How to Prepare for a Telemedicine Visit About Numbness (New) - Triage

Audience: adult

If you have new numbness, a telemedicine visit can help you understand possible causes and next steps. Numbness means a loss of feeling or sensation in part of your body. It may be caused by nerve irritation, injury, or other health issues. During a telemedicine visit, a healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms, medical history, and may guide you through simple tests. Telemedicine is often suitable for mild or unclear numbness without other urgent symptoms. However, sudden numbness with weakness, difficulty speaking, or loss of balance needs immediate in-person care. Preparing for your tele-visit helps the provider give the best advice. This guide explains how to prepare, what telemedicine can and cannot do, warning signs, and what to expect after your visit.

Red flags — go in person / ER

• Sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body — call emergency services immediately.
• Difficulty speaking, understanding speech, or confusion — seek urgent medical care.
• Loss of balance, severe dizziness, or trouble walking — get emergency help right away.

What telemedicine can do

• Initial assessment of mild or unclear numbness
• Review of medical history related to numbness
• Guidance on symptom monitoring and next steps
• Basic physical tests guided by the provider

What telemedicine cannot do

• Emergency neurological symptoms (e.g., stroke signs)
• Detailed neurological examinations requiring hands-on assessment
• Immediate imaging or laboratory testing
• Treatment of severe or life-threatening causes

What is New Numbness?

New numbness is when you suddenly lose feeling or sensation in a part of your body. It can affect your fingers, toes, face, arms, or legs. This may feel like tingling, pins and needles, or complete numbness. Causes vary from minor issues like pressure on a nerve to serious conditions that need urgent care.

When to Use Telemedicine for Numbness

Telemedicine can help if your numbness is mild, has started recently, and you have no other severe symptoms. It allows you to talk to a healthcare provider from home, who can evaluate your symptoms and decide if you need further tests or in-person care.

When to Seek Immediate In-Person Care

If you experience any of the following, seek emergency care immediately:

How to Prepare for Your Telemedicine Visit

Before your appointment:

What Telemedicine Can and Cannot Do

Telemedicine can:

Telemedicine cannot:

After Your Telemedicine Visit

Follow the provider's advice carefully. You may be asked to:

How to prepare for your tele-visit

• Choose a quiet, well-lit place with good internet connection
• Have a list of symptoms and their start time
• Prepare to describe numbness location, quality, and triggers
• List current medications and medical conditions
• Have a family member or friend available if possible
• Charge your device and test audio/video before the visit

After your tele-visit

• Follow provider's instructions carefully
• Monitor symptoms and note any changes
• Seek emergency care if red-flag symptoms appear
• Schedule recommended in-person visits or tests
• Take prescribed medications or therapies
• Contact your provider if symptoms worsen or new symptoms develop

FAQs

What causes new numbness?

New numbness can be caused by nerve pressure, injury, infections, circulation problems, or neurological conditions. Sometimes it is temporary and harmless, but it can also signal serious health issues.

Can telemedicine diagnose the cause of numbness?

Telemedicine can help evaluate your symptoms and suggest possible causes, but it often cannot provide a definitive diagnosis without in-person exams or tests.

When should I go to the emergency room for numbness?

Go immediately if you have sudden numbness or weakness on one side, trouble speaking, confusion, loss of balance, or numbness after a head or spine injury.

How can I prepare for a telemedicine visit about numbness?

Prepare by listing your symptoms, noting when they started, having your medical history ready, and ensuring a quiet space with good internet. Be ready to describe your numbness clearly and follow instructions during the visit.

What happens after a telemedicine visit for numbness?

You may be advised to monitor symptoms, get further tests, see specialists, or seek emergency care if needed. Follow your provider's recommendations closely.

Sources

1. Numbness and Tingling — MedlinePlus, U.S. National Library of Medicine.
2. Peripheral Neuropathy Fact Sheet — Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
3. Neurological Examination — Mayo Clinic.
4. Telehealth: What You Need to Know — Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality (AHRQ).

This telemedicine guidance is for educational and triage purposes only and is not a substitute for in-person medical care. If you have severe or worsening symptoms, seek emergency or direct medical attention immediately.