What Are the Common Causes of Numbness in the Stomach Area?

Family Medicine, Primary Care Roots Community Health Center, Hippo Education, Kameda Medical Center

Supervised by Kenji Taylor, MD

Numbness in the stomach area can be caused by diabetic autonomic neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy related to gastroparesis, or rare cases linked to demyelinating diseases.

Explanation

There are a few reasons you might feel numbness in the stomach area. One common cause is diabetic autonomic neuropathy. When someone has diabetes, high sugar levels can hurt the nerves that control the stomach and other organs. This damage can make the stomach feel numb or unable to sense things properly. Another reason is peripheral neuropathy, which sometimes happens with gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is when the stomach empties slowly, and as a side effect, the nerves around the stomach may not work as well, which can lead to numbness. In some rare cases, people with demyelinating diseases, where the covering around nerves is damaged, can also experience unusual cases of numbness in the stomach area. In all these situations, nerve damage or problems in nerve signaling is at the heart of the issue. If you or someone you know feels these symptoms, it is best to ask a healthcare provider who can look at all the details of your case and plan the right tests and treatments.

(References)

Kuźnik E, Dudkowiak R, Adamiec R, Poniewierka E. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy of the gastrointestinal tract. Prz Gastroenterol. 2020;15(2):89-93. doi: 10.5114/pg.2020.95554. Epub 2020 Jun 8. PMID: 32550939; PMCID: PMC7294968.
Moors VJ, Graveran KD, Shahsavari D, Parkman HP. A cross-sectional study describing peripheral neuropathy in patients with symptoms of gastroparesis: associations with etiology, gastrointestinal symptoms, and gastric emptying. BMC Gastroenterol. 2022 Jun 27;22(1):315. doi: 10.1186/s12876-022-02372-0. PMID: 35761166; PMCID: PMC9235138.
Ahmed K, Lal Y. Unusual case of gastroparesis leading to severe gastromegaly with demyelinating disease as a rare cause. S D Med. 2013 Nov;66(11):467-9. PMID: 24383263.

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