Vegetative dystonia has many manifestations, for example, some patients experience numbness in the tongue due to VSD, a sore throat or disturbances in the processes of digestion and breathing. Many patients with numbness in the limbs, head or tongue use remedies to eliminate these symptoms, but they do not completely get rid of the problem.
Effective treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia is based on eliminating the causes of the disorder. Thus, modern specialists have developed a set of methods to relieve nervous tension and reduce the production of adrenaline, which is one of the causes of unpleasant sensations. Neurologists, psychotherapists, cardiologists, and exercise therapy instructors provide high-quality treatment for VSD, which has various manifestations.
Numbness of the tongue
When the functions of the autonomic nervous system are disrupted, blood pressure changes, muscle tone increases, and blood vessels narrow. The resulting spasms lead to the tongue going numb during VSD. The cause of discomfort may be excessive production of adrenaline by the adrenal glands.
Numbness of the tongue can occur due to emotional stress, compression of blood vessels due to cervical osteochondrosis, as well as pathologies of the cardiovascular system. The patient's condition with VSD worsens as a result of worries due to numbness of the tongue and face. To normalize psycho-emotional standing and treat VSD, you should contact a specialist who will select safe and effective means.
Neurologists at the Yusupov Hospital have extensive experience in treating various types of vegetative-vascular dystonia. When a patient comes in with complaints of numbness of the tongue, a feeling of a lump in the throat, a diagnosis is carried out. The main diagnostic methods for VSD are:
- general examination of the patient;
- blood and urine tests;
- palpation;
- Magnetic resonance imaging.
Treatment of VSD at the Yusupov Hospital is carried out according to an individual program, which is developed by highly qualified specialists.
Why does my tongue go numb?
External reasons
Short-term numbness of the tongue is provoked by the consumption of certain foods. The tip of the tongue often goes numb in heavy smokers. Sometimes the symptom occurs when drinking strong alcoholic drinks, in a state of intoxication. In young children, a temporary decrease in sensitivity may be caused by compression of the tongue when trying to insert it into small cavities, for example, a tube or a construction element.
Dental manipulations
The tongue becomes numb for a short time after dental anesthesia; normally, sensitivity is completely restored after a few hours. If the rules of the procedure are violated, the symptom may persist for a long time. Long-term paresthesia is sometimes observed after the removal of wisdom teeth, near which there are branches of sensory nerves.
Constant numbness often worries people with metal dentures and fillings. The reason is the interaction of several metals in a liquid medium. Under the influence of saliva, a galvanic current is produced, which irritates the mucous membrane, causing paresthesia and numbness.
Other medical effects
Taking medications with anesthetics (throat sprays, bellasthesin, which eliminates stomach pain) causes numbness of the tongue lasting up to several minutes. More severe reactions occur with the development of neurological complications of local anesthesia due to the absorption of a large amount of the drug or its erroneous injection into a vein. Numbness of the tongue and oral cavity is accompanied by dizziness, metallic taste, ringing in the ears, and tremors. Convulsions, disturbances of consciousness and speech are possible.
When performing a behind-the-ear blockade, numbness of the tongue is observed normally; it is a marker indicating that the needle has hit the right place. May persist for 24 hours after the procedure and may be associated with slight dizziness. Long-term or permanent loss of sensitivity sometimes results from operations on the ENT organs and facial structures and is associated with compression or mechanical damage to the nerves.
Numbness of the tongue
Glossalgia
It manifests itself as constant or periodic numbness, rawness, tingling, burning of the tongue. Symptoms become more pronounced during a conversation, with excitement and fatigue, and decrease while eating. The tongue and oral mucosa are not changed. Glossalgia is a functional disorder that often develops in patients with neuroses, depression, and psychosomatic diseases. Secondary glossalgia is provoked by the following conditions:
- Diseases of the digestive system
: gastritis, cholecystitis, hepatitis, pancreatitis. - Endocrine pathologies
: hypothyroidism, Itsenko-Cushing's disease, diabetes mellitus. - Damage to the central nervous system
: condition after ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, neurosyphilis. - Diseases of peripheral nerves
: sympathalgia, damage to the hypoglossal autonomic ganglion and glossopharyngeal nerve. - Connective tissue diseases
: dermatomyositis, scleroderma.
Glossodynia
Numbness, burning, tingling, itching, crawling sensation and the presence of hair are bilateral in nature, occurring on the tip or anterior 2/3 of the tongue, less often in the root area. At the initial stage, the attack lasts several minutes. Over a long period of time, the area of discomfort increases. Severe paresthesia persists for several hours; even outside an attack, patients are bothered by constant discomfort. Hyposalivation is often observed. Glossodynia is caused by:
- Gastrointestinal diseases
: colitis, gastritis, cholecystitis, pancreatitis, peptic ulcer. - Endocrine disorders
: diabetes mellitus, thyroid pathologies. - Pathologies of the heart and blood vessels
: ischemic heart disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis. - Diseases of the nervous system
: vegetative-vascular dystonia.
