Numbness of the limbs, tongue and face: causes and alarming symptoms

15:20 07 March 2021 Health

Such numbness is medically called paresthesia. There may be several reasons for the phenomenon. The most common is staying in one position for a long time, sleeping with your face pressed to the pillow. But in 20% of cases, manifestations may indicate problems with the central nervous system. Let's look into the issue in more detail.

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Why does my face go numb and what can I do about it?

So, first, let's name the natural causes that lead to facial numbness.

You were lying on an uncomfortable pillow, fell asleep face down, were very nervous, were in extreme cold and felt signs - tingling, lack of sensitivity, twitching - do a massage: with gentle movements bring the blood flow to normal and in a couple of minutes your face will come to life again.

It would be a good idea to use the test recommended by doctors.

• Lightly prick the numb part with a sterile needle.
• If there is no sensitivity, consult a doctor immediately. The symptom indicates local paralysis, and there is a possible risk of stroke.

• In cases where the symptom is accompanied by loss of vision, consciousness, nausea, and strong heartbeat, you should call an ambulance and, until it arrives, take a horizontal position, with your head higher than your torso.

If you witness such a condition, you need to start first aid.

• With one hand, check the victim’s pulse and at the same time call an ambulance.
• If there is no pulse, create conditions for an influx of fresh air, perform artificial respiration, and cardiac massage.

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Non-dental factors

However, the above list is not exhaustive - in addition to the causes of loss of sensitivity of the maxillary region directly related to dentistry, there are other problematic factors.

Trigeminal neuralgia. A chronic pathology characterized by sharp exacerbations of painful sensations when mechanical triggers are activated. The main symptoms of the disease include pain during facial activity, the occurrence of involuntary tics, disruption of facial symmetry, as well as numbness of the jaw and chin.

Insufficient intake of minerals and vitamins. An unbalanced diet, with a deficiency of nutrients important for the metabolic process, leads to disruption of the functioning of nerve endings, the functionality of which directly depends on the quality of metabolism.

Development of neurosis. Psychogenic disorders are accompanied by numbness of certain areas of the face, the development of tics and involuntary muscle contractions.

Additionally, potential sources of the problem may include:

• Osteochondrosis of the cervical region, causing excessive compression of nerves and blood vessels, leading to loss of sensitivity;
• Impaired blood flow caused by dystonia or atherosclerosis;
• Hypertension, sinusitis, edema, as well as gestosis that occurs during pregnancy.

Other causes of facial numbness

1. The face often goes numb during attacks of headaches or migraines. Symptoms include nausea, weakness, and sensitivity to bright light. Numbness may indicate cervical osteochondrosis, vasoconstriction, vegetative-vascular dystonia, high or low blood pressure.

2. Also, a lack of potassium, B vitamins, calcium in the body, stress, and pinched nerve endings on the face can lead to this kind of sensation.

3. For those suffering from inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, numbness is a familiar sensation. At the same time, a person has frequent headaches and migraine attacks.

When part of the face goes numb, the symptom indicates Bell's disease. One of the branches of the trigeminal nerve becomes inflamed, and as a result, sensitivity is lost; the patient is accompanied by severe pain, shooting from ear to nose. In the acute phases of the problem, the face becomes distorted.

The nature of the disease can be ARVI, herpes zoster, brain tumors, stress, hypothermia, or injury.

Important: at the first signs you should consult a doctor. Taking analgesics will only temporarily relieve pain, and in many cases even they are powerless. Complex treatment of the trigeminal nerve with antiviral drugs will be required.

Anti-inflammatory therapy, glucocorticoids and non-steroidal medications are prescribed, physiotherapy, vitamin complexes, and massage are effective.

Dental factors

A feeling of a “stiff” jaw that spreads throughout the chin is a sign of problems inside the mouth. When paresthesia covers the gum tissue, lips and tongue, a burning and tingling sensation occurs - the best solution in such a case would be to consult a doctor for diagnostics and identification of pathology. Possible dental factors include the following.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory process localized in the area of ​​the tooth root, the occurrence of which is facilitated by the development of pulpitis or improper placement of a filling. Characteristic signs are aching pain, aggravated by pressure, a general increase in body temperature, as well as numbness of the gums and jaws.

Prosthetics and implantation are complex procedures, during which technical errors may occur, both at the preparation stage and during the installation of a replacement structure. Incorrect installation of the implant can cause damage to the jaw nerve, the symptom of which is discomfort and loss of sensitivity in the chin area.

Use of anesthetic drugs. Anesthesia, better known among patients as “freezing,” is designed to prevent discomfort that occurs during dental procedures. As a rule, the effect lasts for 2-4 hours after the procedure, however, if tissue sensitivity has not recovered after the specified period of time, you should contact your treating specialist again.

