Sensory disturbances or Sensory disturbances, how Numbness or tingle, are disorders of sensation and perception. Stimuli such as pain, temperature or touch are perceived differently.
What are sensory disorders?
If the sensory disturbances do not subside after a certain period of time, a diagnosis is essential to clarify the clinical picture. A comprehensive examination is necessary for the diagnosis to rule out serious diseases.A change in tactile perception that has a disabling effect is also referred to as a feeling disorder. The surface sensitivity of the fingertips and toes is lost. But the sense of touch can also be affected in other parts of the body. The emotional disorder can manifest itself in the fact that the formerly good sense of touch is impaired in its function and is no longer as sensitive as it used to be. But it can also be the complete loss of feeling in the affected part of the body.
The body is penetrated by numerous sensors and receptors that transmit stimulating stimuli, which are received via the sensory organs, to the brain. A distinction is made between sensations of temperature and pain as well as mechanical stimuli such as pressure.
In the case of sensory disorders, the subjective abnormal sensations are perceived as unpleasant and annoying, as they are registered by the nervous system in a weakened, absent or increased form. The most common sensory disorders include tingling in the arms and legs, numbness in various parts of the body and increased pain sensation. On the other hand, the sensory disorders also include the loss or reduction of normal sensations, such as the sense of touch.
Furthermore, temperature sensations can be disturbed or touches can be perceived as unpleasant. Those affected perceive the disturbances in their individual intensity. The so-called “ant run” can be felt from tingling on the skin to dull pain. Pain disorders can also be felt in varying degrees of intensity. The sensory disturbances can be present in different regions of the body such as the face.
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➔ Medicines for paresthesia and circulatory disorderscauses
The causes of the sensory disturbances can be different. Temporary nerve irritation such as thrusting the elbow can be the cause, as can serious illnesses such as multiple sclerosis or angina pectoris. Neurological diseases, nerve damage, toxins, infections, mechanical stimuli and diseases of the musculoskeletal system can trigger the disorder. But mental illnesses and vitamin deficiencies are also considered to be the cause. Emotional disturbances occur with alcohol abuse as well as with chronic diseases of the brain.
In most cases, the sensory disturbance is based on damage to the nerves. After an accident, nerve cords can become trapped in the hands, feet or other parts of the body. As a result, the nerves die and can no longer transmit electrical impulses that are responsible for the feeling. The best-known example of this is paraplegia, in which paralysis occurs from the hip and the patient no longer feels anything from this point on. In Wartenberg syndrome, on the other hand, only the thumb is paralyzed because the radial nerve of the hand has been damaged.
The sensory disorder can also be provoked by a pathogen or a condition indicated by the body. Some clinical pictures ensure that the feeling in different parts of the body becomes worse or disappears completely. A stroke can paralyze an entire half of the body, which means that the patient no longer feels there. Leprosy can also cause a sensory disorder to appear in the diseased area of the skin.
Diseases with this symptom
- Angina pectoris
- Lyme disease
- Pulmonary embolism
- Arterial Disease
- disc prolapse
- Shingles
- stroke
- Sciatica (sciatic pain)
- migraine
- multiple sclerosis
- dementia
- Circulatory disorders
Complications
When naming the complication, the guilty disorder should be considered. From a medical point of view, a complication is a further symptom of an illness or an undesirable side effect of a medicinal substance, insofar as it is used against this health disorder. Complications can therefore appear through overlook and therapy. Sensory disturbances are a possible complication of many diseases such as injuries, diabetic nerve damage, circulatory disorders and after severe operations on the limbs.
In addition, severe sensory disturbances such as numbness can cause further complications, especially if minor injuries due to the loss of sensation are not noticed. Such complications usually occur in elderly or debilitated patients. In more severe cases, sensory disturbances can worsen. The diseases that cause sensory disturbances can be life-threatening, such as heart attack. In order to avoid serious complications, it is necessary to order a thorough examination after the emergence of suspicious signs. If necessary, the sick person should be examined as an inpatient in the course of preventing aggravation.
There a concept for the subsequent outpatient procedure against the complaints can be made. Sensory disturbances are just one complication among many, especially with orthopedic conditions. A healthy diet, avoidance of obesity and nicotine as well as routine health check-ups can often prevent sensory disorders. A number of drugs are harmful to the bones and should therefore only be used with caution.