Desquamative glossitis
The disease may be asymptomatic or accompanied by numbness, tingling, and burning. Areas of whitish-gray plaque form on the tongue, in place of which red or bright pink smooth spots form. The affected areas quickly become covered with epithelium and are replaced by other lesions, so the appearance of the tongue is constantly changing.
Nervous diseases
Numbness of the anterior sections of the tongue develops when the third branch of the trigeminal nerve is damaged, the posterior sections are damaged by the glossopharyngeal nerve, and the root is damaged by the vagus nerve. The cause of damage is trauma, compression by a tumor or inflammatory infiltrate, or germination by malignant neoplasia. After irradiation for oncological processes, radiation neuralgia is possible. In addition, impaired sensitivity of the tongue is detected in the following diseases of the nervous system:
- Stroke.
The symptom appears suddenly, complemented by muscle weakness and sensitivity disorders of half the body, speech disorders, and facial asymmetry. - Epilepsy.
Numbness of the tongue is detected as part of the aura before partial attacks. May be combined with dizziness, weakness, nausea, drowsiness, chest pain, ringing and noise in the ears, and a feeling of a lump in the throat. - Acute encephalopathy.
The pathology is provoked by intoxications and dysmetabolic disorders. It manifests itself as numbness of the tongue, severe headache, unsteadiness of gait, vomiting, and visual disturbances. - Neurocardiogenic syncope.
The symptom occurs before fainting, lasts no more than 2 minutes, and is accompanied by nausea, dizziness, auditory and visual disturbances, anxiety, and a feeling of imminent fall.
Other reasons
The list of other pathological conditions accompanied by numbness of the tongue includes:
- Parasitic diseases
. The symptom accompanies many helminthic infestations, and is especially often found with ascariasis and acariasis. - Emergency conditions
. Loss of tongue sensation is observed in victims with delayed cyanide poisoning. Complemented by a metallic taste, pain and heaviness in the heart area. Gives way to convulsions and subsequent paralysis. - Mental disorders
. Numbness of the tongue sometimes occurs during panic attacks. Some patients with hysterical neurosis complain of paresthesia and sensory disturbances.
Sore throat
Discomfort and sore throat with VSD occurs due to spasms of the muscles of the pharynx and larynx. If patients feel a lump in the throat during VSD, an experienced neurologist at the Yusupov Hospital will tell you how to get rid of this symptom.
A sore throat occurs in patients with VSD during the daytime. Many people experience serious stress when this symptom appears, as they consider discomfort in grief to be a manifestation of dangerous diseases, such as a malignant tumor or goiter of the thyroid gland. To eliminate throat discomfort, many people prefer to drink water, which brings temporary relief, but to completely eliminate the symptom, it is necessary to get rid of the root cause.
Numbness as a symptom
Numbness can be caused by:
- pinched nerve. A pinched nerve can occur at the point where it exits the spinal canal ( radicular syndrome
).
Therefore, numbness is a typical symptom of osteochondrosis and other spinal diseases. The nerve can also be pinched in other areas. Pinching of a nerve in its natural canal (tunnel) is defined as tunnel syndrome
.
The most common is carpal tunnel syndrome
(a pinched nerve in the wrist).
In this case, the fingers go numb. Office work (using a keyboard and mouse) contributes to the development of the disease. Also quite common is ulnar nerve neuropathy
, the development of which is facilitated by the need for prolonged support with the elbow (typical of working at a computer).
Wearing a belt, pressing the thigh against the edge of the table, or inconvenient objects in pockets can lead to pinching of the external cutaneous nerve of the thigh ( Roth disease
) - the most common foot tunnel syndrome; - injury. Trauma can disrupt the integrity of nerve fibers, resulting in loss of sensation in the area supplied by the damaged nerve;
problems of peripheral circulation. For example, the development of atherosclerosis of the vessels of the lower extremities leads to disruption of the blood supply to the legs (primarily the feet). A lack of fresh blood flow manifests itself as pale skin, a local decrease in body temperature, and numbness. Numbness may also accompany a violation of the venous outflow of blood (chronic venous insufficiency);- anemia (decreased hemoglobin in the blood). The reasons may be problems with the intake or absorption of iron, vitamins (B12, folic acid);
- polyneuropathy - multiple lesions of peripheral nerves. Polyneuropathy can be a consequence of diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, poisoning, long-term use of certain medications, autoimmune diseases, metabolic disorders and other systemic pathologies;
- diseases of the central nervous system - such as brain tumors, cerebrovascular accidents, multiple sclerosis.
