If a drug or toxin caused the numbness, it should be stopped. Side effects depend on the treatments used. All medications have possible side effects. For instance, medications to treat diabetes may cause low blood sugar, liver damage, or allergic reactions . Specific side effects depend on the medications used.
Surgery carries a risk of bleeding and infection.
The outcome for numbness depends on the cause. If the cause can be treated, the numbness may or may not go away. When a low thyroid hormone level is the cause, for example, the numbness often goes away after the person is treated. Numbness due to diabetes or alcohol abuse rarely goes away even after treatment. Those with cancer may die if treatment is not effective.