Causes
Numbness and Tingling in Hands and Feet: Causes, Warning Signs and Who to See
Numb, tingling or burning hands and feet can come from diabetes, low vitamin B12, pressure on a nerve, some medicines, alcohol, other illnesses or restless legs. A clinician needs to find the cause, so see one early.
Written by the Flow Nerves label deskUpdated
Causes01
Why do my hands and feet tingle or go numb?
Because the nerves that carry sensation from your limbs are irritated, squeezed or damaged, and many things can do that.
MedlinePlus says there are more than 100 types of peripheral nerve disorder, that diabetes is the most common cause, and that sensory nerve damage causes tingling, numbness or pain, often in the hands and feet 1. NINDS adds injury, infections, autoimmune disease, kidney disease, alcohol, toxins and some medicines to the list 2. Which cause you have decides what helps.
- DiabetesNINDS calls diabetes the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy in the U.S.; about two thirds of people with diabetes have some nerve problems. 2
- Low vitamin B12A shortage can make hands and feet numb or tingly. Metformin and acid-reducing medicines can lower B12 absorption. 3 4
- Pressure on a nerveCarpal tunnel, a pinched nerve in the neck or back and other squeezing injuries can cause tingling in a hand, foot or leg. 1
- Medicines, alcohol and toxinsSome cancer drugs and other medicines, long-term alcohol use and some toxins can damage nerves. 2 5 6
- Other illnessesKidney disease, infections and autoimmune conditions are on the lists of causes. 2 1
- Not nerves at allRestless legs syndrome causes crawling or aching legs with an urge to move at rest. It is a different condition with its own care. 7
Your list02
Where does it feel off? Start your list.
Use the tool to start a list you can take to your appointment.
Who to talk toStart with your primary care clinician. If you have diabetes, say so first and ask for a foot check.
What to bring
- When it started, and whether it comes and goes
- Any sore, blister or cut you cannot feel or that is slow to heal
- Every medicine and supplement you take, this one included
- Recent blood sugar and vitamin B12 results, if you have them
Who to talk toStart with your primary care clinician. They may ask about your neck, wrists and repeated hand work.
What to bring
- Which fingers, and what brings it on (driving, typing, sleep)
- Any neck or wrist pain, or recent injury
- Your work and hobby tasks that use your hands
- Every medicine and supplement you take, this one included
Who to talk toStart with your primary care clinician. Cramping, heaviness and swelling can have vein or circulation causes as well as nerve ones.
What to bring
- How far you can walk before it starts
- Whether rest, movement or position changes it
- Any swelling, skin change or varicose veins
- Every medicine and supplement you take, this one included
Who to talk toStart with your primary care clinician. An urge to move the legs when resting points to restless legs syndrome, which is a different condition.
What to bring
- Two weeks of notes: time, place, what it felt like
- Caffeine, alcohol and evening medicines
- Whether moving your legs eases it
- Every medicine and supplement you take, this one included
Who to talk toStart with your primary care clinician, and ask whether checks for blood sugar and vitamin B12 make sense for you.
What to bring
- A short list of every symptom and when it began
- Past illnesses, injuries and surgeries
- Alcohol use and any new medicine in the past year
- Every medicine and supplement you take, this one included
Sudden weakness, a drooping face or trouble speaking: call 911 8
A conversation starter, not a diagnosis. It says nothing about what Flow Nerves does.
Patterns03
Which pattern suggests which cause?
| Pattern | Possible causes to raise with a clinician |
|---|---|
| Both feet, spreading up | Diabetes, B12 shortage, alcohol, some medicines 23 |
| Thumb to ring finger at night | Pressure at the wrist, such as carpal tunnel |
| One leg, with back pain | A pinched nerve in the spine |
| Crawling legs at rest, eased by moving | Restless legs syndrome, a different condition 7 |
| After cancer treatment | Nerve problems from treatment; ask the care team which symptoms to report 6 |
| Sudden, with weakness or face droop | Stroke signs: call 911 8 |
The visit04
Who should you see, and what should you bring?
Start with your primary care clinician, and see them at the first signs.
Cleveland Clinic advises seeing a provider at the first signs of neuropathy, because some types respond better to early treatment 5. The NHS lists early symptoms as pain, tingling or loss of feeling in the feet, loss of balance or weakness, and a foot cut or ulcer that is not healing, and says people at high risk, such as those with diabetes, should have regular check-ups 9.
- When it started and whether it comes and goes.
- Every medicine and supplement you take, with doses.
- Recent blood sugar and vitamin B12 results, if you have them.
- Alcohol use, injuries and any recent illness.
Flow Nerves: 30 capsules a bottle1 capsule a day with a meal · from $49 a bottle · 60-day guarantee (confirm)
See packsWarning signs05
Which signs mean get help sooner?
- Sudden weakness, a drooping face or trouble speakingCall 911. These are stroke signs, and every minute counts. Do not drive yourself. 8
- Weakness that spreads over hours or daysGet urgent care. Fast-spreading weakness can be Guillain-Barre syndrome, which is treated in hospital. 10
- A numb foot with a sore that will not healSee a clinician promptly, especially with diabetes. Feet that cannot feel can hide cuts that get infected. 11
- Shaky, sweaty, confused or faintPossible low blood sugar, which alpha lipoic acid can add to when you take diabetes medicine. Treat it as an emergency if severe. 12
- Yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, belly painPossible liver trouble. Liver injury has been reported with high-absorption turmeric products. Stop and call a clinician. 13
- Unusual bruising or bleedingTurmeric, CoQ10 and L-carnitine can matter with blood thinners. Call your prescriber. 14
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, swelling of lips or faceCall 911. Possible heart problem or allergic reaction. 15
This list is not complete, and a supplement is never a reason to wait.
See also the emergency signs guide.
Supplements06
Where do supplements fit?
After the cause is known, and with a pharmacist's check of your medicines.
A supplement may be a sensible add-on if a test shows you are short of something. It is a poor first step if you do not know why you tingle. A product like Flow Nerves names six ingredients in one blend, and no source we found shows that blend helps any one cause of numbness. Read the claims against evidence page.
FAQ07
Flow Nerves questions people ask
Why do my hands and feet tingle at night?
Causes include diabetes, pressure on a nerve at the wrist or in the spine, low B12 and restless legs. A clinician needs to find yours.
Can low vitamin B12 cause tingling in hands and feet?
Yes. NIH says a vitamin B12 shortage can make hands and feet numb or tingly.
When should I see a doctor for tingling?
At the first signs, say Cleveland Clinic and the NHS, and straight away for sudden weakness, face droop or trouble speaking.
Is tingling in the feet always neuropathy?
No. It can be pressure on a nerve, a circulation problem or restless legs. Testing sorts it out.
Can anxiety cause tingling?
It can cause tingling in some people, but do not assume that without a clinician check, because other causes are common and treatable.
Who wrote this08
Written and reviewed by
Pages built from the brand files and linked NIH, FDA, CDC, FTC and peer-reviewed sources.
Last updated . Read our editorial standards and how we check reviews. This website is the information site for a USA Authorized Flow Nerves Retailer. It is not the manufacturer. We earn money when you buy through our order links.
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