When should you go to the doctor?
Strongly pronounced sensory disturbances that occur suddenly for no apparent reason and over a longer period of time should always be clarified by a doctor. A doctor should also be seen if abnormal sensations occur or recur at regular intervals after an injury from a fall or blow in the arms or legs.
This is especially true for people who suffer from a vascular or metabolic disease such as diabetes. Diabetics should always carefully observe changes on the body surface and, if necessary, discuss them with a doctor. Pain, swelling and skin changes are also symptoms to be clarified in the case of persistent sensitivity disorders. Sudden numbness on one half of the body (e.g. half of the face, arm or leg) can be a sign of a stroke and may require emergency medical care.
Other signs of a stroke are headache, nausea, dizziness, speech and vision disorders and symptoms of paralysis. Even if these symptoms resolve on their own after a short time, an emergency room should always be visited or the emergency doctor should be called.
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Treatment & Therapy
If the sensory disturbances do not subside after a certain period of time, a diagnosis is essential to clarify the clinical picture. A comprehensive examination is necessary for the diagnosis to rule out serious diseases. In addition to a blood test and physical examination, a neurological examination is also required to obtain an exact clinical picture.
If after an accident the feeling in the tips of your fingers or toes prevents you, in most cases it is obvious that a nerve must have been damaged. If it's just a pinched nerve, a neurologist can try to get it working again. It is important, however, that the nerve must not have already died. Once a nerve dies, its function cannot be restored. If the nerve is dead or even torn, the diagnosis is often final.
If another disorder brings about a feeling disorder, the precise nature of the disorder must first be defined in order to decide whether it can be reversed. For example, if it is leprosy, the emotional disturbance will usually go away with correct treatment. On the other hand, it is more difficult with strokes, brain tumors or other impairments of the central nervous system. A related emotional disorder can regress once the underlying condition is treated, but it can also be permanent.
Outlook & forecast
As a rule, a doctor should be consulted immediately in the event of a sensory disorder. This symptom can be a serious illness and should definitely be treated by a doctor. Many people suffer from a sensory disorder only temporarily, in which case it does not need to be treated by a doctor. However, if you have a long-term emotional disorder that is relatively severe, you should see a doctor.
In the worst case, the emotional disorder can be a sign of a stroke. Here the doctor can carry out certain tests to examine the dangers of a stroke. In dangerous situations, surgery can combat the emotional disorder.
Usually, a feeling disorder is caused by damage to nerves. Treatment is either surgically or with the help of medication. The exact form of treatment depends on the cause of the sensory disturbance. In most cases, however, an emotional disorder can be treated without further complications.
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➔ Medicines for paresthesia and circulatory disordersprevention
Even a mild emotional disorder is a reason to see a doctor right away. It can indicate that a serious condition is spreading - but if treated early, the disorder can either be stopped or even reversed completely.
A generally healthy lifestyle and regular check-ups, such as blood counts, can ensure that serious illnesses do not break out in the first place.
To protect yourself from a sensory disorder caused by a pinched or severed nerve, you should always strictly follow the necessary safety precautions for any potentially dangerous activity. This applies to both work and private life.
You can do that yourself
Whether a feeling disorder can be treated at home or whether it needs medical attention depends very much on its cause. If the sensory disturbance occurs only temporarily and is caused by a pinched nerve, no treatment is usually necessary. Here the patient feels the typical feeling of falling asleep body parts, which disappears after a few minutes. This feeling is usually accompanied by a tingling sensation and is not a health-threatening condition.
However, if the sensory disorder persists and occurs often, it is essential to consult a doctor. Here, the emotional disorder may indicate another chronic problem that cannot be treated with home remedies. It is not uncommon for these disorders to arise from multiple sclerosis or from cardiovascular disorders.
If the emotional disorder develops after the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, the patient should definitely discontinue these substances and, if necessary, undertake withdrawal. Misuse of these substances severely damages the nerves in the body and can therefore lead to a sensory disorder. If the emotional disorder arises after paralysis or after an accident, self-treatment is usually not possible.