An unpleasant feeling of numbness is a clinical symptom that may indicate the development of a neurological or orthopedic disease. Approximately 15% of cases are due to endocrine pathologies. Another 10% are hemodynamic disorders and decreased nerve fiber productivity due to ischemic processes.
This article talks about what factors cause numbness in the back muscles, the appearance of areas of decreased skin sensitivity, etc. Among the potential causes, you will see many diseases that are important to diagnose and treat in a timely manner. Many diseases can provoke further spread of foci of numbness; paresis and full-fledged paralysis can also develop.
Numbness is not just an unpleasant sensation. It is important to know that the autonomic nervous system is responsible for the vital functions of the entire human body. Its function is controlled by the structures of the central nervous system. From certain centers located in the human brain, nerve impulses pass along the entire length of the nerve fiber. The motor nerve fiber is responsible for the propagation of these signals.
Due to this, the human body moves and has the ability to make various movements with the arms, legs, torso, and head. The muscle fiber inside the human body also has contractility. This is the muscular vascular wall, stomach, intestines, myocardium. If the functioning of the autonomic nervous system is disrupted, at the initial stage, sensations of numbness may occur, and then dysfunction of the internal organs and the coronary circulatory system develops.
In addition to motor nerve fibers, the bundles contain sensory (sensitive) fibers. As they progress, they break up into smaller ones and are mostly represented in the epidermis and muscle layer. They collect information about how the external environment affects the state of the human body. This can be a feeling of cold, warmth, burning, traumatic impact, pain. It is this information that is sent to the structures of the brain. There it is analyzed. In response, a nerve impulse is sent to the muscles to perform a particular action.
For example, if you touch a hot object with your finger, your hand will automatically withdraw. Everything happens in a split second automatically. Therefore, few people think about the algorithm of this process.
Impaired sensitivity and the appearance of a feeling of numbness are associated with damage to the sensory and mixed type of nerve fiber. This could be injury, lack of arterial blood supply, nerve compression, etc. In approximately 15–20% of cases, numbness of individual parts of the body (arm, leg, part or half of the torso) can be caused by disruption of the centers in the brain. Most often, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, a transient disorder of cerebral circulation, manifests itself in this way.
If you experience a feeling of numbness in your back and it does not go away for more than 30 to 40 minutes, seek medical help immediately. Prolonged compression or ischemia of the nerve fiber can provoke its atrophy. Restoring normal sensitivity in the future will be difficult or even impossible.
In Moscow, you can make a free appointment with a neurologist or vertebrologist at our manual therapy clinic. Experienced doctors work here. During the initial examination, they will make a preliminary diagnosis and give individual recommendations for further examination and treatment.
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Causes of back numbness along the spine
The feeling of numbness in the back can occur in different places. But most often, patients complain of numbness of the back along the spine, which may be a consequence of pathological changes in its tissues.
Numbness along the intercostal nerves is associated with their neuralgia. Shingles and its complications can manifest in a similar way. Also, similar clinical symptoms in the lower chest may be associated with pathologies of the diaphragm, pancreas, liver and spleen. Therefore, this manifestation of disease should not be ignored. See your doctor as soon as possible. After the examination, the doctor will determine the exact cause and prescribe the appropriate treatment.
In the meantime, we suggest learning about potential causes that are closely related to pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. The main causes of numbness in the back are:
- degenerative dystrophic pathologies of cartilage tissue of intervertebral discs (osteochondrosis);
- complications of long-term untreated osteochondrosis - intervertebral protrusion and hernia;
- instability of the position of the vertebrae, their periodic rotation, due to which the radicular nerves are pinched and the nerve plexuses are compressed;
- deposition of calcium salts and formation of osteophytes;
- stenosis of the spinal canal, including those provoked by displacement of the vertebral bodies and prolapse of intervertebral hernia into its lumen;
- plexitis of the nerve plexuses;
- deforming osteoarthritis in the area of facet, uncovertebral, facet and costovertebral joints;
- cicatricial deformation of the ligamentous and tendon apparatus of the spinal column;
- curvature of the spine and pathological changes in posture;
- dystrophy and atrophy of the muscular frame of the back;
- tumor and infectious processes.
