Numbness

Numbness is a loss of feeling in a part of the body. Numbness also describes other changes in sensation, such as burning, tingling or a pins-and-needles feeling. Numbness can happen along a single nerve on one side of the body. Or numbness may happen on both sides of the body. Weakness, which is usually caused by other conditions, is often mistaken for numbness.

Numbness is caused by damage, irritation or pressure on the nerves. A single nerve branch or several nerves may be affected. Examples include a slipped disk in the back or carpal tunnel syndrome in the wrist. Certain diseases, such as diabetes, or toxins such as chemotherapy or alcohol can damage longer, more sensitive nerve fibers. These include the nerve fibers that go to the feet.

Numbness commonly affects nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord. When these nerves are affected, it can cause a lack of feeling in the arms, legs, hands and feet.

Numbness alone or numbness associated with pain or other unpleasant sensations isn’t usually due to life-threatening conditions. At times, it may be associated with conditions such as stroke or tumor.

Your healthcare professional needs detailed information about your symptoms to diagnose the cause of your numbness. Several types of tests may be needed to confirm the cause before treatment can begin.

Possible causes of numbness include:

Brain and nervous system conditions

• Acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma)
• Brain aneurysm
• Brain AVM (arteriovenous malformation)
• Brain tumor
• Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Herniated disk
• Paraneoplastic syndromes of the nervous system
• Peripheral nerve injuries
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Spinal cord injury
• Spinal cord tumor
• Stroke
• Transient ischemic attack (TIA)
• Transverse myelitis

Trauma or overuse injuries

• Brachial plexus injury
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Frostbite

Chronic conditions

• Alcohol use disorder
• Amyloidosis
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
• Diabetes
• Fabry’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Porphyria
• Raynaud’s disease
• Sjogren’s syndrome

Infectious diseases

• Leprosy
• Lyme disease
• Shingles
• Syphilis

Treatment side effects

• Chemotherapy or HIV drugs

Other causes

• Heavy metal exposure
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm
• Vasculitis
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency

Numbness can have a variety of causes. Most are harmless, but some can be life-threatening.

Call 911 or seek emergency help

Go to a hospital emergency room or call 911 or your local emergency number if your numbness:

• Begins suddenly.
• Follows a recent head injury.
• Involves an entire arm or leg.

Also seek emergency medical care if your numbness happens with:

• Weakness or paralysis.
• Confusion.
• Trouble talking.
• Dizziness.
• A sudden, bad headache.

You are likely to have a CT scan or MRI if:

• You’ve had a head injury.
• Your doctor suspects or needs to rule out a brain tumor or stroke.

Schedule a doctor’s visit

See a healthcare professional if your numbness:

• Begins or worsens gradually.
• Affects both sides of the body.
• Comes and goes.
• Seems related to specific tasks or activities, particularly repetitive motions.
• Affects only a part of a limb, such as your toes or fingers.