Causes of Paresthesias
General Nerve Causes of Paresthesias: A number of disorders of the nerves in general may cause paresthesias in different locations.
- Nerve entrapment
- Nerve compression
- Neuropathy
- Nerve injury
- Nerve diseases
Brain and Head Disorders: Various brain disorders can affect the nervous system and give various unusual sensations.
- Head injury
- Concussion
- Brain contusion
- Brain tumor
- Stroke
- Transient Ischemic Attack (mini-strokes)
- Migraine (usually temporary symptoms, in the “aura” stage)
- Epilepsy
- Seizure Disorders (Auras)
Spine and Spinal Cord Disorders: Impacts to the spinal cord (directly or via the spinal bones) can cause sensory changes and paresthesias in areas depending on what part of the spinal cord is affected.
- Multiple sclerosis
- Single sclerosis
- Herniated disk (“slipped disc”)
- Spinal stenosis
- Spinal disc compression
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Spinal cord injury
- Spinal cord tumor
- Spinal arthritis (osteoarthritis)
- Rheumatoid arthritis (spinal)
- Syringomyelia
Metabolic Causes: A number of metabolic disorders can affect the nerves and cause sensory changes.
Infectious Causes: Some infectious diseases can affect the nerves in general, causing sensations.
- Shingles (Herpes Zoster). May cause paresthesias in many different areas.
- Rabies
- Brain infection
- Brain abscess
Toxic Causes of Paresthesias: Various poisons, substances and toxins can cause a systemic effect on the nerves:
- Heavy metal poisoning (lead poisoning; thallium; mercury)
- Poisoning
- Ciguatera Poisoning
- Solvent poisoning
- Medication side-effects
Other Causes: Additional causes of sensations and paresthesias include:
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Lupus (SLE)
- Tabes dorsalis
- Arterial occlusion
- Hyperventilation (panic; panic attack)
- Lupus (SLE)
- Polyneuropathies
- Radiation exposure (radiation therapy)
Other Causes of Arm and Hand Paresthesias: In addition to the general causes of paresthesia, there are additional causes:
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- Peripheral nerve injury
- Peripheral artery occlusion
- Arteriosclerosis obliterans
- Raynaud’s Disease
- Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
- Ulnar nerve disorders
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Neck arthritis (Arthritis of the cervical vertebrae)
- Spondylosis
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Hypocalcemia
- Tetany (Hypocalcemia)
- Migraine
- Amigrainous Migraine
- Tetany
- Buerger’s Disease. Usually affects the feet and legs, but sometimes can affect the hands.
- Hereditary polyneuropathy
Other Causes of Leg and Foot Paresthesias: Various disorders can affect the legs and feet nerves, in addition to the items on the general causal list:
- Peripheral nerve disorders
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
- Peripheral nerve injury
- Buerger’s Disease
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Meralgia paresthetica
- Arteriosclerosis obliterans
- Arterial occlusion
- Tabes dorsalis
- Thiamine deficiency
- Restless Legs Syndrome
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Note: This site is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. See your doctor or other qualified medical professional for all your medical needs.