There are many different issues that may cause numbness on the right side of the body. One of the most common causes is a stroke. Multiple sclerosis is another condition that may cause numbness, and palsies may be at fault as well. Numbness on one side of the body can be a sign of a serious problem, and an individual who has this problem may do well to seek the help of a medical professional.
A stroke is one of the many conditions that may lead to numbness on the right side of the body. An individual has a stroke when blood flow to the brain is blocked or impaired. In such a case, the brain suffers from a deprivation of both oxygen and nourishment, and brain cells may die as a result. Numbness caused by a stroke can affect either side of the body, depending on where in the brain the stroke occurs. Other symptoms include trouble balancing and walking, speech problems, confusion, visual problems, and headaches.
Multiple sclerosis is an inflammatory condition that affects a patient’s brain and spinal cord and is often debilitating. Numbness that affects one side of the body may occur as a symptom of this condition. Other symptoms may include weakness of one side or part of the body, vision problems, tingling sensations, and tremors. A person may also experience tremors and extreme fatigue as symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
An individual also may experience numbness on the right side of the body because of a palsy. A palsy is a condition marked by weakness, numbness, or paralysis of a part of the body. For example, a person may develop Bell’s palsy that affects the right side of his face. In addition to numbness, a person with this condition may experience drooping of the face, pain in the jaw, pain behind the ear, headaches, and changes in taste. Often, a person with this condition will also experience changes in tear and saliva production.
Numbness on either side of the body may be a sign of a serious condition. In fact, it may even accompany a life-threatening medical problem. For this reason, a person with this symptom may benefit from the advice and evaluation of a medical professional.
Can Anxiety Cause Numbness on Right Side of Body?
Anxiety can cause many side effects: heart palpitations, upset stomach, dizziness and even numbness, whether in the face, hands, feet, arms or legs. During the height of an anxiety or panic attack, numbness can be experienced throughout the body and can sometimes be on one side of the body. In most instances of a panic attack, however, the numbness does not occur on only one side of the body, so such an issue can be the symptom of an underlying condition that is not related to anxiety. If you are experiencing continued numbness that is only on the right side of your body, you could be dealing with one of the issues mentioned above (stroke, MS and palsy) and should consult your physician.
Can Stress Cause Numbness on Right Side of Face?
There are many things that can cause stress in your life, whether you're dealing with a tough job, having a difficult time in school, sorting through conflict in your family or experiencing another issue. Like anxiety, such stress can manifest in many physical symptoms:
- Physical discomfort and tension such as body aches and pain
- Chest discomfort and feeling like you can't breathe
- Heart palpitations
- Fatigue and difficulty sleeping
- Lower sex drive
- Upset stomach and digestive issues
- Dizziness and jitters
- Numbness in limbs, face, hands and feet
However, experiencing many of these symptoms, such as numbness on the right side of your face, might not just be the result of overwhelming stress in your life. There are several conditions that cause facial numbness, such as shingles, transient ischemic attacks, tumors or a brain aneurysm. Even if you are under a lot of stress in your life presently, if you have numbness on the right side of your face that isn't going away, you should go to the doctor and make sure that the numbness is not caused by one of the aforementioned conditions or something else.
What Can Cause Numbness on the Right Side of My Thigh?
Numbness in the legs can be the result of many things, whether sleeping in a weird position, crossing your legs for too long or even an injury. However, constant numbness on the right side of your thigh might be an indicator that you have meralgia paresthetica. This condition affects the outer part of your thigh and manifests as numbness, tingling and a burning sensation in the outer thigh, particularly on one side of the body. The common causes of this condition include:
Treating Meralgia Paresthetica
Though meralgia paresthetica can be very uncomfortable, there are ways that you can relieve it. Wearing looser clothing may reduce the pain. Losing any excess weight that you've gained or taking over-the-counter medications like Advil, Tylenol or Motrin might also offer some relief.
If your meralgia paresthetica persists for a few months and your pain is not getting better, then you should go to your doctor to rule out any other conditions that might be causing the numbness and pain in your thigh. You can also talk to your doctor about prescribing stronger medications to alleviate the pain or, if you don't want a prescription, consider corticosteroid injections.
In rare circumstances, people whose meralgia paresthetica symptoms persist for a long time and who are in a lot of pain opt for surgery to decompress the affected nerves. This is a rare occurrence, though, and like most surgical interventions should be the last resort for you if nothing else works and you've talked with your doctor about it.