Tingling in the face
A tingling sensation in the face is not typical for a circulatory disorder. Here, damage to the facial nerves is often the cause of a tingling sensation or pain. Furthermore, burns and frostbite can also lead to such sensations. More rarely, multiple sclerosis can be the cause. Another rare cause of facial discomfort can also be a tumor.
Tingling in the head
A tingling sensation in the head can be an indication of a circulatory disorder in the context of a stroke. A stroke results in a reduced supply of blood to an area of the brain. The cause is an arterial occlusion or, more rarely, a bleeding.
Characteristically, the symptoms begin suddenly. In addition, a tingling sensation in the head or face can herald a migraine attack. In rare cases, a tumor may be the cause.
The differential diagnoses
Carpal tunnel syndrome typically involves pain and other sensations, such as tingling, in the affected hand. The cause is a constriction of the median nerve. This nerve passes through the so-called carpal tunnel on the inside of the knuckles of the hand.
Due to the narrowness in this channel, the nerve can easily become trapped. In the beginning, the pain typically occurs at night in the middle and index finger. If the pain persists for a longer period of time, the musculature at the ball of the thumb also decreases.A common cause of carpal tunnel syndrome is overloading.
You can find more information about carpal tunnel syndrome here. Tarsal tunnel syndrome is basically the same as carpal tunnel syndrome. The only difference is that here the foot is affected instead of the hand.
The tibialis nerve, which supplies the foot, runs through the tarsal tunnel below the inner ankle. The tarsal tunnel forms a narrowing for the nerve, which can lead to nerve compression. This again leads to pain and sensation in the foot.
Although tarsal tunnel syndrome is not as common as carpal tunnel syndrome, there are a number of causes. On the one hand, shoes that are too tight can cause the complaints, but trauma to the foot, arthritis and other things can also be the cause. A herniated disc leads to a rupture of the inner core of the disc, which puts pressure on the nerve that exits the spinal cord at this height.
The discomfort caused by this can be very diverse. First of all, the area affected by the nerve may experience sensations such as tingling or numbness. In severe cases, paralysis of the leg is also possible.
In addition, there is pain of a stabbing, shooting character. Reflexes can also fail if necessary. In multiple sclerosis, inflammation of the myelin in the central nervous system, which surrounds the nerves like an envelope layer, occurs repeatedly.
The inflammation causes the myelin to break down and consequently the nerves are restricted. After the inflammation has subsided, the nerve damage can remain. The symptoms depend on which nerves are affected.
Among other things, sensations of discomfort, tingling and numbness are possible in all parts of the body. The optic nerve is often the first manifestation affected, so that a temporary deterioration of vision occurs. It usually occurs in adults during young adulthood.
MS should be considered when nerve damage occurs repeatedly in different parts of the body. More information about multiple sclerosis can be found here. Spinal canal stenosis is a narrowing of a nerve shortly after it leaves the spinal cord and passes through the spinal canal.
This constriction causes symptoms similar to those of a slipped disc. Typical, however, are movement-dependent pains that pull into the leg. Spinal canal stenoses are caused by back malformations/postures, injuries to the spine or signs of wear and tear.
TIA stands for transitory ischemic attack. Like a stroke, it results in an undersupply of a certain area of the brain. By definition, however, the symptoms disappear within an hour.
Depending on the area of the brain, the symptoms are very different. Sensations in the face or head are possible. Even if the symptoms of TIA disappear within an hour, a medical examination should be performed. This is because the risk of stroke after a TIA is significantly increased.
