Numbness

Loss of sensation in part of the body caused by interference with the passage of impulses along sensory nerves. Numbness may be the result of a disorder of or damage to the nervous system or its blood supply. Multiple sclerosis can cause loss of sensation in any part of the body through damage to nerve pathways in the central nervous system (CNS). In a neuropathy, the peripheral nerves (nerves outside the CNS) are damaged. In a stroke, pressure on, or reduced blood supply to, nerve pathways in the brain often causes loss of feeling on one side of the body. Severe cold causes numbness by direct action on the nerves. Numbness may also be a feature of psychological disorders, such as anxiety, panic attack, or a hysterical conversion disorder. Treatment of numbness depends on the underlying cause.