You may experience numbness and tingling in the limbs if you leave your hand or foot in a single position for a long time. Often referred to as a limb "falling asleep," numbness and tingling sensations that occur due to no obvious stimulus are called paresthesias. Parasthesias occur more often among those who suffer from diabetes, hypothyroidism, alcoholism and malnutrition.
Injury
The most common cause of numbness while recumbent or supine -- keeping a limb in the same position for an extended period -- poses no danger. But an injury to a specific nerve may also cause numbness and tingling sensations. If the tingling occurs in the same area of your limb or occurs only when your keep your limb in a particular position, injury may be the cause. A herniated disk that puts pressure on specific spinal nerves may also cause the condition.
Underlying Medical Conditions
In some people, reduced blood supply to a limb can cause numbness. This is something that can occur due to cholesterol buildup in some arteries, or atherosclerosis. Abnormal levels of calcium or potassium or sodium in the body or a vitamin B12 deficiency can also lead to the numbness. Other conditions that have been found to cause this condition include stroke, carpal tunnel syndrome, seizures, multiple sclerosis, migraines and transient ischemic attack.
Additional Causes
Other conditions that can cause peripheral neuropathies leading to numbness and tingling sensation include drug abuse; alcoholic neuropathy associated with excessive and long-term drinking; uremia due to kidney failure; Colorado tick fever; Friedreich's ataxia; chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; and POEMS -- Polyneuropathy, Organomegaly, Endocrinopathy, Monoclonal gammopathy and Skin changes -- syndrome. Frostbite and chilblains may also cause this condition, but can be treated by exposing the affected area to a warmer environment.
Considerations
To fully understand the underlying reasons for numbness and tingling sensations in your body, you will need to check in with a physician. Make sure that you are prepared to answer a series of questions about precisely where the feeling occurs, whether it appeared suddenly or gradually worsened over time, and if the tingling wakes you up at night. You may need to make lifestyle changes if any of your behaviors trigger numbness in your arms and legs.
