Numbness and tingling in your hands or feet is easy to dismiss, but if your fingers fall asleep at the keyboard or your toes feel like they are buzzing for no reason, you are not imagining it. At The Spine and Wellness Center in Coral Springs, Dr. Jared Cohen sees patients from across Coral Springs and Parkland every week who describe these pins-and-needles sensations. The medical term is paresthesia, and while it is rarely an emergency, it is almost always a sign that a nerve somewhere is being irritated or compressed.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jared Cohen, DC · Updated June 2026

What numbness and tingling actually mean

Numbness and tingling are forms of paresthesia, a disruption in the normal signaling of a nerve. When a nerve is pinched, stretched, or inflamed, it can fire abnormally, producing sensations like buzzing, prickling, burning, or a limb that feels asleep. These sensations can come and go, or they can become constant, and they often follow the path of the specific nerve that is affected.

Understanding where the symptom starts is the key to treating it. Paresthesia in the hands and feet can originate in the spine, where nerve roots exit the spinal column, or out in the limbs themselves, where nerves can be compressed at the wrist, elbow, or ankle. Sorting out spinal versus peripheral causes is the first thing we do during an evaluation.

Common signs and symptoms

Patients describe paresthesia in many ways, and the pattern often hints at the source. Watch for the following:

• Pins-and-needles or a limb that repeatedly falls asleep
• Burning, prickling, or an electric-shock sensation down an arm or leg
• Tingling in specific fingers or toes rather than the whole hand or foot
• Weakness, clumsiness, or a weakened grip
• Symptoms that worsen with certain positions, such as bending the neck or resting on a wrist
• Numbness that follows a clear line or band down the limb

Spine causes versus peripheral causes

When numbness and tingling start in the spine, the usual culprit is a nerve root being compressed where it exits between the vertebrae. A bulging or herniated disc, bone spurs from degeneration, or narrowing of the nerve openings can all press on a nerve root. Pressure in the neck commonly sends symptoms into the hands; pressure in the lower back commonly sends them into the feet.

Peripheral causes happen out in the limb. Carpal tunnel syndrome compresses the nerve at the wrist, cubital tunnel syndrome compresses it at the elbow, and similar entrapments can occur in the lower leg and ankle. Posture, repetitive motion, and prolonged pressure on a joint all contribute. A careful exam, orthopedic testing, and a review of your symptom pattern help us separate a pinched nerve in the spine from a nerve being squeezed elsewhere.

Red flags that need prompt attention

Most numbness and tingling is mechanical and responds well to conservative care, but some warning signs deserve urgent medical evaluation. Sudden numbness on one side of the body, facial drooping, slurred speech, loss of bladder or bowel control, or rapidly progressing weakness can signal a serious problem and should be treated as an emergency. If your symptoms appear after a significant fall or accident, get evaluated right away.

How we evaluate and treat it

At our Coral Springs office, the process starts with listening. Dr. Cohen reviews your history, the pattern and timing of your symptoms, and the activities that make them better or worse. A hands-on exam with neurological and orthopedic testing helps pinpoint whether the irritated nerve sits in the spine or the limb, and imaging is ordered when it will change the plan.

When the source is in the spine, gentle chiropractic care aims to restore motion and reduce pressure on the irritated nerve root. For disc-related compression, spinal decompression therapy can gently create space between the vertebrae, helping take the load off the nerve so the buzzing and numbness can settle. Targeted pinched nerve treatment, soft-tissue work, and corrective exercise round out a plan built for your specific case. Patients from Coral Springs, Parkland, Coconut Creek, and Margate appreciate that this approach is drug-free and non-invasive.

What you can do at home

Small daily changes often reduce nerve irritation between visits. Try these:

• Take frequent breaks from typing, scrolling, or repetitive tasks
• Keep wrists neutral and avoid leaning on your elbows for long periods
• Set up your workstation so your screen is at eye level and shoulders relaxed
• Move regularly through the day instead of sitting in one position
• Use gentle stretches for the neck, shoulders, and wrists as guided by your provider

When to see us in Coral Springs

If numbness and tingling in your hands or feet has lasted more than a week or two, keeps returning, or is starting to affect your grip, sleep, or daily activities, it is worth getting checked. The Spine and Wellness Center has served Coral Springs and Parkland since 2005, offers same-day appointments, and accepts most major insurance. Call (954) 341-2256 to find out what is driving your symptoms and how to calm them.