Which doctor will treat this?
When choosing a doctor, the cause of the numbness is important. For most of those affected, the family doctor is the first point of contact. If a herniated disc is suspected, the person concerned is referred to an orthopedic surgeon.
A multiple sclerosis, neuroborelliosis or a stroke are among the diseases which are further treated by neurologists. In the case of tension, the family doctor can often help himself or the affected person is prescribed massages or physiotherapy. If the tension is caused by chronic stress or is psychosomatic, a specialist in psychosomatic medicine can also help.
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Neuroborelliosis
- Stroke
Duration
The duration of the numbness depends on the cause. In the case of tension, the numbness is over as soon as the pressure on the nerve eases. Slipped discs often last much longer.
Even after operations, it is possible that an area of skin remains numb. With strokes, early treatment is important. With timely treatment, the symptoms can disappear immediately.
In MS, the numbness usually lasts for a few days and then disappears again until the next episode, which can also affect other parts of the body. Tension is usually a completely regressive disease. Those affected often have to struggle with a herniated disc for many years. Neuroborelliosis or meningitis must be treated quickly and can either heal completely or, in extreme cases, end fatally.Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, progressive disease which is not curable. Since there are different forms of MS, it cannot be clearly stated how long those affected can live independently.
Numbness while cycling
When cycling, especially on a road bike, the body posture is very stressful for the back. The affected person bends forward permanently and must simultaneously exert a lot of force through the legs. This posture can damage the intervertebral discs and can only cause problems at the beginning when the load in question occurs. If the load is sustained, the complaints can also occur independently of cycling. Simple city bikes or Dutch bicycles are more gentle on the back because the back remains straight.
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