Numbness in the leg is an abnormal condition in which there is a loss of sensation in the legs. You may feel numbness in one (unilateral numbness) or both (bilateral numbness) legs. Numbness in the legs may also extend to the feet and toes.
Numbness can occur due to an uncomfortable position when sitting or lying down. This process is accompanied by a slight tingling sensation, which quickly disappears if the person changes position.
A pinched nerve often leads to numbness. This phenomenon is caused due to problems with the spine. So, the main reason may be the presence of osteochondrosis. In this case, getting rid of the unpleasant symptom will not be so easy.
Causes of numbness in the legs
Loss of sensation in the arms and legs can result from:
Stress – often patients who have experienced anxiety note how their right or left arm and leg become numb at the same time. The mechanism for the development of these changes is central in nature, when the physiology of certain neurons responsible for the perception of limbs in space is disrupted;
Overwork – if a person constantly works without taking breaks, characteristic neurological disorders may occur. In this case, the cause of numbness in the arms and legs is a violation of conductivity and a decrease in the excitability of the nervous tissue that occurs during overload;
Numbness of the limbs during sleep - here it is worth paying attention to the position in which you sleep, as well as the quality of the mattress.
Vitamin deficiencies - limbs often go numb due to a lack of vitamins. These substances affect blood circulation because they are part of blood vessels and nervous tissue. If their quantity is insufficient, physiological disorders occur, including sensitive ones.
What body structures are affected by alcohol binge drinking?
Alcoholic drinks, taken rarely in small quantities, do not lead to critical consequences. Those occur with prolonged use of alcohol. Observed:
- toxic damage to body structures;
failure of physical and chemical processes in them;- change in water-salt balance;
- lack of vitamins and microelements.
Alcohol affects the cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, and genitourinary systems and does not spare the musculoskeletal system.
As for the musculoskeletal system, disorders due to alcohol abuse often manifest themselves as pain in the lower extremities. This should not be taken lightly - pain can signal pathologies that, as they progress, can lead to permanent or even irreversible disability.
Other causes of numbness
The leg is removed from the nerves in the following cases:
Rheumatoid arthritis. The development of the disease is accompanied by compression of the nerve endings in the knee joint. Discomfort most often occurs below the kneecap.
Gout. As a result of salt deposition in the joints of the feet, the big toe loses sensitivity, after which numbness affects the entire foot.
Atherosclerosis. The lower extremities may become numb as a result of impaired blood flow due to narrowing of the lumen of the femoral artery.
Vascular antiopathy, which developed against the background of diabetes. Gangrene often becomes a complication of this disease.
Polyneuropathy. The disease develops against the background of diabetes, alcoholism and heavy metal poisoning. As a result, the impulses of all nerve endings are blocked.
Multiple sclerosis. Progressive nerve disorders such as multiple sclerosis (MS) cause numbness due to damage to the myelin sheath of the nerve.
Content:
- What structures are affected by alcoholic binges?
- Caused disorders in the lower extremities
- Characteristics of leg pain
- Leg diseases due to alcoholism
- Treatment
Alcohol in large quantities causes a number of pathological changes in the body. A person who recently relaxed under the influence of alcohol begins to suffer and present various complaints. In this article we will explain why your legs hurt after drinking.
Symptoms that may occur along with numbness in the legs
Numbness in the leg may occur along with other symptoms or a combination of symptoms. For example, if your legs are numb due to compression of a nerve root in the lumbar spine, you may also experience pain in your legs or lower back. Leg numbness as a consequence of multiple sclerosis can go hand in hand with tingling and lack of coordination. Any symptom that occurs along with numbness in the leg can help your doctor make a correct diagnosis.
Symptoms that may occur along with numbness in the leg
Numbness in the leg may occur along with other symptoms, including:
- anxiety, restlessness;
- burning sensation;
- frequent urination;
- itching;
- increased numbness in the leg, tingling or pain when walking;
- pain in the lumbar spine;
- muscle spasm;
- tingling;
- rash;
- increased sensitivity to touch.
Why does this happen - my legs go numb?
Sensitivity of the lower extremities is provided based on the presence of certain factors. So, if you feel numbness in your right or left leg, then most likely the tissues have stopped receiving the necessary amount of nutrients and oxygen. Blood circulation is impaired and tingling develops. The numbness of the left leg, like the right one, is associated with compression of the vessel, which leads to impaired blood flow. That is, numbness in the left or right leg leads to the person beginning to have difficulty moving. After the cessation of exposure, the unpleasant sensation passes and the person returns to normal activity. There are substances that are very important for the normal functioning of the body. So, if a person lacks vitamin B12, then there is numbness in the right leg or left. When the deficiency of this vitamin is replenished, this symptom disappears. Often, a feeling of numbness in the legs above the knee is a problem with the nervous system. Nerve damage can be due to infection, metabolic disorders and many other factors. A large number of nerves pass along the trunk of the spine; if they are pinched, numbness of the legs develops, the causes of which are identified using modern diagnostic methods. What to do if there is numbness in the lower extremities? Of course, you need to seek help from a doctor.
Tingling and numbness in the leg
In common peroneal nerve compression syndrome, numbness or tingling is felt in the top of the foot or inner leg. The peroneal nerve is a branch of the sciatic nerve and supplies the toes, feet, and legs. A knee injury, a broken fibula, a tight shin cast, and even frequent crossing of the legs can lead to this syndrome. Treatment for numbness involves eliminating the cause. But sometimes a corticosteroid injection may be needed to reduce the swelling, and in some cases surgery is performed.
