Dorothy FarrarSensory disturbances in the arm
Sensory disturbances in the arm can have both physical (particularly neurological) and psychological causes. The discomfort is usually expressed by a tingling sensation that is uncomfortable and in some cases even painful. Sometimes there is a complete loss of feeling. Treatment for sensory disturbances depends on the cause and ranges from conservative methods to surgery.
What are sensory disturbances in the arm?
Sensory disturbances in the arm are expressed by a reduction in the ability to feel or perceive, which can lead to a complete loss of this ability. Many sufferers also report an unpleasant tingling sensation on the skin surface of their arms. These faults can be caused by external circumstances (e.g. an accident). Neurological causes should also be considered. So those related to the nerves . In the case of damage to the nerves in particular, the sensory disturbances often present themselves as paresthesiaThis is the case when perceptions are felt (e.g. a tingling sensation, coldness or warmth) that cannot be traced back to an adequate external cause. They are an indication of nerve damage.
causes
Sensory disturbances in the arm can have a variety of causes. In addition to physical causes, there are always psychological ones within the realm of possibility. The main physical causes include:
- The development of a carpal tunnel syndrome: Here there is damage to the median nerve (Nervus medianus), which is located in the Kapalkanal. The syndrome is characterized by moderate to severe pain in the arms , tingling and numbness .
- Physiological injuries of the arm, tension , strains or dislocations: These can be caused in particular by a broken collarbone, excessive strain during sports and injuries to the spine or cervical spine (e.g. herniated disc).
- Neurological causes such as pressure on nerves and vessels: The arm tissue surrounds nerves. If there are changes in this tissue (e.g. due to contusions, broken bones, pulled muscles, ruptured tendons, etc.), these changes can put pressure on the nerves and vessels. This leads to a loss of feeling and tingling. Pinching of the nerves can also be the result.
- Pinched vessels: Blood circulation is severely impaired by pinched vessels. This can also lead to sensory disturbances in the arm.
- Migraine: Tingling in the arms is also considered a sign of the onset of a migraine.
In principle, all psychiatric or mental illnesses that can trigger psychosomatoses can be considered as psychological causes. Psychosomatoses are diseases of the body that are exclusively due to psychological causes. Mental illnesses that can develop psychosomatoses include anxiety and panic disorders as well as stress disorders.
Diseases
- Psychosomatosen
When to the doctor?
A doctor should be consulted if the sensory disturbances in the arm persist. There may be physical or psychological problems that need to be clarified. Physical conditions can include a pinched nerve or pinched blood vessels.
Persistent congestion of the blood can cause the vessels to burst. The result is bleeding and increased cardiac activity. If the heart is constantly exposed to a higher load, there is a risk of a heart attack. In severe cases, a pinched nerve can lead to the death of the nerve fibers. For these reasons, a doctor should be consulted in good time.
If the sensory disturbances in the arm occur suddenly and unexpectedly, other symptoms should be looked out for. If the person affected suffers from shortness of breath , speech disorders or loss of consciousness within a few seconds or minutes, an emergency doctor must be called and first aid measures initiated. There is an acute life-threatening condition that requires immediate action.
Other causes of sensory disturbances include bruises, strains or fractures. In all cases, a doctor must be consulted so that therapeutic measures can be taken. People who regularly suffer from migraines report that they often experience sensory disturbances in their arms just before the onset of the severe headache. In this case, it must be decided individually whether a doctor should be consulted.
diagnosis and course
Sensory disturbances in the arm are often diagnosed by general practitioners. These are the first point of contact for patients. The general practitioners first try to find out with a survey where exactly the sensory disturbances occur and how they express themselves. Tests or physical examinations can then be carried out. This makes it possible to rule out bruises or obvious strains as the cause. It is common to apply pressure to affected areas. This allows the sensitivity and perception in the arm to be tested.
Some doctors also use cold and heat stimuli for this purpose. If the family doctor is unable to identify a cause, he will refer you to a specialist. Specialists who deal with sensory disturbances in the arm include neurologists, orthopedists and dermatologists. A neurologist is chosen when there is a suspicion of injury or damage to the nerves. An orthopedist is referred to in particular for bruises, strains and similar diseases. The specialists carry out further special examinations.
It is also common to have a series of blood tests. In this way, infectious diseases can be ruled out as a potential cause. If a bruise is suspected, an MRI or CT may be ordered. A psychiatrist, psychologist or psychotherapist is only called in if none of the specialists can find a physical cause. Because psychosomatics is only concluded after all realistically possible physical causes have been ruled out. The psychologist or psychiatrist will try to identify a mental illness and order appropriate action.
treatment and therapy
How the sensory disturbance in the arm is treated depends on the underlying cause. Therapy can also be dispensed with entirely because the symptoms will subside on their own. This often happens. If there are neurological causes (e.g. pinched nerve or pressure on the nerve), an attempt can be made to free the nerve. Neurologists have a number of minimally invasive procedures available for this purpose. However, these always presuppose that the nerve causing the sensory disturbance is still alive. This is because dead (ie dead) nerves cannot be reconstructed. In particular, a complete loss of feeling remains permanent.
Even torn nerves only rarely grow together in such a way that full function can be recorded. If the cause of the sensory disturbance is a bruise, distortion or tension, physiotherapy is prescribed. In this case, conservative treatment is possible. Targeted medical massages can also lead to success.
There is also the option of performing acupuncture therapies. They are also used to treat nerve damage. Here, however, they are less successful. The treatment of psychological sensory disturbances in the arm depends on the main underlying mental illness. In addition to talk and group therapies tailored to the main disease, medication can also be administered.
outlook and prognosis
Sensory disturbances in the arm is a widespread phenomenon. There is often a harmless cause behind it, such as one-sided strain or an unfavorable sleeping position that causes the arm to go to sleep. In all of these cases, the prognosis for a rapid and complete resolution of the symptoms is generally very good.
A disease in the area of the cervical spine or the shoulder can also trigger sensory disturbances in the arm, such as tingling or numbness. An example of this is the herniated disc in the cervical spine area associated with nerve damage. Here the prognosis depends on how the measures taken by orthopaedists, neurologists, surgeons or physiotherapists work. In general, the following applies in most cases: The sooner those affected contact the doctor with sensory disturbances in their arm and the cause can be diagnosed, the better the prognosis is usually. If a tumor or a central disease such as multiple sclerosis is behind the sensory disturbance, the individual course and treatability are decisive for the respective prognosis.
Sometimes the patient is able to play a decisive role in determining his own prognosis. This applies to all cases in which sensory disturbances are triggered by incorrect loading of structures in the musculoskeletal system caused by the patient. This includes the wrong mattress or the wrong pillow as well as jamming the telephone receiver between the shoulder and the head.
Prevention
Sensory disturbances in the arm can be prevented with a healthy lifestyle. For this purpose, a balanced diet should be ensured. Getting enough exercise is also important. Athletes should always plan sufficient breaks to avoid strains, dislocations and similar injuries to muscle tissue. It should also be helpful to avoid neurologically toxic substances such as nicotine . This also prevents circulatory disorders and vascular blockages.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.