What causes menopausal numbness? Is it dangerous if it’s only on one side?

Menopause can cause numbness in hands and feet

During menopause , a sudden decrease in female hormones disrupts the regulatory function of the autonomic nervous system, and symptoms similar to autonomic imbalance may occur.

Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet is one of the symptoms of menopause. The appearance of menopausal symptoms varies from person to person. Some people are so mild that they hardly notice them, while others are so severe that they interfere with their daily lives and are diagnosed as “menopausal disorders.”

Menopausal symptoms are seen not only in women but also in men. Even during andropause, numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, headaches, stiff shoulders, fatigue, inability to get rid of fatigue, insomnia, hot flashes, hot flashes, sweating, cold hands and feet, etc. In addition, it seems that sexual function symptoms such as decreased libido, decreased energy, and ED are seen.

However, if numbness occurs on one side of the body, it is not related to menopause, and it may be hidden a life-threatening disease such as cerebrovascular disease, so caution is required.

Causes of numbness in menopause

Here are some of the causes of numbness during menopause.

Menopausal symptoms due to decreased estrogen (female hormone)

During menopause, the secretion of estrogen (ovarian hormone), a female hormone, drops sharply, and the hormonal balance changes dramatically.

Estrogen is a hormone that supports women’s health and beauty, and the body is damaged by a sudden decrease in secretion. The autonomic nerves are disturbed, resulting in poor blood circulation, muscle tension, and numbness in the hands and feet.

It is also said that when estrogen decreases, the skin becomes thinner and more susceptible to dryness, making it more sensitive to irritation and more prone to numbness.

In Oriental medicine, the balance of “qi (energy source for life activities)”, “blood (blood that delivers nutrients to the whole body)” and “water (bodily fluids other than blood)” is important. It is said that when the autonomic nerves are disturbed and the “qi” becomes stagnant, the flow of “blood” becomes worse and numbness occurs.

If the numbness is due to menopausal symptoms, the following symptoms can be seen:

• numbness in limbs
• numbness in hands and feet
• A tingling sensation on the surface of the skin
• Fingers move involuntarily

In addition to numbness in the hands and feet, symptoms of menopause include sudden sweating, hot flashes, dizziness, nausea, irritability, and persistent depression. These symptoms may be due to menopause.

Tenosynovitis

Tenosynovitis is a disease in which a tendon rubs against a tendon sheath, causing inflammation at the base of a finger. Inflammation causes numbness, swelling, warmth, and pain.

“ Spring fingers ,’ ‘ in which the fingers become spring-like or become stuck and unable to straighten out, and “De Quervain’s disease,” in which the wrist becomes painful, are types of tenosynovitis.

Tenosynovitis is caused by long-term use of smartphones or excessive use of the wrist, and is seen in people who have a lot of work or work that puts a strain on the wrist, or who often use their fingers for keyboard operations.

neck disease

In diseases such as cervical spondylosis and cervical spondylotic radiculopathy that deform the bones of the neck due to the effects of aging, nerves may be compressed and numbness may occur.

These diseases are characterized by strong numbness in the left hand when the head is tilted to the left with the head facing upward, and numbness in the right hand when the head is tilted to the right.

carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition caused by compression of the median nerve that runs from the wrist to the middle of the palm. Numbness and pain from thumb to little finger.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in women, and when the median nerve is compressed due to hormonal imbalance during pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, etc., or overuse of the hands, numbness and pain occur in the fingers.

When it gets worse, fine work becomes difficult, and there is a possibility that it will interfere with daily life. Resting the affected area is important, and the common treatment is to use drugs to reduce inflammation.

Heberden’s nodule and Bouchard’s nodule

After menopause, many women complain of finger troubles. Deformation, numbness, pain, and swelling of the finger joints are caused by ” Heberden’s nodules ” in the first joints of the fingers, and “Bouchard’s nodules” in which these symptoms occur in the second joints of the fingers, resulting in numbness. It is also possible that there are.

Although the direct cause is unknown, it is believed that factors such as aging, diet, overuse of the fingers, and genetics are intertwined in a complex manner.

Furthermore, recent studies have revealed that female hormones are deeply involved in Heberden’s nodules and Bouchard’s nodules.

The female hormone estrogen plays a role in protecting the synovial membrane around tendons and joints. However, during menopause, estrogen decreases, causing inflammation and swelling in tendons and joints, causing numbness, stiffness, and pain in the fingers.

Menopausal numbness and how to deal with it

Here are some remedies and remedies for menopausal numbness.

treatment of the underlying disease

If the numbness in the hands and feet is caused by tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, Heberden’s nodes, or Bouchard’s nodes, these conditions should be treated.

Pain relievers, steroid injections, vitamin B12, drug therapy using neuropathic pain medications, taping, etc. are used for treatment. Surgery may be indicated if drug therapy does not relieve symptoms or if symptoms worsen.

improvement of blood circulation

Poor blood circulation can also lead to numbness in the limbs. In that case, you should improve blood circulation and prevent blood stagnation.

