A stroke can lead to changes in sensation, such as numbness or tingling sensations in your affected limbs. Find out more about the various ways and how they are treated.
How can stroke affect sensation?
A stroke can affect your sensation in various ways:
Numbness or feeling less sensitive to touch
This is called hypoaesthesia. Your limbs may feel numb and this can cause difficulties. For example, if you are unaware of pressure on your skin, such as tight clothes or shoes, they might rub and damage your skin without you noticing.
Feeling less sensitive to temperature
This is another example of hypoaesthesia. If you experience this, you could be at risk of burning yourself or becoming too cold, so you may need to take extra measures to look after yourself. For example, you might need to carefully test water temperatures with your unaffected hand if having a shower or washing the dishes.
Feeling more sensitive to stimuli
This is called hyperaesthesia and can affect a range of your senses such as your taste, hearing or touch. After a stroke, some people find watching television or being in crowded places difficult, as it can seem too loud and feel overwhelming.
Tingling sensations on your skin or in your limbs
Having unusual sensations on your skin or in your limbs is sometimes called dysaesthesia or paraesthesia. Common sensations include pins and needles or tingling sensations in your affected limbs. Sometimes these sensations can be unpleasant, such as burning, pressure or feeling like something is running over your skin.
Feeling unaware of the position and movement in your limbs
Your body has a system which makes it aware of its position and movement. Some people have problems with this after a stroke. You may have difficulty moving around. You might need to look at your limbs to know where they are. Some people feel as if their limbs (or part of them) do not belong to them, or that they have altered size or shape.
Aphasia friendly video on changes to sensation after a stroke
Treatment for changes in sensation
Therapy exercises may help with some types of sensory loss or changes in sensation. For example, moving objects with contrasting textures over your skin to help you re-learn the sensation. If you have sensation changes in your hand, massage techniques may be helpful. These activities can be done with an occupational therapist or physiotherapist as part of your rehabilitation programme and you can practise them further outside of sessions.
If you have lost the ability to sense heat or pain, you should be taught how to take care of your body and limbs so that you do not injure yourself. An occupational therapist can help with this.
Changes in sensation may improve with time. Some people benefit from different techniques like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), relaxation and meditation.
If you have painful sensation changes, you might be able to have medications used to treat central post-stroke pain (CPSP, also known as neuropathic pain).