Numbness after surgery does happen sometimes.
There may be a quick and logical explanation.
Or it could be a sign of a complication the healthcare provider should explore.
Terry Vine / Blend Images / Getty Images
Together, these form a condition known asparesthesia.
Terry Vine / Blend Images / Getty Images
What Causes Numbness After Surgery?
Numbness can occur after surgery for several reasons, especially if you receivedanesthesia.
This group of medicines is used to blunt pain and sensation during surgery.
Anesthesia causes numbness on purpose.
Either way, numbness after surgery can be a blessing.
After all, you’re free to’t feel pain when you are numb to it.
Positioning
Remaining still on the surgical table for an extended period of time can cause numbness.
And the longer the surgery, the greater the chance that numbness will occur.
You may know how this feels.
After sitting too long with your legs crossed, one leg may fall asleep."
Or it may feel more like pins and needles.
This is one reason why many operating rooms have padded surgical tablesto improve patients' comfort and well-being.
Incision Numbness
The area immediately around anincision(the surgical cut) is often numb after surgery.
And it may continue to be numb for several months after surgery.
This takes place if the nerves that run through a surgical site are damaged.
Feeling often returns in the months following surgery.
In this case, the area below the cut nerve could go numb.
It is also possible for a nerve to be cut during surgery, which may be unavoidable.
Surgeons who work on the face understand the potential for nerve damage.
A slight amount of facial nerve damage could affect a patient’s ability to smile.
It could even cause speech problems.
Numbness might develop soon after surgery if swelling disturbs the nerves.
This becomes a bigger concern if a patient is placed in a hard cast or tight bandage.
Surgical Nerve Damage
Permanent nerve damage can be a potential side effect of surgery.
Talk with your surgeon so you understand the risks beforehand.
What Body Parts May Feel Numb After Surgery?
Numbness is most commonly felt around the area of an incision where nerves may be damaged during surgery.
The areas most commonly affected by these situations are theulnar nerveat the elbow and thecommon peroneal nerveat the knee.
How Is Numbness After Surgery Treated?
Numbness typically improves dramatically as the anesthesia wears off.
Most patients experience a full recovery from numbness a day or two following surgery.
Nerve damage takes longer to resolve.
It takes from six months to one year before physicians consider a recovery complete.
Of course, there are always exceptions.
Some patients may need more treatment to restore the sensation they lost.
Think of yourleg feeling numbif you sit too long in the same position.
Surgery raises the stakes since it also involves anesthesia and an incision.
So it makes sense that you may feel numbness and tingling afterward and for a longer period of time.
If numbness doesn’t improve or other symptoms appear, it’s time to seek medical attention.
In most cases, numbness lasts for only a day or two after surgery.
But if it persists, and certain signs flare up, talk to a healthcare provider.
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