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Navigate: FAQ Home Page > Piercing and Tattoos > Q&A
Posted on: 09/16/2004
Question
Can a tattoo cause nerve damage? After having one on my buttocks I have experienced tingling and numbness in my calf on the same side. Is this temporary? Could it be caused from the position I was sitting in when tattooed?
Answer
Because a tattoo needle pierces the skin, it is possible to irritate superficial sensory nerves, but very unlikely to affect the deep nerves. You could, indeed, be having the numbness from the position you were in while getting the tattoo done. That should go away. But if it continues, see your doctor!