Causes of numbness in the back such as injuries should not be ruled out. These can be fractures and cracks of the vertebral bodies and their processes, subluxations and complete dislocations, sprains and tears of ligamentous, tendon and muscle fibers.
Potential causes of the appearance of areas of numbness in the back include hormonal disorders (especially often they manifest themselves in this way in women who have entered the menopause phase), diabetic angiopathy and neuropathy, and the toxic effects of various toxic substances (smoking, alcohol, heavy metal salts).
There is also the so-called “physiological numbness”: if a person lay on his back on a hard surface for a long time or leaned his back on it while sitting, then capillary blood did not flow to certain areas. This may cause temporary numbness. But, as a rule, it goes away after the effect of the negative factor is eliminated completely within 20 - 30 minutes.
ethnoscience
There is a wide list of folk remedies that can relieve negative symptoms without addiction or side effects.
Cold and hot shower
When you take a shower, first direct a stream of hot and then cold water onto the numb area. Alternate temperatures several times. After taking a shower, apply a warming ointment to your back and wrap it with a warm scarf.
Camphor ointment
Take camphor ointment and add a couple of drops of eucalyptus to it. For 3 days before going to bed, apply the ointment to the affected area.
Pepper tincture
The use of this remedy stimulates blood circulation and relieves negative symptoms. To prepare the tincture, take a few red pepper pods and pour in 0.5 liters of vodka. Place the container with the tincture in a dark place for a week. Rub the resulting mixture onto your numb back.
Frequent numbness of the back muscles above the lower back
In most cases, patients note numbness in part of the back, and not in the entire torso. This is due to the fact that when a certain area of the autonomic nervous system is pinched, the sensitivity of only that part of the body for the innervation of which it is responsible is impaired.
For example, frequent numbness of the back muscles above the lower back can be caused by protrusion of the intervertebral discs L3-L4, L2-L3. The branches of these radicular nerves are responsible for the innervation of the muscular frame in the lumbar region. With lateral protrusion, the lesion will be noted on one side of the body. Circular, diffuse, or dorsal protrusion often causes symmetrical bilateral numbness. Plexitis of the lumbar nerve plexus and spinal canal stenosis can manifest in a similar way.
An accurate diagnosis can only be made through a diagnostic examination. If the patient complains of back numbness, the doctor palpates the spinous processes and performs a series of diagnostic functional tests. This allows him to make a preliminary diagnosis and draw up a plan for further examination. First, an x-ray is ordered. It allows you to see a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs, traumatic damage to bone tissue, the formation of osteophytes, destruction of the intervertebral joints, etc. To assess the condition of the cartilage discs, ligaments and tendons, you will need to do a CT or MRI. Ultrasound, ultrasound, angiography and neurography may also be indicated.
Massage
Taking a course of massage will help you quickly cope with any back problems. Immediately after the session, the feeling of numbness goes away, movements become freer, and serious pathologies of the spine gradually disappear. During the massage, the volume of hernias decreases, muscle spasms are relieved, blood circulation is activated, and tension on nerve endings is removed. Performing massage is recommended in courses both for treatment purposes and in the future for the prevention of spinal diseases.
Massage technique:
- Using stroking movements, work the entire lumbar region, chest and neck. In this case, you should not act on the skin above the vertebrae, only around them.
- Apply light pinches over the entire surface of the numb area.
- Place your palms on the edge, perform sawing movements, gradually moving from bottom to top, and then from top to bottom.
- Place your knuckles next to your spine and, with light pressure, move them towards your sides.
- Place your palms on one part of your back, move one up, the other down, shifting the skin.
- If the lumbar region becomes numb, it is also worth performing a massage in the buttocks and thighs. To do this, place your knuckles in the area of the processes of the femurs and move them several times with light pressure.
- Feel the outermost process of the coccyx in the buttock area, place your thumb on it and perform light vibrating movements.
- Finish the massage with stroking movements.
It is important to perform massage during the absence of acute pain; also contraindications are elevated body temperature, inflammation at the site of exposure, and exacerbation of infectious diseases.
