DCN Primary and Specialty Care-min

Numbness & Sensory Loss

20210520-9R6A3394-min-768x512Numbness is the complete or partial loss of feeling in a part of the body. Commonly, numbness or sensory loss is coupled with tingling or burning. This feeling can impair the ability to know where parts of the body are located and extends to:

  • Light Touch
  • Pain
  • Temperature
  • Vibration

In many instances, numbness is harmless and temporary. Severe cases of numbness can be due to serious medical conditions that require appropriate treatment to mitigate the issue.

Cause of Numbness

Numbness is a symptom that occurs when nerves become damaged, irritated, or compressed. There are several potential causes for this including, but not limited to:

  • Disorders of the Brain or Nervous System
    • Neuropathy
    • Stroke
    • Brain Tumor
    • Herniated Disc
    • Spinal Cord Injury
    • Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  • Injury due to Trauma or Overuse
    • Carpal Tunnel
    • Frostbite
  • Chronic Conditions
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Diabetes
    • Alcoholism
  • Infectious Diseases
    • Lyme
    • Syphilis
    • Shingles

Emergency Medical Attention

You are encouraged to pursue emergency medical attention when numbness:

  • Affects an entire part of the body like an arm, leg, or entire side
  • Spreads to other areas of the body
  • Occurs in the thighs, buttocks, or genitals
  • Accompanies:
    • Confusion
    • Incontinence
    • Paralysis
    • Difficulty Speaking
    • Difficulty Seeing
    • Difficulty Breathing
    • Unconsciousness

Diagnosis & Treatment for Numbness

In order to diagnose the cause of numbness, your doctor will need to learn about all of your symptoms, review your medical history, and conduct a physical exam. Imaging tests such as a CT Scan or an MRI shed light on where and how the nerves are being affected. It might be necessary to conduct a blood test as well as nerve conduction studies.
The goal of treatment is to correct the condition that is causing the numbness. This will vary depending on your individual condition. Treatment will most likely include one or more of the following:

  • Nerve Pain Medication
  • Dietary & Lifestyle Changes
  • Physical Therapy
  • Surgery

Schedule Your Appointment

Contact the medical team at Desert Care Network to assess and treat numbness or sensory loss. We provide comprehensive care accompanies by the compassion and respect you and your loved ones deserve.