Numbness in Legs and Feet: Overview, Cause and Treatment

What happens during numb feelings?

A tingling sensation usually accompanies numbness. Unlike temporary numbness, numbness that lasts for a prolonged duration indicates serious health problems. This symptom may be temporary due to sitting on legs or staying in the same position for a long time. Diseases such as Diabetes, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, and peripheral artery disease can cause tingling in the legs and feet that lasts for a long time. 

The numbness can be felt in different leg parts, such as below the knee and whole feet.  

Numbness in the legs could be a temporary problem or a sign of other health problems. The symptoms get worse over time. The patient might initially lose sensation in their feet, which may eventually affect the entire leg.

Lack or reduced flow of blood causes numbness and damages the nerves. Numbness in the feet can also be due to inflammation, infection, trauma, or any abnormal process inside the body.  However, the good part is that most conditions that cause numbness in the legs are not life-threatening. It may lead to tremors and strokes, though. 

Numbness of feet is due to nerve damage. The feet are numb, with no pain or sensation of pricking or burning.  It is common for leg numbness to get worse at night. This condition is called paraesthesia. 

Symptoms for Numbness in the Leg

Numbness is just a single symptom that a person will feel and express. But different people will feel a mix of signs and symptoms. The other signs & symptoms are

• Itching
• Tingling
• Tickling
• Burning
• Crawling sensation under the skin

Causes Of Leg Numbness 

Sitting in the wrong posture and standing for longer times can cause numbness in the leg. If there is a tingling feeling and numbness for a long time or all the time, it could be signalling more than just numbness. Several leg numbness causes due to:

1. Posture

Bad posture habits can cause numbness. Postures like crossing legs for too long, kneeling or sitting for long durations, and wearing tight socks, shoes, or pants lead to numb feelings.  With bad standing or sitting, posture can pressure nerves or cause poor leg blood flow.

2. Lower back issues

Pain in the lower back, herniated disc or a broken spinal disc exerts pressure on nerves. In the sciatica condition, the sciatic nerve is irritated, leading to tingling and numb feeling in the legs and feet.

3. Peripheral artery disease

Peripheral arterial disease, or PAD, is a condition when the flow of blood to arms, legs and abdomen is reduced. Ultimately, it leads to numbness, soreness, or cramping while walking or climbing stairs.

4. Intake of alcohol

Heavy drinkers suffer from nerve damage in their feet and legs, making them numb. This damage is also linked to decreased levels of essential vitamins like B12, B1, and B9.

5. Diabetes

In diabetic neuropathy, patients feel a tingling sensation in the foot and leg and numbness and pain.

6. Injury 

Injuries to the ankle, foot, hip, spine, leg, and torso exert pressure on nerves, leading to numbness in the feet and legs.

7. Other Health Problems 

Other conditions that cause numbness in the feet and legs are abnormal growths, tumours, fibromyalgia, and multiple sclerosis. 

Treatment for numbness in feet

Treatment for numbness in the feet and legs depends on the cause or reason behind the numb feeling. If the numbness in the leg is painful, lasts for a long time, or occurs frequently, you must consult a doctor. Otherwise, follow these home remedies for relief. 

Here are a few treatment options you can try at home to ease the discomfort:

1. Apply an ice pack

Ice can help reduce swelling. Apply cold packs or cold compresses on numb legs and feet for 15 minutes.

2. Exercise

Lack of activity reduces blood flow to the lower limbs. Yoga, Pilates, and tai chi improve blood flow and relieve chronic pain.

3. Rest

Too much stress on the legs may also lead to numbness. Adequate rest can relieve numbness and pain. 

4. Massage

Massaging numb legs and feet can resume blood flow and ease the pain.

5. Epsom salt baths

Epsom salts contain magnesium – a compound that helps improve blood flow and circulation

6. Applying heat 

Heat can help release stiff, painful, or strained muscles that push on nerves and create numbness.  However, warming numb legs and feet aggravates inflammation and induces discomfort and numbness.

Conclusion

Sitting or standing too long, neurological injury/disease, and chronic health disorders like multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia can cause leg numbness or tingling (chronic & widespread pain). If the home remedies do not help and leg and foot numbness or tingling sensation continues, then consult the doctor. 

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