Functional Tactile Anaesthesia

Functional tactile anaesthesia refers to numbness or altered sensation that cannot be explained by structural nerve damage or neurological disease. It is a recognised symptom of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), where the way the brain processes sensory information is disrupted — even though the nerves and spinal cord appear healthy.

At The Royal Buckinghamshire Hospital, we support adult patients with functional sensory symptoms through our specialist inpatient neurorehabilitation programme. Our team focuses on helping patients regain sensation, rebuild confidence, and recover functional independence.

---

What Is Functional Sensory Loss?

Functional sensory symptoms may include:

• Numbness, tingling or “dead” feeling in part of the body
• Loss of sensation in a hand, arm, foot or leg
• Unusual patterns of sensory change (e.g. sudden line-like division across the body)
• Symptoms that vary over time or with attention/stress
• Co-existing weakness, pain or fatigue in the same limb

These symptoms are genuine and distressing, but do not follow the patterns typically seen with nerve or spinal cord injury. In functional neurological symptoms, the problem lies in the brain’s ability to interpret or integrate sensory signals, rather than in the nerves themselves.

---

Common Triggers and Associated Conditions

Functional numbness often develops in response to:

• Injury or trauma (even without direct nerve damage)
• Prolonged stress or anxiety
• Post-surgical recovery
• Chronic pain or immobilisation
• Other functional symptoms (e.g. weakness, tremor, seizures)

It may also occur alongside:

• Functional Neurological Disorder
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Post-Concussion Syndrome

---

Our Inpatient Neurorehabilitation Approach

At Royal Bucks, we take a compassionate, neurophysiology-informed approach to treating functional sensory loss. The aim is to restore normal patterns of movement and sensation through evidence-based rehabilitation — never suggesting symptoms are “imagined” or “in the head”.

Our inpatient programme includes:

• Neurophysiotherapy to retrain sensory awareness and body perception
• Occupational therapy to build confidence in using the affected limb during daily tasks
• Education about how functional symptoms develop and how recovery is possible
• Desensitisation techniques for pain or hypersensitivity

Explore Our Inpatient Rehabilitation Centre
Learn About Functional Neurological Disorder

---

When to Consider Inpatient Rehab

Our service may be appropriate if:

• Symptoms are impacting mobility or independence
• Other diagnoses have been ruled out but symptoms persist
• You have co-existing fatigue, pain, or emotional stress
• Previous outpatient therapies haven’t improved functional use

We support adult patients with complex neurological symptom patterns, whether related to trauma, illness, or prolonged disability.