Finding the cause of numbness in the hands and feet.
When the hands or feet feel numb, many people think of poor circulation or an early sign of stroke, but this is rarely the case. Numbness is usually caused by a problem in the peripheral nerves. Only the hands, only the feet, or both may feel numb. In both cases the cause is a peripheral nerve problem, but they are different diseases and are treated differently.
Various tests are needed to find the exact cause of numbness in the hands and feet. These include nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) to check for peripheral neuropathy, the main cause of numbness, as well as blood tests, X-rays and ultrasound.