Be careful with back numbness in the shoulder blade area
Numbness of the back under the shoulder blades can be caused by the development of thoracic osteochondrosis or scoliosis. These two potential causes are the most common. Among other possible diseases, it is worth excluding chest deformation, tuberculosis of the spinal cord and bone tissue, and the consequences of traumatic exposure.
But you need to be careful. Quite often, back numbness in the shoulder blade area is a clinical manifestation of coronary insufficiency. This is a condition in which the heart muscle does not receive enough fresh blood and angina develops. Against the background of this condition, in the absence of timely medical care, myocardial infarction may develop. This disease threatens human life. Therefore, take such manifestations with the utmost seriousness.
Only an experienced neurologist or vertebrologist can distinguish angina pectoris from thoracic osteochondrosis without hardware diagnostics. If it is not possible to quickly visit such a specialist, then it is better to call an ambulance and do an ECG examination. This will accurately rule out the possibility of a heart attack. Well, to treat your spine, find the opportunity to contact a neurologist or vertebrologist in the near future.
Numbness in the back may indicate the likelihood of developing tumor processes in the areas where large nerve bundles pass. Therefore, we recommend not to delay contacting a doctor. The sooner a full examination is carried out and an accurate diagnosis is made, the higher the chances of a full recovery.
Physiotherapy
This is a branch of medicine in which natural factors are used for treatment: electric current, magnetic radiation, acoustic waves.
Electromyostimulation
The procedure involves the effect of microcurrents on tissue. This stimulates muscle contraction, accelerates blood circulation and metabolic processes.
Magnetotherapy
Under the influence of two magnets, a deep tissue massage occurs that cannot be achieved by other means.
Phonophoresis
Micromassage procedure using acoustic vibrations. This technique allows you to work on tissue at a depth of up to 6 cm. As a result, pain goes away, tissue restoration accelerates, and swelling is relieved.
Paraffin therapy
The procedure has an anti-inflammatory effect, improves blood circulation, relieves spasms and restores the conduction of nerve signals. Liquid paraffin has the ability to retain heat for a long time, which is used for deep heating of tissues.
Acupuncture and biopuncture
Acupuncture or acupuncture involves influencing active centers on the body using needles. Biopuncture also includes the additional administration of homeopathic medicines. Both methods are primarily aimed at activating the body’s own defenses, and therefore do not cause side effects or addiction.
Numbness of the skin on the back
In most cases, numbness of the skin of the back is a manifestation of a degenerative dystrophic disease of the cartilage tissue of the intervertebral discs, complicated by radiculopathy. The root nerves are called radicula in Latin. And pathia is a loss of functional abilities.
With prolonged pressure on the radicular nerves, their ischemia and atrophy are observed. They lose the ability to conduct nerve impulses. This leads to numbness in the area of the back where the innervation is disrupted. Often this condition is preceded by paresthesia (sensation of tingling, cold, burning, etc.).
If you do not consult a neurologist in a timely manner and begin treatment, the numbness will persist for the rest of your life, since restoring the functionality of the dead nerve fiber is very difficult.
Prevention
For back health and general well-being, it is enough to follow a few simple rules:
- eliminate bad habits;
- the diet should be balanced, rich in foods high in vitamin B;
- Get a massage regularly;
- perform exercises to strengthen the paravertebral muscles;
- normalize your weight;
- if you have a sedentary job, take short breaks to exercise, buy a chair with a special orthopedic design;
- the sleeping place must be correct: the mattress is of medium hardness and the pillow is of low height;
- watch the position in which you are sitting: your back should be straight without bending inwards in the thoracic region and without unnecessary bending in the lumbar region. With proper seating, the load on the spine is distributed evenly, which avoids pinching of nerves and blood vessels;
- Avoid hypothermia.
Following these simple recommendations will help you never experience back problems that can cause you to feel numb.
What to do if you feel numbness in your back
The first thing to do is consult a doctor. Self-diagnosis, let alone treatment, is completely unacceptable in such a situation. Remember that numbness can be caused by lesions in the structures of the brain and spinal cord. And this in the future is fraught with paralysis of the body and complete disability. Therefore, the sooner you find the opportunity to visit a doctor, the better for your health.
