It’s not unusual for there to be some changes in your sensations after having surgery. And depending on type of operation you have had, the time the nerves around the affected area will likely take to recover may vary.
But if you are still experiencing numbness after a few weeks or months after your surgery, you may understandably have questions about what might be causing the numbness to prolong your recovery.
Why might I have numbness after surgery?
There are a number of reasons why you may be experiencing numbness after surgery. Surgery can temporarily affect the nerves around the area you have been treated for, for example, a nerve may have been irritated, bruised, stretched or compressed.
In some cases, the nerves simply need time to recover and the amount of time this takes can vary depending on the operation, the type of nerve injury and also the individual.
What if my numbness still does not go away?
For some people, the numbness will gradually improve as they recover. But if it has been some time and you are still struggling with a loss of feeling, you may start to wonder whether it is actually going to improve at all.
If you have not already spoken to your GP or specialist, let them know what you are experiencing. They can assess the numbness and, if necessary, arrange further tests or refer you to another specialist. This can give you a better understanding of what is happening to you and whether there is anything that can be done to help.
Could persistent numbness after surgery be linked to medical negligence?
Not every nerve injury following an operation is the result of medical negligence. Nerve problems can sometimes happen even when you have received the appropriate standard of care. There may however, be some circumstances where a nerve injury could have been avoided, or where symptoms should have been recognised and treated sooner than they did.
If you are concerned about the care you have received, it is reasonable to ask those questions and wonder whether anything could have been done differently. This can involve looking at your medical records and understanding what happened before, during and after your surgery.
At the Medical Law Partnership, we look at the entire circumstances surrounding your treatment not just your symptoms. This may involve reviewing your medical records, understanding what happened during the operation and considering the treatment you received afterwards.
How The Medical Law Partnership can help
You do not need to know whether you have a medical negligence claim before speaking to us. If you are simply unsure about what has happened and would like to understand your position.
Our specialist medical negligence team will listen, explain the issues clearly and help you understand whether your concerns warrant further investigation. Sometimes that may mean identifying concerns about the treatment. Sometimes it may mean explaining that the numbness appears to be a recognised complication rather than the result of negligence. Either way, you should have a clearer understanding about why you are experiencing the symptoms you are.
What should I do next?
If you have ongoing numbness following surgery, it is important to speak to your treating medical professional so that your symptoms can be properly assessed first.
If you have already done this and still have concerns about what happened, you can speak to our specialist medical negligence team.
If you would like to discuss your circumstances, you can contact The Medical Law Partnership for a confidential, no-obligation discussion. We are here to listen; explain and help you understand what your options are.