Massaging and taking in nutrients such as vitamin E, which improves blood circulation, and vitamin C, which keeps blood vessels in good condition, also lead to improved blood circulation.

keep your body cool

When you cool your body, the blood circulation will be bad, the blood and fascia will be hard, and the nerves will be easy to pressure.

In the summer, you may often finish your bathing with a shower, but if you soak in the bathtub and warm your body from the core, it will lead to improved blood circulation. It’s best to use lukewarm water, around 38-40°C, rather than hot water.

Also, in the summer, air conditioners can make you feel too cold, so you can prevent yourself from getting cold by wearing a layer of clothing to control your body temperature and avoiding food that cools your body.

relax the muscles

If you have numbness in your legs, you may have tense muscles in your buttocks. In addition, when the muscles around the collarbone and shoulder blade are tense, the hand may become numb.

It is also recommended to incorporate yoga and stretching to loosen the muscles.

moderate exercise

Incorporating moderate exercise and moving your body will help promote blood circulation.

It is said that moderate exercise is effective for numbness, paresthesia, irritability, maintenance and improvement of bone density, improvement of muscle strength, blood lipids and bone function.

In addition, exercise has many benefits, such as a sense of accomplishment, exhilaration, stress relief, relaxation effects, and the ability to regulate sleep rhythms.

take equol

Equol intake is recommended for the early symptoms of numbness associated with menopause . Equol is a substance that is metabolized by intestinal bacteria from daidzein, which is contained in soy isoflavones, and acts like a female hormone.

However, not all people can produce equol, and 50% of Japanese people cannot produce equol in their bodies.

Even if you cannot produce equol yourself, you can take equol by using supplements and foods on the market.

Supplements containing equol are said to be effective in alleviating menopausal symptoms.

herbal medicine

In the case of menopausal symptoms and numbness due to menopausal disorders, there is also a method of treatment with Chinese medicine .

Select a herbal medicine that fundamentally improves the cause of poor blood flow to the peripheral nerves, such as coldness and swelling that cause numbness in the limbs, according to the symptoms.

When the blood flow improves, gastrointestinal function also recovers, and by delivering nutrients and oxygen to the whole body, there are many benefits such as getting a body that is less likely to get tired and get sick.

 

Chinese herbal medicine used for menopausal numbness

 

• Goshajinkigan : For people who have numbness, feel cold easily, and have symptoms such as swelling.
• Sokeikaketsuto : For people with cold joint pain, lumbago and neuralgia
• Keishikajutsubuto : For people with joint pain, neuralgia, cold hands and feet, and stiffness.

It is often thought that it is difficult to choose a Kampo medicine that perfectly matches your symptoms and constitution, but in ” Online AI Kampo “, AI guides you to the Kampo medicine that is perfect for you based on the symptoms you are worried about. .
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Beware of numbness on one side

If only one side of the body is numb, there is a possibility that other diseases are hiding instead of menopausal symptoms.

• nausea
• severe headache
• muscle weakness
• disturbance of consciousness
• speech impediment
• visual field abnormality, etc.

If you experience numbness in your hands and feet along with the above symptoms, or if you feel numbness in your hands and feet without doing anything, see a doctor immediately for a detailed examination.

Possible diseases when one side is numb

From here, we will introduce the diseases that can be considered when one side is numb.

Cerebrovascular disorder (cerebral infarction, stroke)

The most feared type of numbness is caused by cerebrovascular disease (cerebral infarction, stroke).

It is mainly characterized by numbness on one side of the body, such as one hand or one leg, and a feeling of numbness for several minutes when waking up in the morning or during exercise.

Arteriosclerosis makes it easier for blood vessels to become clogged, and if blood supply to the brain is insufficient, temporary numbness or paralysis of the limbs, speech disturbance (slurred speech), etc. may occur. Other symptoms include numbness around the mouth, headache, dizziness, nausea, paralysis, double vision, difficulty walking, disturbance of consciousness, and muscle weakness.

This is often caused by a “transient ischemic attack” and is considered to be a precursor to cerebral infarction, cerebral thrombosis, or brain tumor, so you cannot feel relieved just because you are feeling better right away.

Even if it’s a mild numbness, it’s a good idea to get checked at a hospital just in case.

diabetes (diabetic neuropathy)

Continuing high blood sugar due to diabetes causes nerve damage due to stagnation of blood flow, leading to numbness. Tingling, tingling, tingling, tingling, and throbbing sensations of numbness are often seen.

mononeuritis multiplex

Vasculitis (vasculitis syndrome), sarcoidosis, diabetes, rheumatism, and cancer can cause mononeuritis multiplex, which can block nerve endings and cause numbness in the hands and feet.

If you feel numbness, see a doctor as soon as possible

Numbness is a common symptom of menopause, but it is also possible that serious diseases such as cerebrovascular disease are hidden.

In any case of numbness, it is important to go to the hospital at an early stage without self-judgment and undergo a doctor’s examination and detailed examination.