Tingling and numbness in the arms and legs is most often caused by herniated discs in the neck and lower back. For more information on treatment of disc disease please see the pages on neck and lower back pain.
Tingling and numbness are common symptoms of neuropathy. Neuropathy is often caused by damage to a nerve by some form of compression. In addition to disc disease as a cause of compressive neuropathy, some other causes are treatable in a chiropractic/physical therapy clinic. Here are a few of these conditions that we commonly treat:
1)??? Scalenus Anticus Syndrome: This condition is caused by abnormally tight scalene muscles, in the front of the neck. These tight muscles in the neck can compress nerves that go to the arm, mimicking the symptoms of a herniated cervical (neck) disc. Releasing these muscles will usually cure this condition.
2)??? Thoracic Outlet Syndrome: In this condition muscles in the chest can similarly compress nerves traveling to the arm, mimicking the symptoms of a herniated cervical disc. Releasing the tight muscles will usually cure this condition.
3)??? Piriformis Syndrome: In this condition a tight Piriformis muscle can compress the sciatic nerve mimicking the symptoms of Sciatica. ?Releasing the tight Piriformis muscle will usually cure this condition.
Other causes of neuropathy include diabetes, multiple sclerosis, some vitamin deficiencies, and even alcoholism.
If we suspect you may have a form of neuropathy that is best treated by another specialist such as a neurologist, we will refer you out.