Introduction
Circulatory disorders lead to an undersupply of blood and nutrients to the tissue. The cause can be arterial or venous vessels. Circulatory disorders can then cause sensations such as tingling.
Other typical symptoms are pale skin and headaches. As a rule, circulatory disorders and the associated complaints develop slowly. However, there are also other possible causes for a tingling sensation. An important differential diagnosis are complaints of the nerves. Diseases of the nerves typically also lead to sensations of discomfort, such as tingling.
Tingling in the feet or in the hands
Tingling in the feet/toes or tingling in the hands/fingers can indicate a circulatory disorder. A tingling sensation in the fingers or toes after spending a long time in the cold and then returning to warmth is normal. In Raynaud’s syndrome this process is more pronounced.
Stress or cold causes the fingers to fade and then turn blue. After some time there is a reactive blood circulation, i.e. a blushing of the fingers. Raynaud’s syndrome is often associated with other systemic diseases.
In addition to circulatory disorders, complaints of the nerves can lead to a tingling sensation – such as nerve entrapment or polyneuropathy. These occur more frequently than circulatory disorders. A tingling sensation can also be caused by poisoning or psychological reasons. However, since there are many possible causes, a detailed clarification by the family doctor and, if necessary, by a neurologist is necessary. By means of a physical examination, imaging experiences and measurements of the nerve conduction speeds, a successful differentiation of the cause can be made.
Tingling in the legs
A classical circulatory disorder is the pAVK (peripheral arterial occlusive disease). In this disease, the arterial vessels become blocked. Usually the leg arteries are affected.
In the context of these diseases, sensations such as tingling may occur. More typical for advanced stage PADK is, however, load-dependent, cramp-like pain in the legs. The pAVK is a chronic disease.
Acute circulatory disorders of the legs are usually not accompanied by tingling or other complaints such as severe pain. There are many other causes for tingling in the legs that are not based on a circulatory disorder and occur very frequently. Polyneuropathy typically leads to a tingling sensation in the legs, especially the feet.
Other sensations can also occur. In polyneuropathy, the nerves are restricted in their function. The causes are very diverse: diabetes mellitus, alcohol consumption,… But also other diseases affecting the nerves can cause sensations in the legs, e.g. a herniated disc or nerve entrapment.
