Does numbness in my back mean I'm about to have a stroke?
1 answer
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Last updated: Sep 14, 2009
Q
Does having numbness in your arms, legs and back mean you are risking a stroke?
A
James Castle, M.D. is a neurologist at NorthShore University HealthSystem (affiliated with The University of Chicago) and an expert on strokes.
100% helpful
Having arm, leg, and back numbness could mean you are having a stroke. A large determinant is whether one side of the body is affected, or the whole body. If the numbness is contained to one side, this could certainly mean you are having a stroke - in this case, most likely a small stroke in a part of the brain called the "thalamus".
However, if the numbness is on both sides of the body, it is very unlikely to be a stroke. A spinal cord lesion or a peripheral nerve problem are more likely.
It sounds like you should see a neurologist, and soon. Determining which of these scenarios is at work is critically important in trying to fix the situation before it could get worse.