Filling of dental canals - if composite materials get on the surface of the bone tissue, as well as poor-quality cleaning of the problem area that has become infected, an inflammatory process may develop, which negatively affects the condition of the jaw region. In critical cases, a transition to a toxic state is even possible, when the patient’s body is poisoned by the elements contained in the used material.

Mechanical damage. Another common occurrence is injuries caused by excessive force applied to the jaw. Most often, injuries are diagnosed in patients belonging to a high-risk group - athletes, car enthusiasts, stuntmen, etc. If numbness in the chin or teeth occurs after a blow or fall, it is likely that surgical intervention will be required for treatment.

Migraine

It is still considered a mysterious disease. Mainly found in women, the ratio of the number of patients m/f can be determined as 3:1 and even more.

It has a clear hereditary nature, if one of the parents had a disorder, with a probability of over 70% the disorder is transmitted to children and manifests itself at some point.

Why migraine develops is not known for certain. It is assumed that the disorder is caused by spasm of cerebral vessels against the background of autonomic dysfunction. That is, we are talking about a purely neurological disease, but whether this is true or not is a moot point.

The symptomatic complex is always approximately the same. In classic cases, the following signs of the condition are found:

• Severe headache. On the one side. Left or right. Baling, shooting, bursting. Accompanies the patient throughout the entire episode of the disorder. It radiates into the orbit and can move towards the crown and back of the head, initially located in the frontal region.
• Nausea, rarely vomiting.
• Disorientation in space. A person cannot move normally, the world is spinning and spinning before his eyes.
• Numbness of the entire head or part of the face as a result of a disorder of nerve conduction at the level of cerebral structures. This is a temporary phenomenon that does not indicate either the severity of the problem or the likelihood of a favorable outcome.

Migraine as such is not dangerous, but it is an extremely uncomfortable condition. However, the symptoms can often resemble a stroke, so if suspicious signs develop, it is recommended to call an ambulance.

Pre-stroke symptoms are described in detail in this article.

In atypical situations, there may be no headache with the predominant preservation of the aura - manifestations preceding a migraine attack. Decreased visual acuity, hearing, intolerance to bright light and sound, flickering of flies, the appearance of flashes in the field of view, and others.

Against this background, numbness of the face is also an integral part of the initial manifestations, even outside the pain syndrome.

Treatment methods

If a nerve trunk, branch or nerve plexus is damaged or compressed, there are two ways to solve the problem - therapeutic and surgical. Conservative therapy is indicated for incomplete loss of sensitivity, if the tooth periodically becomes numb after treatment and the symptoms do not worsen. Therapeutic treatment includes medication and physical therapy.

The operation is indicated if the feeling of numbness of the upper jaw or mandibular structures is associated with trauma during sinus lifting, displacement of bone mass, dentures, implants, or complete loss of sensitivity of the innervation zone. During the intervention, the cause of paresthesia is eliminated and the damaged nerve is reconstructed.

Treatment

Therapy depends on the disease. Conservative methods are mainly practiced. Medicines from several pharmaceutical groups are used.

• Anti-inflammatory drugs of non-steroidal and hormonal origin. The first ones are Nimesulide, Diclofenac and others. The second is Prednisolone and more powerful analogues. They pursue identical goals and are used according to indications.
• Chondroprotectors. To protect the vertebrae. Structum as an option.
• Cerebrovascular, nootropics. Normalizes brain nutrition. Actovegin, Piracetam, Glycine.

More can be said knowing the specific situation.

Surgery is a last resort. It is practiced for tumors, advanced hernias and in some other cases. When there is no other way out.

What needs to be treated is not numbness, this is impossible and makes no sense, but the underlying pathological process.

Transient ischemic attack

A common phenomenon. It is mistakenly called a microstroke. In fact, we are talking about an acute but temporary disruption of brain nutrition. Develops as a precursor to an emergency condition.

The main patient population is people with a history of arterial hypertension, often elderly.

The clinical picture is identical to that of a typical stroke. The only difference is the duration of the violation and its outcome.

Transient ischemia does not lead to necrosis of nerve tissue; moreover, it regresses spontaneously, independently, even without the help of a specialist. If I may say so, this is a rehearsal for a stroke.

Among the manifestations:

• Severe headache in one area or another. Bursting, baling. Intense.
• Disorientation in space.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Discomfortable sensations on the skin: goosebumps, tingling. A typical patient complaint is that half of the face or arm is numb. This is an indication of a disruption in the conductivity of nerve endings, but not the death of them.
• Confusion.
• Dysfunctions of the sense organs.

If your head goes numb, it could be a transient ischemic attack or a chronic brain disorder.

Differential diagnosis is mandatory. It is aimed at distinguishing between different conditions.

Inflammation of nerve fibers

Against the background of hypothermia or other infectious diseases. It occurs in one form or another in almost 40% of people; at least once in their life, every second person has encountered a similar problem.

It develops spontaneously and is accompanied by unbearable pain, especially if the trigeminal nerve is affected.

The use of analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs gives minimal effect. Medical attention and combinations of drugs to relieve discomfort are required.

