BURNING: Causes, Treatment, and Relief | spineTech Beaumont & Woodlands, TX
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BURNING

Burning, numbness, and tingling in your extremities could be signs of serious problems with your spine or neurological system. The physicians at Spinetech, located in Beaumont, Conroe, Nederland, and Houston, Texas, have experience with assessing these sensations and diagnosing the cause of your discomfort. For an evaluation, call the office nearest you or book an appointment online.

WHAT IS BURNING, NUMBNESS, AND TINGLING?

Burning, numbness, and tingling are words that describe sensations often associated with impaired circulation, nerve damage, or nerve injury. These terms can describe how you feel when an extremity “falls asleep.”
 

Sharp, shooting pain is often described as “burning.” Numbness and tingling can also be described as “pins and needles.”

WHAT CAUSES A BURNING SENSATION?

Burning pain is most often due to damaged nerves, or neuropathy. Chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, Lyme disease, HIV, kidney disease, and alcoholism can cause long-term neuropathy.

Other possible causes of nerve damage, or neuropathy, include:

  • Bulging or herniated disc

  • Spinal stenosis

  • Cervical radiculopathy or pinched nerve of the neck

  • Sciatica or pinched nerve of the low back

These spinal conditions can cause burning pain that extends down the legs, the front of the thighs, buttocks, shoulder, and arm. Other causes of burning may be nerve compression from sports-related impacts or whiplash.

WHAT CAUSES NUMBNESS OR TINGLING?

Numbness and tingling are often due to nerves being compressed, irritated, or inflamed. They can also occur when circulation is impaired, causing a lack of oxygen to tissues, which hinders nerve signals from flowing properly.

Numbness and tingling is a symptom of a variety of conditions, including:

  • Stroke

  • Blood clots

  • Pinched nerves

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Herniated disc

  • Degenerative disc

  • Spinal stenosis

  • Shingles

  • Bell’s Palsy

If you have a sudden onset of numbness or tingling in your face or extremities, especially with paralysis or loss of consciousness, you should seek immediate medical attention.

HOW IS BURNING, NUMBNESS, AND TINGLING TREATED?

Your neurologist initially performs a thorough assessment of your symptoms by taking a detailed health history. They perform a neurologic exam and likely order a series of diagnostic studies.

Depending on your symptoms, they may order:

  • Computerized tomography (CT): to evaluate soft tissue and internal structures

  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): to evaluate structures and blood vessels

  • Electromyography (EMG): to assess nerve impulses and muscle function

  • Vertebral mobility analysis (VMA): to assess movement and effect of movement of the spine

 

X-rays, blood tests, ultrasound, and other studies may be used to help diagnose and plan treatment for the underlying cause of your symptoms.

For a complete assessment of your burning, tingling, and numbness, call or book an appointment online with Spinetech today.

REQUEST AN APPOINTMENT
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