Numbness or tingling at or below an injury
Numbness is an inability to feel anything when you touch your skin. Tingling is a pins-and-needles sensation, like when your foot falls asleep.You may feel like the part you touch does not belong to you.
Numbness or tingling may mean that nerves have been injured or pinched, swelling is putting pressure on nerves, or blood vessels have been injured. This can occur gradually from an overuse injury or from a sudden (acute) injury, such as a fracture, dislocation, or severe sprain.
It is normal to have temporary changes in feeling after an injury or when swelling is present. Home treatment may help relieve swelling that can cause numbness or tingling. However, numbness and tingling are more serious when other symptoms are present. Symptoms may include:
- A complete loss of feeling.
- Symptoms of decreased blood flow, such as pale, white, blue, or cold skin.
- Muscle weakness that is not caused by pain.
- Symptoms don't go away.
- Symptoms go away, but keep coming back.
| Author: | Sydney Youngerman-Cole, RN, BSN, RNC | Last Updated: August 31, 2006 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine | |
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