[Click! Health] "Occasional Numbness in Hands and Feet Caused by Nervous System Disorders... Early Diagnosis Essential"

Tingling in the hands and feet is often thought to be a symptom caused by poor blood circulation or simply aging, and many people tend to overlook it. However, most cases of tingling in the hands and feet are caused by abnormalities in the nervous system rather than circulatory disorders. Since it is difficult to make an objective medical judgment based on symptoms alone, early diagnosis is necessary.

[Image courtesy of Korea University Guro Hospital]

The nervous system can be broadly divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system, integrate and coordinate nerve signals coming from the sensory organs of the body. The peripheral nervous system acts as a network connecting the central nervous system to various organs. Although abnormalities in the central nervous system can also cause tingling in the hands and feet, the peripheral nervous system is distributed throughout the body, making tingling caused by peripheral nervous system abnormalities much more common.

When abnormalities occur in the peripheral nervous system, tingling is the most common symptom. It may be accompanied by unpleasant sensations such as aching, burning, numbness, feeling like the skin belongs to someone else, or the sensation of insects crawling on the skin. These symptoms often appear symmetrically on both sides, but they can also manifest in localized areas such as the tips of the feet, palms, or calves, or in the proximal parts of the trunk and limbs.

Common external causes of peripheral neuropathy include nerve compression due to herniated discs or spinal stenosis, and trauma. Other causes include diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disorders, excessive alcohol consumption, and vitamin deficiencies. Most cases of peripheral neuropathy can be easily managed or progression prevented by identifying and addressing the exact cause. However, if the condition develops acutely or progresses rapidly, failure to receive appropriate treatment early on may result in irreversible damage or sequelae.

Diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy mainly involves neurophysiological tests such as nerve conduction studies and electromyography. Both tests analyze waveforms obtained by sending weak electrical currents through nerves and muscles, which are essential for accurately locating nerve lesions. Depending on the suspected cause, blood tests, autonomic function tests, and nerve ultrasound examinations may also be conducted.

Professor Lee Hyung-su of the Department of Neurology at Korea University Ansan Hospital stated, "A significant number of cases of tingling in the hands and feet are caused by abnormalities in the peripheral nervous system, but the causes are very diverse, so it is necessary to receive an accurate diagnosis through consultation and examination by a specialist." He added, "While the tingling sensation in the hands and feet may be dismissed as insignificant, if left untreated, the pain can worsen or leave lasting aftereffects even after treatment, so I strongly recommend consulting a specialist without hesitation."