Numbness and severe pain are the main symptoms. As an addition - an increase in body temperature.

Cluster headaches

An extremely rare neurological condition. However, it is very difficult. Accompanied by unbearable, painful attacks of discomfort in the frontal region.

Unpleasant sensations radiate to the eyes. The clinical picture is complemented by pronounced numbness on the left side of the face or vice versa, depending on the exact localization of vascular spasm.

The etiology of the disease is unknown. It is believed to be a related condition to migraine, with some differences.

A typical symptom is a severe headache that cannot be relieved by any medications. The intensity of the discomfort is so great that suicide attempts are known among patients during an attack.

Treatment is not possible; the only thing doctors seek is to prevent relapses in the future. Reducing the risks of developing such.

Mental disorders

Why the tip of the tongue goes numb, and the causes of numbness in the lips may be associated with mental disorders. This symptom is combined with increased heartbeat, a feeling of lack of air, which makes the person feel anxious. If the tip of the tongue goes numb, what does this mean, doctors usually diagnose it by determining organic pathology. If no such cause of numbness of the tip of the tongue and other symptoms are found, then the patient is diagnosed with “ vegetative-vascular dystonia ”. However, in fact, this condition is not a disease, but only a set of symptoms that are associated with psychological problems. Very often, vegetative-vascular dystonia is a sign of a depressive state or a state of increased anxiety. That is why a psychotherapist should treat such a symptom.

If we are talking about autonomic disorders of a psychogenic nature, the following symptoms may appear:

• tremor;
• rapid heartbeat;
• the face, tip of the tongue, palate in the mouth, limbs go numb;
• increased sweating ;
• causeless discomfort in various organs;
• strong concern for health on the part of the patient.

In this case, the doctor can determine why the tip of a person’s tongue is numb and make the correct diagnosis by first ruling out all possible diseases with similar symptoms. For the purpose of treatment, psychotherapy sessions and antidepressants are prescribed.

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency

A common disorder. Usually develops as a complication of osteochondrosis of the cervical spine.

The essence of the disease is a sharp disruption in the nutrition of cerebral structures due to compression of the arteries localized in the neck.

There are many variants of the clinical picture of the disease. Basically, the symptomatic complex comes down to a group of deviations:

• Headache. Expressed, strong. Migraine attacks are possible during the course of the disease.
• Dizziness and inability to navigate in space. The person is in a forced position. Lying on his side, he moves little.
• Nausea, vomiting.
• Visual impairment. Loss of areas of visibility, sensation of bright flashes (simple hallucinations), temporary total blindness is possible. In late, advanced stages.
• Decreased hearing acuity.
• Inability to move smoothly. Unsteadiness of gait. This is all due to disruption of the extrapyramidal system.
• When the lobes of the brain on the left side are affected, the right side of the head (and the body in general) goes numb and vice versa.

Also other clinical signs. VBI is considered a significant factor in the development of stroke in the future. The cerebellum and occipital region of the brain are affected.

With timely treatment, it is possible to stop the progression of the disease and take control of the situation.

How to contact whom and what needs to be examined

Diagnostics is carried out by neurologists. In some cases, the help of several doctors is required, depending on the situation.

The research is almost always the same:

• Oral questioning of a person to clarify symptoms.
• Anamnesis collection. To better understand the likely origin of the disease.
• Measurement of blood pressure and heart rate.
• Assessment of basic reflexes.
• X-ray of the cervical spine.
• Dopplerography of blood vessels to exclude VBI and impaired cerebral trophism, duplex scanning. Shows the quality and speed of blood flow.
• MRI of the same area. For the diagnosis of hernias, advanced osteochondrosis.
• Tomography of cerebral structures. Perhaps the reason is multiple sclerosis or tumors. In both cases, contrast enhancement with gadolinium is required. This will increase the information content several times.
• General blood test, biochemical.

If necessary, a lumbar puncture is performed to obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid. Basically this is enough.

As needed, doctors prescribe additional diagnostic measures.

4.Treatment

It is easy to see that with the number and variety of possible causes for the development of paresthesia described above, it is impossible to indicate universal therapeutic regimens (or at least general approaches to its treatment). Prescriptions, of course, take into account the entire array of diagnostic data obtained. In some cases, vitamin therapy may be sufficient, in others it is impossible to do without vertebrological or neurosurgical oncology intervention, in others, the only solution may be a change of job (if, for example, the profession is associated with chemical hazards). If paresthesia occurs against the background or as part of a chronic disease of the endocrine, cardiovascular or other system, it will be necessary, first of all, to treat and/or relieve the exacerbation of the underlying disease.

However, in any case, if any unusual, unusual, outwardly inexplicable sensations in the skin occur, you should definitely consult a doctor, since paresthesia sometimes turns out to be only a harbinger of much more serious problems or the tip of a formidable iceberg, which for the time being does not manifest itself in anything else.