Reviewed by Executive Manager Client Engagement and Wellbeing Jodi Haartsen. Jodi is a registered MS Nurse Consultant with 20 years’ experience at Eastern Health MS service in Australia.
What causes numbness and altered sensations in MS?
When you touch something, signals travel from the nerves in your body through the spinal cord to your brain, where they're interpreted as sensations.
In MS, damage to the nerves in the spinal cord or brain can interrupt these signals. This can cause abnormal sensations (called paresthesia) or a complete loss of sensation, known as numbness.
Common sensations include:
- Tingling, pins and needles
- Burning, itching or electric shock sensations
- Crawling, stabbing or pricking feelings
- Increased sensitivity or pain to light touch (allodynia or dysesthesia)
Another common MS symptom is Lhermitte’s sign, a tingle or sudden electric-shock sensation down the spine when the neck is flexed.
Numbness can be caused by medical conditions other than MS. Your medical team will diagnose your numbness based on your symptoms, other medical history and a physical exam, which includes testing touch, temperature, reflexes and muscle function.
How is numbness diagnosed?
Your neurologist or MS nurse will ask when and how quickly the numbness began, where it occurs, how long it lasts, the events or activities you were engaged in around the time the numbness began, and if you have any other symptoms.
Tests may include:
- Blood tests to check for diabetes, kidney disorders or vitamin deficiencies.
- Medical imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans or MRIs to look for issues affecting the nerves of the brain and spinal cord.
- Nerve conduction studies to measure how well your nerves send signals.
Because reasons for facial numbness and other altered sensations can vary, medical assessment is essential.
How numbness impacts daily life
Numbness can have a dramatic impact on emotional wellbeing, quality of life and activities. Some examples include:
- Being unable to write or use keypads on phones and computers.
- Being unable to feel hot and cold water, potentially causing injury and harm.
- Being unaware of contact with dangerous chemicals, bugs, bites or infections, or sores.
- Feeling unaware of body parts, such as having difficulty walking or falling due to being unable to feel the position of your feet.
- Facial numbness impacting eating and chewing.
How long does MS numbness last?
Altered sensation may come and go with relapses. The symptoms may last for hours, weeks or a lifetime. It may get worse during heat or other factors that can impact MS symptoms.
If you’re experiencing new or concerning symptoms of altered sensation such as numbness, seek professional support from your GP (general practitioner) or MS nurse as soon as possible. They can work with you to help understand the cause and help with treatments such as medications to alleviate pain and discomfort, allied health support and lifestyle changes.
Other causes of numbness or altered sensation
Not all numbness is due to MS. Other causes can include:
- Diabetes
- Rare infections such as HIV or Lyme disease
- Kidney disease
- Medications or drug use
- Exposure to poisons/toxins
- Stroke
- Arthritis
- Tumors
- Animal or insect bites
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Toothaches
- Back and neck problems
- Anemia
- Vitamin deficiencies
Your healthcare team can help identify what’s causing your symptoms and recommend the right treatment.
Managing and treating MS numbness or altered sensation
Treatment depends on the cause and severity of the numbness. Management may include:
- Lifestyle adjustments: maintaining a comfortable temperature, getting enough rest and regular exercise
- Medication: to relieve pain or discomfort
- Allied health support: physiotherapy, occupational therapy and counselling for emotional wellbeing
Avoid triggers such as extreme heat, tight clothing or stress. Stay calm, rest and practice relaxation techniques to reduce flare-ups.
Sources
- Christogianni A, Bibb R, Davis SL, Jay O, Barnett M, Evangelou N, Filingeri D. Temperature sensitivity in multiple sclerosis: An overview of its impact on sensory and cognitive symptoms. Temperature (Austin). 2018 Sep 5;5(3):208-223. doi: 10.1080/23328940.2018.1475831. PMID: 30377640; PMCID: PMC6205043.
- Fox, Robert & Bacon, Tamar & Chamot, Eric & Salter, Amber & Cutter, Gary & Kalina, Jennifer & Kister, Ilya. (2015). Prevalence of multiple sclerosis symptoms across lifespan: data from the NARCOMS Registry. Neurodegenerative disease management. 5. 3-10. 10.2217/nmt.15.55.