The symptoms
Sensitivity disorders can manifest themselves differently. These are often described as tingling or “formication”, which feels similar to a leg that has fallen asleep (paresthesia). It can also be a burning sensation (Burning-feet syndrome) or a furry feeling.
Some sufferers complain that it is like absorbent cotton around the feet. These sensations can also be painful and cause an electric sensation (dysesthesia). A numbness feeling (hypaesthesia) is also a sensitivity disorder.
Another common symptom is a reduced vibration sensation (pallhypaethesia). Finally, the temperature sensation can also be altered so that temperature differences are no longer perceived correctly. The reflexes may also be reduced or extinguished. In addition, gait disorders can occur in the course of the disease due to the altered perception of the stimuli.
The localization of sensory disorders
Sensitivity disorders in the facial area can have many causes. Inflammations, multiple sclerosis or a stroke are possible here, which is usually accompanied by other symptoms such as paralysis. In the area of the face, however, sensations can also be early symptoms.
Sensory discomfort can be the first sign of shingles, which occurs when the chickenpox virus is reactivated and is usually followed by blisters, redness and severe pain. Even a sudden loss of hearing often starts with discomfort in the form of a furry sensation in the ear followed by a painless inner ear hearing loss. In the context of a migraine, sensory disturbances in the face can also occur, which precede the headaches and last for a maximum of one hour.
With each newly occurring facial sensation, a medical presentation is advisable. The feet are often affected by polyneuropathy. One of the most common causes is diabetes mellitus.
Typically, the disease persists for years. The symptoms are symmetric and sometimes a burning sensation can develop on the soles of the feet, which gets worse during the night. The same symptomatology can be found in long-term alcohol consumption.
A somewhat rarer disease is solvent-related polyneuropathy, which also shows the same clinical picture, but is directly related to contact with solvents. Another cause of sensitivity disorders in the foot could be a herniated disc. Typical symptoms are tingling, numbness and shooting pains on one side, which often extend from the lumbar region to the foot.
Paralysis and a reduction in reflexes can also occur in some cases. Finally, in the case of sensations in the toes and foot, one should consider a possible circulatory disorder (peripheral arterial occlusive disease). The main focus here is on the pain caused by movement, which can also persist at rest during the course of the disease.
One of the most common causes of sensory disturbances in the hand and fingers is carpal tunnel syndrome. In this syndrome, one of the nerves in the wrist is constricted, which supplies the hand, thumb, index finger and middle finger. This causes nightly pain and tingling in the hand, which often gets better by shaking the hand.
In up to 40% of cases this occurs on both sides. There are other bottleneck syndromes, i.e. constrictions of nerves, in the shoulder area and along the arm. These can cause sensitivity disorders in the form of tingling and pain, but also paralysis.
Herniated discs in the upper extremities can also be responsible for neurological symptoms. Polyneuropathies can manifest themselves on the hands, usually also symmetrically as in the feet. Finally, circulatory disturbances in the sense of a severe arterial occlusive disease, but also, for example, in Raynaud’s syndrome, can cause sensations in the fingers.
Sensitivity disorders of the thigh can be caused by a herniated disc in the area of the lumbar vertebrae 2 to 4. This can cause tingling, numbness, loss of strength and reflex reduction. A common cause of numbness and burning pain in the outer thigh is compression of the nerve for surface sensitivity of the thigh (meralgia paraesthetica). This symptom also belongs to the bottleneck syndrome and can have various causes.The most common are obesity, pregnancy, wearing tight pants or belts and strength training of the thigh or hip. You can find more about Meralgie paraesthetica here.
