What Causes Leg or Arm Numbness?

What Causes Leg Or Arm Numbness?

Leg or arm numbness can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'worrying' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

Diagnose your symptoms now!

check your overall health status
learn what you should be doing right now
identify any nutritional deficiencies

Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose leg or arm numbness, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "leg or arm numbness" as a symptom. Here are two possibilities:

Brain Tumor
Neuritis/Neuropathy

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

rapid loss of vision

history of brain cancer

seizures

numb/burning/tingling extremities

history of anorexia

frequent odd skin sensations

impaired ability to walk

paralysis not due to physical injury

loss of sensation

gradual decline in speaking ability

much reduced sense of smell

slightly reduced arm function

... and more than 10 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of leg or arm numbness:

Cause	Probability	Status
Brain Tumor	91%	Confirm
Neuritis/Neuropathy	71%	Possible

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

If you indicate unusual skin sensations, The Analyst™ will ask further questions including this one:

Have you experienced a gradual loss of sensation (numbness) in the arms or legs within the past year?

Possible responses:

→ No / don't know
→ Yes, but it was an episode more than a year ago
→ Yes, but it is improving now
→ Slight numbness, stable or getting worse
→ Significant numbness, stable or getting worse

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate history of leg/arm numbness, improving leg/arm numbness, continuing slight limb numbness or continuing significant limb numbness, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Brain Tumor

Gradual loss of sensation in an arm or leg (numbness) can be due to a brain tumor.

Neuritis/Neuropathy

Concerned or curious about your health? Try The Analyst™