Mr. Kim (50), who runs a Korean restaurant, often does a lot of knife work to prepare ingredients. Recently, he has been experiencing numbness in his hands, weakness, and tingling sensations in his toes. He initially thought that the cold weather was causing poor blood circulation, so he massaged himself every evening, but his symptoms did not improve. Eventually, he visited a hospital and was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.

 

When the extremities such as hands and feet feel numb, the first thing that often comes to mind is circulatory problems. However, the cause of numbness in the hands and feet is more likely to be peripheral neuropathy rather than circulatory issues. Peripheral neuropathy is a disease caused by damage to the nerves in the extremities, such as the arms and legs, due to various reasons.

Professor Lee Hye-rim of the Department of Neurology at Guro Hospital, Korea University, said, "It can be difficult to clearly distinguish the cause based solely on symptoms when hands and feet go numb, but when blood circulation disorder is the cause, symptoms such as the limbs turning blue or white may accompany it." She added, "Since it is hard to differentiate based only on symptoms, it is recommended to perform relevant tests after consultation." If numbness in the hands and feet caused by peripheral neuropathy is left untreated, the numbness can spread throughout the body and may lead to paralysis.

The nerves in our body are broadly divided into the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system, which extends from the brain and spinal cord to the face, arms, and legs. The peripheral nerves include motor, sensory, and autonomic nerves. When abnormalities occur, symptoms such as ▲motor dysfunction (paralysis, muscle weakness), ▲sensory disturbances (tingling, pain), and ▲autonomic nervous system issues (sweating, urination problems) may appear. Tingling in the hands and feet is a typical sensory disturbance symptom.

 

Peripheral neuropathy is divided into compressive peripheral neuropathy, caused by compression of a part of the nerve, and polyneuropathy, which involves multiple peripheral nerves throughout the body. A representative compressive peripheral neuropathy is carpal tunnel syndrome, which occurs when the median nerve is compressed by the wrist ligament. Polyneuropathy typically begins in the feet and fingertips, gradually spreading to the trunk, with a characteristic spreading of numbness. Causes can include diabetes or alcohol consumption. Rarely, Guillain-Barré syndrome, which can occur after infections such as colds or diarrhea, may also be suspected.

When visiting the hospital, nerve conduction tests, electromyography, cerebrospinal fluid tests, and other examinations are conducted to determine the extent of nerve damage and the presence of other complications. Approximately 75% of these tests can identify the exact cause.

 

Treatment methods vary depending on the cause. Professor Lee Hye-rim said, "It is important to treat according to the cause, and controlling symptoms with medication such as anticonvulsants and antidepressants, as well as preventing deterioration in quality of life due to pain, is necessary," and added, "Sometimes procedures like nerve blocks are performed, or surgical treatment may be considered in cases with clear structural abnormalities such as carpal tunnel syndrome."

 

Correcting lifestyle habits can prevent peripheral neuropathy. Professor Lee Hye-rim said, "Actively managing common underlying conditions like diabetes, avoiding alcohol, and steering clear of tight clothing and shoes that hinder blood circulation, as well as avoiding postures that compress nerves, are recommended." She added, "Peripheral neuropathy has a good prognosis if detected early, so it is important to visit the hospital promptly when symptoms appear."

 

Meanwhile, as numbness in the hands and feet gradually worsens, symptoms such as lip numbness, headaches, dizziness, weakness in the limbs, or numbness on only one side may indicate a stroke rather than peripheral neuropathy. In such cases, you should immediately visit a hospital for examination. Unlike peripheral neuropathy, strokes occur suddenly. Additionally, numbness in the hands and feet can also be caused by cervical disc herniation, spinal stenosis, or extreme stress.

 

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Mom sometimes experiences numbness in her hands and feet.

Make sure to do your foot massage that day.

Foot bath in hot water

 

These days, you always wear socks.

Are you wearing thin socks at home?

Always report and carry it with you.

 

The warming effect is said to be good for numbness in the hands and feet.