How to deal with body pain after stress
Stress causes irreparable damage to the health of every person. In this case, the body responds to negative emotions and excess tension based on nervousness. In addition to this is muscle pain (myalgia) throughout the body. According to experts, this is a completely natural reaction to external physical and psychological stimuli. These problems can and should be dealt with. If the disease is not treated in time and proper prevention is not followed, the progression of coronary heart disease or heart attack is high. Body pain due to stress is called myalgia
Which doctor should I contact?
A neurologist is involved in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological disorders, such as sensory loss and numbness in the extremities. In order to correctly assume what was the possible cause and choose the right direction of the diagnostic search, the neurologist must examine the patient, find out in which parts of the body numbness occurs (only in the fingers, in the hands or feet, in the entire arm or leg, in one limb , or right and left symmetrically), are there any other neurological symptoms or concomitant diseases.
Depending on the results of the examination, the neurologist may refer you to other specialists:
- For vasculitis, Raynaud's disease - see a rheumatologist.
- For cardiovascular pathologies, see a cardiologist.
- For diabetes mellitus, see an endocrinologist.
- In case of tumors or injuries, see a neurosurgeon.
- For infectious diseases - see an infectious disease specialist.
- In case of poisoning with harmful substances at work, contact an occupational pathologist.
What to do if your legs go numb
If numbness and tingling become regular, you should immediately consult a doctor.
The therapist will conduct an examination, ask you questions about your lifestyle, social habits (for example, he will probably be interested in your Friday meetings with friends over a bottle or two), place and working conditions, and the health of close relatives.
Based on the results, the doctor will most likely prescribe tests, which may include:
- Blood tests. They will help identify possible diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, signs of abnormal immune system activity, liver dysfunction, kidney dysfunction, or other metabolic problems.
- Electromyogram (EMG). This is a test for electrical muscle activity.
- Cerebrospinal fluid studies. They will help identify antibodies associated with peripheral neuropathy.
Depending on what the studies show, the doctor will prescribe treatment for you. It’s all very simple, the main thing is not to put off visiting the doctor!
Numbness of the right and left legs - how to deal with it?
Numbness of the left leg, as well as the right, is a fairly common occurrence. With the help of certain preventive measures you can prevent this condition:
- If you regularly exercise, you can prevent numbness in your right and left legs. The fact is that sports activities increase blood circulation in the limbs and contribute to the development of the spine. It is recommended to engage in sports such as cycling, swimming, jumping in place and many others.
- Stop drinking drinks with a high caffeine content (tea, coffee) and try to get rid of bad habits. Strong drinks and nicotine lead to spasm of blood vessels and the development of numbness in the legs, the causes of which can be different.
- Eat more foods containing vitamin B12 and iron.
- Take contrast baths in the morning and evening. Such baths help relieve the condition.
- Dress according to the weather, avoiding hypothermia.
If numbness and pain in your limbs constantly bother you and interfere with normal work and rest, then you definitely need to make an appointment with a doctor. Do not delay your visit to the doctor, as it is fraught with numerous complications.
Drug treatment
Medical treatments for long-term numbness in the legs and feet include:
- Antidepressants. Some antidepressants, such as duloxetine and milnacipran, have been approved for the treatment of fibromyalgia.
- Corticosteroids. Some corticosteroids may help reduce chronic inflammation and numbness associated with diseases such as multiple sclerosis.
- Gabapentin and pregabalin. Medicines that block or alter nerve signaling may help relieve numbness in fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and diabetic neuropathy.
There are contraindications, you need to consult a specialist!
Treatment of numbness of the lower extremities by qualified specialists of our clinic
With complaints about such a common symptom as numbness in the legs, you can walk through numerous offices for a long time without receiving an answer. Our clinic takes a comprehensive approach to the problem of numbness in the legs, the causes of which are not always obvious. In most cases, numbness of the lower extremities develops due to osteochondrosis and circulatory disorders. Most often clients contact us with the following complaints:
- Numbness of the toes, the causes of which vary, gradually disappears.
- An attack of severe back pain, accompanied by numbness in the left leg or right from the knee to the foot.
- Numbness of the toes with a feeling of coldness and heaviness in the extremities.
- Numbness of the feet.
Doctors at our clinic with extensive experience will diagnose your body in order to identify the causes of the ailment. Most diseases associated with such a symptom as numbness of the leg, the causes of which are different, can be successfully treated. We use only the most proven and modern treatment methods. People who are faced with an attack of numbness and tingling in their legs doubt what to do in such a situation - immediately consult a specialist or wait a little. If attacks of numbness in the legs, the causes and treatment of which require high-quality diagnosis, then you should definitely consult a doctor. It is important to detect the cause of this condition as early as possible. Such a harmless, at first glance, feeling of numbness in the legs can be a signal of serious illness.
Physiotherapy
In order to strengthen the nervous tissue and reduce the signs of various pathologies that cause numbness in the legs, physiotherapeutic methods are prescribed. These include:
- Warm-up sessions;
- Shock wave therapy;
- Drug electrophoresis;
- Laser treatment;
- Magnetotherapy.
Radon baths and contrast showers to activate blood flow have proven themselves well.
How to help yourself
To improve your well-being on your own, it is recommended:
Use ointments that have a warming or cooling effect. These include Capsicam and Apizartron. They contain components that help not only activate skin receptors, but also reduce pain, eliminate swelling and inflammatory reactions.
Before going to bed, take a contrast shower - in most cases, numbness of the arms and legs at night is caused by poor circulation, which improves with a temperature difference during ablution;
Use alternative medicine. In this case, we are talking about the use of rubs and applying compresses based on pepper or garlic. They have a warming effect, stimulate blood circulation and improve tissue nutrition.
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