin B12 deficiency: Correct the deficiency through oral supplements or intramuscular injections of vitamin B12.
