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Causes of Numbness by Location
Numbness of Fingers in Hands
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the median nerve at the wrist. Numbness of the thumb, index, middle fingers, and half of the ring finger. Worsens at night, while driving, working at a computer. Positive Phalen's test and Tinel's test. The most common compressive neuropathy — up to 5% of the population.
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical disc herniation compresses the nerve root. C5-C6: thumb and index finger, outer forearm. C6-C7: middle finger. C7-T1: ring and little finger, inner forearm. Accompanied by neck pain and arm weakness.
Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the ulnar nerve in the cubital tunnel (inner elbow). Numbness of the little finger and half of the ring finger. Worsens with prolonged elbow flexion (phone calls, sleeping with bent arm).
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS)
Compression of the brachial plexus and/or subclavian vessels. Numbness of the entire arm, worsening with arms raised (hair drying, overhead work). Adson's test, Roos test.
Numbness of Feet
Lumbar Radiculopathy
The most common cause of foot numbness. L4: anterior thigh, inner shin. L5: outer shin, dorsum of foot, big toe. S1: posterior thigh, outer foot, heel. L4-L5 and L5-S1 herniated discs — 95% of all lumbar herniations.
Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of the spinal canal. Numbness and weakness in both legs while walking, relieved by forward flexion or sitting. Neurogenic claudication.
Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome
Compression of the posterior tibial nerve in the tarsal tunnel (inner ankle). Numbness and burning in the sole of the foot. Analog of carpal tunnel for the foot.
Peroneal Nerve Neuropathy
Compression near the fibular head (habit of crossing legs, tight cast). Numbness of outer shin and dorsum of foot, "foot drop".
Diabetic Polyneuropathy
Systemic damage to peripheral nerves in diabetes mellitus. Symmetrical numbness in "stocking-glove" distribution. Burning, tingling, reduced sensation. Not related to orthopedics — requires treatment of the underlying disease.
Red Flags — See a Doctor Urgently
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Numbness in the perineum ("saddle anesthesia"), urinary and bowel dysfunction, bilateral leg weakness. Emergency MRI and possible decompression within 24-48 hours.
Cervical Myelopathy
Numbness and clumsiness in both hands, impaired fine motor skills, gait changes. Spinal cord compression in the cervical spine — requires emergency MRI.
Rapidly Progressive Weakness
Progressive numbness + paralysis within hours to days. Possible causes: massive herniated disc, tumor, epidural abscess, Guillain-Barré syndrome.
Diagnosis of Numbness
EMG/NCS (Electromyography/Nerve Conduction Studies)
Key diagnostic test. Determines: level of nerve damage (nerve root, plexus, peripheral nerve), degree of damage (demyelination vs. axonopathy), conduction velocity. For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome — sensitivity 95%.
MRI
Cervical spine — for arm numbness. Lumbar spine — for leg numbness. Visualizes herniated discs, stenosis, tumors, spinal cord demyelination. Must be correlated with clinical findings and EMG/NCS.
Nerve Ultrasound
High-frequency ultrasound probe allows visualization of peripheral nerves: thickening, compression, neuroma. Carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, tarsal tunnel.
Laboratory Tests
Glucose, HbA1c (diabetes), Vitamin B12 (deficiency), TSH (thyroid), rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies. To exclude systemic causes of polyneuropathy.
Treatment of Numbness with MIBRAR® Method
MIBRAR® eliminates the cause of nerve compression and stimulates nerve tissue regeneration.
Nerve Decompression
For herniated disc: intradiscal injection of CGF + Lipogems® initiates disc regeneration, reducing its size and pressure on the nerve root. For stenosis: perineural injection of CGF reduces inflammation and swelling of nerve structures.
Nerve Regeneration
Growth factors from CGF (NGF, BDNF, GDNF) stimulate myelin sheath recovery and axonal growth. Mesenchymal stem cells from Lipogems® secrete neurotrophic factors.
Perineural Injection
For tunnel syndromes: ultrasound-guided injection of CGF directly around the compressed nerve. Reduces inflammation, decreases fibrosis, restores nerve gliding within the canal.
Numbness — a signal you cannot ignore
Prolonged nerve compression leads to irreversible damage. Submit your MRI for free evaluation.
Submit MRI ImagesQuestions about Numbness
Common causes: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (digits 1-3), cervical disc herniation C6-C7 (middle finger), Cubital Tunnel Syndrome (digits 4-5). EMG/NCS and cervical MRI are needed for diagnosis.
Often yes. L4-L5: lateral shin, dorsum of foot. L5-S1: posterior surface, sole. But stenosis, polyneuropathy, and tarsal tunnel are also possible. Lumbar MRI and leg EMG/NCS are needed.
Urgent evaluation needed for: perineal numbness, urinary dysfunction, bilateral leg weakness, rapidly progressive weakness. Possible Cauda Equina Syndrome — emergency MRI required.
If the cause is nerve compression, MIBRAR® eliminates it: disc regeneration reduces herniation, CGF reduces nerve root swelling, stem cells restore nerve myelin sheath.
EMG/NCS — determines level and degree of nerve damage. Spine MRI (cervical for arms, lumbar for legs). Blood tests: glucose, B12, TSH to exclude systemic causes of polyneuropathy.