Sweating
Excessive sweating with VSD is a common symptom in which people try to get rid of the problem on their own. Self-medication for vegetative-vascular dysfunction can lead to the development of other manifestations of VSD.
Disorders in the functioning of the nervous system cause excessive sweating, which makes a person feel insecure. A lump in the throat with VSD and other symptoms if left untreated can cause consequences. Thus, with increased sweating, a favorable environment is created for the development of infections. The protective functions of the skin gradually deteriorate, so the skin can be affected by fungus.
To reduce sweating, specialists at the Yusupov Hospital recommend that patients get rid of bad habits, adhere to proper nutrition, and maintain a daily routine. During sessions, psychotherapists at the Yusupov Hospital help patients reduce anxiety and learn to relax.
What other diseases cause numbness in hands, feet and tongue?
Lesions of the cervical, cranial, and lumbar nerves can cause numbness. But in addition to this, other symptoms are usually present: pain, tingling, dysfunction (claudication, arm weakness, slowness and blurred speech).
Metabolic diseases can also cause changes in sensitivity, including numbness of body parts. If you often limit yourself to meat, fish, eggs, and do not supplement your diet with synthetic vitamin B12, then this can cause metabolic disorders and cause weakness in your arms and legs.
Loss of sensation in the left hand may be one of the classic symptoms of myocardial infarction. At the same time, the general condition worsens, the person looks very pale or, on the contrary, turns red, dizziness or headache, a feeling of heaviness in the chest or a burning sensation appears.
A hernia in one part of the spine can put pressure on a nerve, causing pain or loss of sensation.
Decreased sensation in the feet can be a complication of diabetes. This is one of the first signs of diabetic foot and should be reported to your doctor as soon as possible.
Advantages of treatment at the Yusupov Hospital
The Yusupov Multidisciplinary Hospital is a modern medical institution that maintains the tradition of attentive treatment and respect for each patient, which is especially important in the treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia.
During consultations with patients complaining of a lump in the throat due to VSD, specialists from the Yusupov Hospital clearly explain how to get rid of the unpleasant sensations. When treating patients, only proven methods are used, so the services provided meet international standards.
The therapy program, compiled by highly qualified specialists at the Yusupov Hospital, allows patients to be relieved of the main disorder and its manifestations, such as dry throat during VSD, increased anxiety, profuse sweating, numbness of the tongue, disruption of the gastrointestinal tract, and panic attacks.
If you experience discomfort in the throat, numbness of the tongue or other unpleasant symptoms, contact the clinic to determine the cause. Pre-registration for a consultation with specialists allows patients to choose the most convenient time and avoid queues. Make an appointment with specialists at the Yusupov Hospital.
Bilateral and unilateral numbness
When the glossopharyngeal nerve is damaged, the root of the tongue becomes numb or sensation loss occurs on one side of the organ. In addition, salivation will be impaired, pain will appear in the ear, oral organs, and tonsils. Nerve damage, in turn, is caused by injuries, infections, and tumors.
Loss of sensitivity on the sides of the organ or only on one side may indicate osteochondrosis, which means that a nerve has been compressed in the cervical spine. Other possible reasons include:
- laryngeal cancer;
- touching a nerve during tooth extraction or other operations in the oral cavity;
- laryngeal carcinoma.
Psychogenic disorders also provoke paresthesia on both sides of the tongue. This alarming condition can be accompanied by several symptoms:
- sweating;
- dizziness;
- discomfort in the solar plexus area.
Numbness of the tip of the tongue
Numbness of the tongue is a rather unpleasant phenomenon. The danger to a person is not the discomfort itself, but the reason that caused it. Characteristic symptoms can be felt both at the very tip and on the sides of the tongue. In this case, the following are observed:
- feeling of cold on the mucous membrane of the tongue
- burning
- tingling
- pinching
- slight itching sensation inside the tongue
If such symptoms recur repeatedly, with varying or equal intensity, it is recommended to seek medical help.
Which doctor should I contact?
If your tongue becomes numb, you should consult a dentist, family doctor or therapist. Once diagnosed, treatment is aimed at eliminating the cause of paresthesia. You may need help with this:
- cardiologist
- gastroenterologist
- surgeon
- endocrinologist
- neurologist
Further therapy depends on the diagnosis and doctor's prescription. It may include taking vitamins, medications, physiotherapy, massage, or surgery.
