When should i worry about my left arm tingling

When to seek medical advice

See your doctor if you experience intermittent numbness or tingling in one or both hands. Get emergency medical care if the numbness:

  • Began suddenly
  • Follows an injury or accident
  • Is accompanied by a sudden, severe headache
  • Is accompanied by weakness or paralysis
  • Is accompanied by confusion or difficulty speaking
  • Is accompanied by dizziness or lightheadedness

Find possible causes of numbness or tingling in hands based on specific factors. Check one or more factors on this page that apply to your symptom.

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Lots of things can cause numbness, tingling, and sometimes weakness in parts of your body. Many of them aren't serious. Your leg can "fall asleep" if you stay in one position too long. If you spend too much time using your phone, you might get these sensations in your hands or forearms.

But if these symptoms last a long time, get worse, or interfere with your daily life, you should see a doctor about them. If they happen suddenly, are intense, or you develop them just after an injury, you need medical help right away.

What Can Cause Tingling, Numbness, and Weakness?

Some of the things that can cause one or more of these symptoms are:

  • Nerve damage due to an injury, alcoholism, aging, or a condition like diabetes
  • Medicines, such as chemo drugs
  • Lead poisoning
  • A slipped disc or sciatica
  • Pressure on the spinal cord in your neck, often caused by aging or arthritis
  • Vitamin B deficiency
  • Shingles
  • Migraines
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Stroke

When to See Your Doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if:

  • Your symptoms come and go or gradually get worse.
  • The symptoms seem related to certain activities.
  • You're dizzy or have muscle spasms.
  • You have a rash.
  • Symptoms in your legs get worse as you walk.
  • Your symptoms affect both sides of your body.
  • You feel numbness in a specific part of your arm or leg, such as your fingers or toes.

When to Call 911

If you feel numbness or tingling soon after a head, neck, or back injury, get medical help right away. It's also an emergency if you lose consciousness even for a little while.

Someone should call 911 for you if:

  • You lose muscle control.
  • You're having trouble walking, talking, or thinking.
  • You can't move one side of your face.
  • The numbness or tingling started suddenly.
  • You suddenly feel weak or have severe pain.
  • You have trouble breathing.
  • The numbness is spreading in your body.
  • You're numb in your entire arm or leg, one whole side of your body, or everywhere below a certain level (like your chest).
  • You have a sudden or serious headache.
  • You lose control over your bladder or bowels.

Continued

What to Expect

To find out what's causing your symptoms, your doctor will ask you detailed questions about your medical history. They'll ask you about any injuries you've had and whether you've had recent illnesses or vaccinations. And they may ask about your lifestyle habits to see if you're at higher risk for certain health problems.

Give them as much information as possible about your symptoms and any medications you take, including over-the-counter ones.

Your doctor will also examine you. Depending on what they think might be causing your symptoms, they might order blood tests, toxicology screenings, or a test that uses electrodes to see how well your nerves are working. They may also order imaging tests, like X-rays, MRIs, or CT scans. They may also do a spinal tap to check for problems with your nervous system.

Pagination

Is tingling in left arm serious?

Seek emergency medical treatment immediately by calling 9-1-1 if your left arm suddenly goes numb, as this is a warning sign of stroke.

Should I go to the hospital if my arm is tingling?

Speaking of nerve damage, if the arm numbness is accompanied by tingling, then visiting an emergency room should follow for assessment. One should also ensure they head over to the emergency room immediately if the arm numbness is due to severe trauma such as burns, broken bones and deep, extensive cuts.

Does your left arm tingle before heart attack?

Left arm numbness may also be a sign of a heart attack. If it happens with changes in the left side of the face, this could indicate a stroke. Anyone with symptoms that suggest either of these issues needs immediate medical attention.

What would cause tingling in your left arm?

Arm numbness can occur for several reasons that range from mild causes, such as sleeping in the wrong position, to a severe medical condition, such as a heart attack. Sudden numbness in one or both arms may be a sign of a heart attack, stroke, or nerve damage, especially if a person has other symptoms.