- Nerve entrapment is a common cause of leg numbness. Nerves become compressed from either trauma, cysts, joint swelling or disease. If these conditions are left untreated, nerves can become permanently damaged and patients could lose feeling in their legs. Other symptoms related to nerve entrapment include prickling, tingling sensations and leg pain.
- Peripheral neuropathy is a medical neurological disorder which damages the peripheral nervous system. Leg numbness can happen as a result of this nerve damage. The damage can be caused by sensory, motor or autonomic nerve diseases (or diseases affecting the brain or spinal chord). Leg numbness can also accompany other symptoms such as muscle weakness, bone degeneration and painful cramps.
- Leriche's syndrome can also cause leg numbness. This medical condition causes a blockage in the heart's terminal aorta. As a result, blood can't flow to lower parts of the body and cuts off blood supply to the legs. Other symptoms affiliated with Leriche's syndrome include extreme fatigue and cold lower legs.
- Leg numbness can also happen if you cross your legs or apply pressure to your legs. This type of leg numbness isn't serious and can be easily relieved by standing and walking. This temporary numbness is also accompanied by tingling, prickling sensations.
- Buerger's disease inflames the small blood vessels in the legs which causes numbness. This disease can sometimes be painful. It can also cause tingling, burning, foot numbness, foot discoloration and poor leg circulation.
Comments
adityakd01 said
on 9/27/2009 Dear Therese,
What to do in case of nerve damage to legs. My uncle's legs stay numb all the time. His nails came off and he did not knew. It was bleeding and we had to tell him of the same. What are the treatments available? Is it dangerous? Can it lead to amputation of the legs? Kindly advise.
Regards,
Aditya
aditya_daga@hotmail.com