It is not possible to treat separately the feeling of numbness in the back, since this is not a disease, but only its clinical manifestation. Therefore, it is necessary to first make an accurate diagnosis and only then develop an effective course of treatment.
For example, in case of osteochondrosis, a procedure aimed at restoring the normal height of the intervertebral spaces will help quickly eliminate the feeling of numbness. This is manual traction of the spinal column. In combination with massage and osteopathy, this procedure allows you to completely eliminate pain and start the process of regeneration of damaged cartilage tissue.
The doctor can also use physiotherapy, kinesiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, laser therapy, reflexology and much more. The course of treatment is always developed individually depending on the disease identified in the patient.
Symptomatic treatment
Treatment for numbness of the left or right shoulder blade is determined by the disease that caused this symptom. Symptomatic therapy alleviates the patient's condition and serves as an addition to the main treatment.
Therapy for the inciting disease includes:
- Taking medications.
- Dieting.
- Physiotherapy.
- Surgical procedures.
- The use of folk remedies.
Attention! Attempting self-medication is not the best option for solving the problem. Only a doctor can establish the true cause of the problem and prescribe effective treatment, and should be consulted in all cases of pathological numbness of the back.
Medicines
Considering that in most cases, back numbness is caused by diseases of the spine, the following drugs are used in treatment:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: Diclofenac, Ibuprofen, Nimesulide and others.
- Muscle relaxants to reduce muscle tension: Mydocalm, Baklosan, Sirdalud.
- To improve microcirculation: Trental, Pentoxifylline.
- Chondroprotectors for the restoration of cartilage tissue: “Chondroxid”, “Elbona”, “Rumalon”, “Dona”.
- Vitamin complexes to improve metabolic processes: Milgamma, Vitaxon.
- To quickly eliminate pain and muscle spasms, paravertebral novocaine blockades with the addition of glucocorticoids are used.
Treatment of pathologies of internal organs is carried out by appropriate specialists after a complete examination of the patient.
Exercise therapy and massage
Exercise therapy is an effective way to build a strong muscle corset. Thanks to this, relapses of the disease can be avoided in the future.
Gymnastics increases the mobility of the thoracic spine, increases the range of motion in the joints, both intervertebral and costovertebral, ensures proper deep breathing, improves lung ventilation, and prevents possible complications.
- Starting position (IP) – lying on your back with your knees bent. Press your legs to your chest with your hands, pull them towards you, slightly lifting your lower back, tighten your abdominal muscles. Hold the position for 5 seconds. Slowly return to the IP. Repeat 2 times.
- IP – arms extended behind the head, legs straightened. Stretch your left arm and right leg, stretching your spine, and hold for a few seconds. Same with the other hand. The pace is slow. Repeat 3 times on each side.
- IP - lying on your stomach, arms to your sides. Raise your head and hands. Maintain the state of muscle tension for 3 seconds. Relax with your head and hands down. Repeat 5 times.
- IP - standing on all fours. Raise your head, bend over, inhale, lower your head, round your back, feel the tension in the muscles of your back and chest, exhale. The pace is slow. Repeat 5 times.
Massage, used in combination with other therapeutic methods, improves the nutrition of the intervertebral discs and the trophism of the soft tissues surrounding the spine, activates lymph and blood circulation, reduces and gradually eliminates degenerative processes in the vertebral arteries, prevents muscle atrophy, and strengthens the muscle corset.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapeutic techniques are successfully used in the treatment of diseases of the spinal column. They have an anti-inflammatory effect, relieve pain, fight spinal stiffness and improve the physical activity of patients.
Physiotherapy has a complex effect on tissues, increases blood flow in blood vessels, and increases the speed of recovery processes. It is prescribed only by the attending physician, since some methods can increase inflammation and are contraindicated in the acute stage of the disease.
The following methods are used:
- UHF therapy;
- electrophoresis;
- magnetic therapy;
- electrical stimulation;
- paraffin therapy;
- mud therapy.
Physiotherapeutic treatments are recommended for patients of all ages to improve well-being and speed up the recovery process.
