Q. For the past eight years, I have had numbness in both feet and my right hand. I recently had foot surgery due to a bone displacement. I’d hoped that this might rectify the situation, but it has not.
The numbness is getting severe and there are times when I feel like I am walking on air, as there is no feeling whatsoever. It comes and goes but is becoming more and more frequent.
I just heard about zinc poisoning. I have been wearing dentures for about eight years, so I wonder if this could this be the source of my problem. I see my podiatrist tomorrow and would be grateful for any information you can provide.
A. Too much zinc can cause neuropathy; numbness is sometimes a symptom of this condition. Dental adhesives have traditionally contained zinc because it enhances the sticking power. Manufacturers are reformulating their products so look for a denture cream without zinc.
