What it means
A part of the body feels dull or "dead," with less or no sense of touch, pain or temperature. It often comes with tingling ("pins and needles"). It happens when a nerve is pressed, injured or not getting enough blood, as in a stroke, a tight cast, diabetic nerve damage in the feet, or after a local anesthetican-us-THET-ikA drug that causes loss of feeling, with or without loss of consciousness.an- withoutesthesi/o feeling, sensation-ic relating toFull entry .
For the nurse
Sudden numbness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side, is reported at once as a possible stroke. Numbness below a cast or bandage can mean it is too tight. Clients with numb feet should check them every day for injuries they cannot feel.
In a chart
"Client reports numbness and tingling in left foot below the cast; toes cool, provider notified."
At a glance
| Spanish | entumecimiento |
|---|---|
| Also written | numb |
Related terms
neur/o
A word root that means nerve or the nervous system.
anesthetic
A drug that causes loss of feeling, with or without loss of consciousness.
paralysis
Loss of the ability to move a part of the body, and sometimes loss of feeling in it.