I couldn’t process your entry.
Please reload and retry in a moment.
Please reload and retry in a moment.
Please reload and retry in a moment.
21st Feb 2025
Numbness or tingling in the legs could feel like pins and needles after sitting incorrectly or standing for an extended period. A numb leg is normally not a huge concern, but it could indicate an underlying reason, such as a pinched nerve, herniated disc, or a condition like diabetes or lupus. You may experience numbness and tingling on one side of your body, throughout your entire leg, below your knee, or in your thigh.
It's crucial to figure out what's causing the numbness, especially if it happens regularly or spreads to other parts of the body. Treatment for the underlying cause, as well as pain medications, can relieve leg and foot numbness. These are some of the most common reasons for leg numbness.
A pinched nerve (pressed or compressed nerve) is exactly what the name implies. Muscles, tendons, tissue, and bone can squeeze the nerve and generate a variety of symptoms, including leg numbness.
Sciatica can develop as a result of a pinched nerve. Sciatica is pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve, which travels from the lower back down each leg. You may experience numbness and tingling in various portions of your leg, including your thigh and below your knee.
A pinched nerve is usually rather simple to treat, and the right professional can help with that. You may try to find one by googling “sciatica doctors near me”. Pain medications and physical therapy are used to treat the condition. If a pinched nerve produces weakness and pain, surgery may be necessary, though this is rare.
A herniated disk might cause a pinched nerve. Consider your spine to be a set of bones joined by disks, which are similar to jelly donuts. If the jelly squeezes out, the disk will herniate, slide, or rupture. If you compress the jelly downward, it can press on a nerve, causing numbness and tingling.
The tiniest misstep can result in a herniated disk. Bending forward often causes the disks to go backward.
Herniated disks can often be treated conservatively with physical therapy and pain medications. Surgery may be required in extreme situations.
Diabetic neuropathy, often known as nerve damage, develops in patients with diabetes who have uncontrolled high blood glucose levels. Affected nerves may include those that convey messages between the brain and spine, as well as those that connect other body regions such as the legs. Diabetic neuropathy can affect multiple areas of the leg. Proximal neuropathy, for example, impacts the thighs, hips, and glutes.
You can prevent nerve damage by regulating your blood sugar levels through food, exercise, and medication. There is no treatment for nerve injury, but you can control the symptoms.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system assaults the myelin layer that protects nerve cells. The illness can produce numbness in several body areas, including the legs.
The specific cause of MS remains uncertain. Some research suggests that genetics and infections with slow-acting or dormant viruses, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), may raise your risk. There is no cure for MS, however, drugs and physical therapy can help alleviate symptoms.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system targets healthy cells. Lupus patients may suffer nerve degeneration, which usually results in numbness on one side of the body. You may experience numbness, paralysis, and weakness in your arm, face, or leg.
You can occasionally treat leg numbness by addressing the underlying issue. Lupus therapy options include biologic medicines, pain medications, and topical corticosteroids.
According to a 2018 study, adults over the ages of 75 and 85 account for roughly half and thirty percent of all strokes. Symptoms typically include slurred speech, numbness, and weakness or paralysis on one side of the body. These symptoms appear suddenly and are more likely in those with high blood pressure, a history of smoking, and diabetes.
Medication can help avoid irreversible damage from certain strokes, but it must be started early. When you notice the first signs of a stroke, seek medical assistance immediately.
