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Contents
  • Types of Sensory Loss
  • How Doctors Investigate
  • Common Patterns and Causes
  • Beyond Just Numbness

Sensory Loss: What's Going On When You Can't Feel?

Sensory Loss: What's Going On When You Can't Feel?

The Sensation Situation

Sensory loss can be a confusing and scary experience. This article breaks down what's happening in your body when you lose feeling and how doctors figure out the cause.
Contents
  • Types of Sensory Loss
  • How Doctors Investigate
  • Common Patterns and Causes
  • Beyond Just Numbness

Types of Sensory Loss

Sensory loss comes in different forms. Hypoesthesia means decreased ability to feel sensations like pain, temperature, or touch. Anesthesia is the complete inability to feel these sensations. Hypalgesia refers to decreased pain sensitivity, while analgesia means you can't feel pain at all. On the flip side, some conditions cause increased sensitivity to sensations.

How Doctors Investigate

When you visit a doctor for sensory loss, they'll perform a sensory examination. This involves testing your ability to feel different sensations like touch, vibration, and temperature. The doctor will also check your sense of where your body parts are positioned (proprioception). By mapping out where you have sensory loss, doctors can narrow down the possible causes.
Sensory loss refers to the reduced or absent ability to perceive sensations such as pain, temperature, or touch. It includes conditions like hypoesthesia, anesthesia, hypalgesia, and analgesia.

Common Patterns and Causes

Different patterns of sensory loss point to different causes. Loss in part of a limb might mean a problem with a single nerve. Loss on both sides of the body could indicate issues with the spinal cord or a condition affecting many nerves (polyneuropathy). One-sided loss often means a problem in the brain. A 'stocking-glove' pattern, where hands and feet are affected, is common in diabetes and other conditions.

Beyond Just Numbness

Sensory loss isn't always just about numbness. Some conditions cause increased sensitivity or pain. For example, thalamic pain syndrome can occur after a stroke, causing severe pain that's triggered by touch. Doctors will consider these additional symptoms when making a diagnosis.

FAQs

Can sensory loss be cured?

It depends on the cause; some types are treatable, others may be managed.

Is sensory loss always permanent?

Not necessarily; some causes are temporary or reversible.

Should I be worried about sudden sensory loss?

Sudden loss warrants prompt medical attention to rule out serious causes.

Can stress cause sensory loss?

Stress rarely directly causes sensory loss, but can exacerbate some conditions.

How is sensory loss diagnosed?

Through physical exams, patient history, and sometimes lab or imaging tests.

The Bottom Line

While sensory loss can be concerning, understanding the patterns helps doctors pinpoint and treat the cause.
If you're experiencing unexplained sensory changes, don't hesitate to discuss your symptoms with Doctronic for personalized guidance.
Additional References
  1. Gilman S, Newman SW. Manter and Gatz's Essentials of Clinical Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology, 8th ed, FA Davis, Philadelphia 1992.
  2. Duus P. Topical Diagnosis in Neurology, 2nd ed, Thieme Medical, New York 1989.
  3. Kim JS, Lee JH, Lee MC. Patterns of sensory dysfunction in lateral medullary infarction. Clinical-MRI correlation. Neurology 1997; 49:1557.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic.