Numbness and tingling
Care path: Chiropractic
Pins and needles, numbness or tingling in your arms, hands, legs or feet can be unsettling. Nerves travel from the neck and lower back, between muscles and joints, all the way to your fingers and toes, so where you feel it is not always where it starts.
Dr. Nick’s evaluation includes a neurological exam to help map where symptoms may be coming from, and whether you need chiropractic care, a medical work-up or both.
Common questions
What can cause numbness and tingling?
A common cause is pressure or irritation on a nerve, in the neck, the lower back, or along the arm or leg, for example at the wrist or elbow.
There are also medical causes, such as blood sugar problems, low vitamin B12, thyroid changes, circulation problems and some medications. That is why your history matters, and why Dr. Nick may suggest seeing your physician for blood work.
Can a problem in my neck cause tingling in my hands?
Yes. The nerves that supply your arms and hands leave the spine in the neck. In the same way, nerves from the lower back supply the legs and feet. Irritation near the spine can be felt further down the arm or leg.
What is sciatica?
Sciatica describes pain, numbness or tingling that travels from the lower back or buttock down the leg, along the path of the sciatic nerve. It is a description of symptoms rather than a diagnosis; the cause varies from person to person, and the evaluation looks for it.
What does the neurological exam check?
Sensation, reflexes and muscle strength in the arms or legs, along with orthopedic tests that gently load specific joints and nerves. Together with your history, the results help narrow down where the problem may be.
Is it carpal tunnel or something in my neck?
Carpal tunnel symptoms usually affect the thumb, index and middle fingers and are often worse at night. Irritation in the neck can cause similar symptoms, and some people have both. The exam helps tell them apart.
When is numbness a medical issue rather than a chiropractic one?
If numbness affects both feet or both hands and has come on gradually, if you have diabetes, or if it comes with other symptoms such as fatigue or weight changes, your physician should be involved. Functional medicine can look at contributors such as nutrition alongside your physician’s care.
How the practice approaches numbness and tingling
Where, when and what changes it
Exactly where you feel it, when it started, and which positions or activities make it better or worse.
A detailed evaluation
Plan for at least 60 minutes for your first chiropractic visit, which includes neurological testing of sensation, reflexes and strength, plus orthopedic tests and spinal palpation.
Finding the likely source
Dr. Nick explains where he thinks the symptoms may be coming from, and what that means for your care.
Specific care when it is indicated
When the evaluation identifies joint dysfunction in the neck or lower back, Dr. Nick adjusts that area specifically.
Referral when you need it
If imaging, blood work or another specialist would help, Dr. Nick will tell you and refer you.
When to seek emergency care
Call 911 right away for:
- Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body, facial drooping, trouble speaking, confusion or vision loss
- Numbness in the groin or inner thighs, loss of bladder or bowel control, or new difficulty passing urine
- Numbness or weakness after a fall, accident or injury to the head, neck or back
- Weakness that is spreading or getting worse quickly
See a physician promptly for numbness or tingling that:
- Affects both feet or both hands, especially if you have diabetes
- Keeps spreading or does not settle over a few weeks
Other things we help with
Start with an evaluation
Request a first chiropractic visit, or call the practice to ask whether it is the right first step for your symptoms.
This page is general education, not medical advice or a diagnosis. Individual needs and outcomes vary.