Why is my numbness starting to hurt?

Hi Mick,

Thank you for your question. I’m sorry to hear about your stroke and the pain you are experiencing. You may be feeling worried or frustrated, but know treatment and support is available. With support, unpleasant sensations can improve.

Touch and sensation can change throughout the stroke recovery journey. You may have numbness at the start, which can develop into pins and needles or unpleasant sensations such as pain. This may be related to your brain starting to process sensory information but misinterpreting information.  

I would encourage you to speak with your GP. Your GP can:

- Make sure you have a diagnosis.

- Make sure there are no health or medication issues causing the changes.

- Refer you to specialists and allied health therapists such as a neurological physiotherapist or neurological occupational therapist for sensory retraining.

Sensory retraining is a therapy that aims to retrain sensory pathways and get unused pathways working. Therapy aims to improve sensation, and to help you adapt to changes such as unpleasant feelings.

Improvement relies on neuroplasticity, which is our brain’s ability to change and adapt. After a stroke, pathways in the brain can change so that undamaged parts of the brain can take over the jobs of damaged areas. Repetitive training is needed to help the brain build new pathways.

You can visit these websites for more information:

EnableMe blog- Touch and Sensation

SENSe therapy website including where I can get sense therapy

EnableMe podcast- Touch and Sensation

Finally, remember that any sudden, severe changes in sensation, or paralysis can be a sign of stroke. If this happens, call triple zero (000) immediately.

If you would like to talk with one of our friendly allied health professionals, please contact StrokeLine 1800 787 653 or email strokeline@strokefoundation.org.au. Our operating hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm AEST.

With kind regards,

Kath, StrokeLine