Numbness is a common experience, especially for the elderly. Twenty percent of the population, including 30% of everyone over the age of 75 years of age experience numbness in their extremities. Numbness is sometimes called "paresthesia", and occurs when some or all sensation in a certain area of the body is lost. On its own, numbness is an inconvenience because we have less control of our bodies when we can't feel them. Numbness in the limbs can lead to more falls, injuries, and even pain in the body. It can also increase the probability of having more health problems as a result of not being able to feel. Foot drop, problems standing up, and other injuries like burns and wounds can increase. Most doctors say that numbness is a sign to a bigger problem that may be happening medically in the body.
For the younger population, numbness is more common for those with diabetic neuropathy, strangulation neuropathy, and lumbar spinal canal stenosis. In the elderly population, numbness can be caused by any number of medical conditions, including fibromyalgia, tumors and growths, Peripheral artery disease, ankle tunnel syndrome, sciatica, back pain, and diabetes. It can also be caused by sitting or sleeping in a bad position, wearing clothing that cuts off nerve flow and circulation, sitting cross-legged, or from excessive use of alcohol.
To treat numbness in the limbs of elderly people, seeing a doctor for tests and blood work is the very first step. If something can be done to help reverse this problem, then it will be identified in the testing. The next step is to improve blood flow. This can happen through more movement, hot and cold applications, rest, and a shift in diet, minerals, and vitamin intake to support better circulation. Massage therapy, acupuncture, or other therapies that promote blood flow can also be helpful.
The biggest inconvenience of numb appendages is the effect it has on an elderly person's quality of life. If they cannot hold onto a spoon or fork with their hands, or have problems walking because of numb feet, then it can feel much more frustrating to live with this problem on a daily basis. It is worth it to try to shift the lifestyle of our elderly friends and family members experiencing numb appendages. We may not be able to reverse the damages that have been done, but we can prevent it from getting much worse.
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