Tingly/Numb Leg
November 5, 2012 8:37 AM   Subscribe

Left side of my left leg and foot is numb/tingly. Why?

Bout 6-7 months ago my left side of my left leg was hurting and causing me intense pain. After 4 days of it I finally went to the doctor and they ran tests for blood clots and blood flow. Everything according to them was normal, after a few days the pain went away so I thought they were right.

Only a few days after the pain stopped I noticed that side of my leg and foot was tingly and numb sometimes. The tingly (like when your foot is asleep) lasts all the time but the numb feeling comes and goes. I went back to the doctor but they essentially told me I was crazy nothing was wrong with my leg.

What the heck is going on? Anyone have any ideas? Helpful information I am Type 2 Diabetic and I thought it may have something to do with that but the doctors didn't seem to think so.

Please help?
posted by roxiesmom to Health & Fitness (13 answers total)
 
Did your doctor test for and rule out sciatica? I have *very* similar symptoms on the right side, and that's what my doctor thought it was.
posted by deadmessenger at 8:52 AM on November 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


I had "tingly leg" for a while. Went to the doctor and she repeatedly stabbed my leg with a broken popsicle stick to see how far the numbness went. As it turns out, we did process of elimination and determined that I just needed a lumbar support pillow in my car. Pinched nerve.

Obviously, IANAD... but you might want to approach yours again and do some troubleshooting. If they say "you are crazy" for saying your foot is numb... I'd get another doctor. Something is going on.
posted by Temeraria at 8:56 AM on November 5, 2012 [2 favorites]


I had the same thing a few times always with a few months' or weeks' gap. It was sciatica and was triggered by some shoes I was overly fond of wearing that must have caused a slight change in my stance and gait. Got rid of the shoes, started wearing shoes that were more sensible for times I was going to be on my feet for long periods and, viola, no sciatica since.

My doc said it was probably caused by the sciatic nerve in the hip joint and I had both issues, the pain and the numbness.
posted by readery at 8:57 AM on November 5, 2012


Response by poster: I had thought about a pinched nerve and questioned my doc about it the second time I went in but was told that wouldn't cause what I was feeling. I work at a hardware store so I'm on my feet 9-10 hours a day on a concrete floor so I thought that had something to do with it as well.
posted by roxiesmom at 9:01 AM on November 5, 2012


I am no doctor, but have had similar experience and while waiting for specialist to see me someone recommended I take magnesium (just, not with calcium) and the tingling numbness went away. I don't have Type 2 Diabetes though, so may not work for you--I don't know--just sharing my very anecdotal experience.
posted by OlivesAndTurkishCoffee at 9:17 AM on November 5, 2012


Symptoms of sciatica but more first eliminate the much more common piriformis syndrome (piriformis is a horizontal muscle in your bum that, when contracted, puts pressure on the sciatic nerve). Get a good massage or do some self-directed acupressure (there are lots of good youtube videos on the subject that I can't link to from my phone). (On preview, Olivesand...'s magnesium suggestion is good for spasming muscles too).
posted by headnsouth at 9:32 AM on November 5, 2012


In my experience, it's difficult to narrow down the source of leg numbness/pain because switching up your habits or shoes may not have an immediate effect on your body, and the numbness may last for days after the initial trigger. You will have to be patient and be very aware of your surroundings.

If I were you, I would keep track of your day-to-day apparel and your daily habits, and look for trends. Are you wearing the same shoes everyday? Are you locking your knees when you stand up straight? Do you cross your knees over your legs too frequently? Are your pants too tight around your legs/calves? Do your legs hang off the edge of the bed when you sleep? Once you find something that makes you suspicious, try changing it up for a week or two.
posted by nikkorizz at 9:42 AM on November 5, 2012


Response by poster: I'll try to magnesium cuz at this point I'll try anything. It's to the point that I've fallen from a ladder once cuz I didn't feel that my foot didn't lift when I needed it to. I have had back issues and surgeries in the past but was told by my doctor this was not affecting what was happening now, cuz I guess they aren't sure what is going on.
posted by roxiesmom at 11:02 AM on November 5, 2012


Diabetic neuralgia? How's your A1C doing lately?

"Longer nerve fibers are affected to a greater degree than shorter ones, because nerve conduction velocity is slowed in proportion to a nerve's length. In this syndrome, decreased sensation and loss of reflexes occurs first in the toes on each foot, then extends upward. It is usually described as glove-stocking distribution of numbness, sensory loss, dysesthesia and night time pain. The pain can feel like burning, pricking sensation, achy or dull. Pins and needles sensation is common. Loss of proprioception, the sense of where a limb is in space, is affected early. These patients cannot feel when they are stepping on a foreign body, like a splinter, or when they are developing a callous from an ill-fitting shoe. Consequently, they are at risk of developing ulcers and infections on the feet and legs, which can lead to amputation. Similarly, these patients can get multiple fractures of the knee, ankle or foot, and develop a Charcot joint. Loss of motor function results in dorsiflexion, contractures of the toes, loss of the interosseous muscle function and leads to contraction of the digits, so called hammer toes. These contractures occur not only in the foot but also in the hand where the loss of the musculature makes the hand appear gaunt and skeletal. The loss of muscular function is progressive."
posted by sibboleth at 2:08 PM on November 5, 2012


I had similar issues. My dad, a chiropractor, lives 2,000 miles away, but he said "I bet your keep your wallet in your back right pocket."

He was right. I moved it to my front pocket and the problems went away after a few days.
posted by tacodave at 3:46 PM on November 5, 2012


You need a new doc, or at least a second opinion. This is a safety issue for you. You've already fallen once. You work in an environment where a fall could cause a serious injury.
Diabetic neuropathy is fairly common and I'm surprised that your doc wrote off that idea so easily. Not saying it's what you have, but still worth looking into.
Do you have an endocrinologist managing your diabetes? You could ask them.
There are some fairly good medications for neuropathies (whatever the cause). Find a doc who is willing to take you seriously. You don't need to fall again.
Physical therapy is also a good idea. They should be able to give you ways to deal with ambulating with the sensation issues.
posted by brevator at 4:41 PM on November 5, 2012 [1 favorite]


The reason that your Doc probably didn't think that it was diabetic neuropathy is because the presentation of diabetic neuropathy is usually not dermatomal as you are suggesting your pain is. In the absence of back pain, it is most likely a peripheral entrapment of your sciatic nerve (the dreaded "sciatica"). In a nutshell, when a nerve is compressed, it gradually loses function. In the early stages this usually presents as tingling or numbness. As it progresses, you can lose function of the muscle or tissues that are supplied by that nerve. There are many causes for nerve compression, and there are tests for such things.

In the cases that I have seen, it is relatively uncommon for a peripheral nerve entrapment to progress to the point that weakness in a muscle develops. Further, the fact that you have developed weakness to the point that you are having falls is a red flag in my book.

I would suggest trying to see a different doctor. There are various imaging (MRI, CT) and other studies (Nerve Conduction - tests whether the signal is getting down a nerve or not, and where it might be getting stopped) that would help figure out what is going on. If your regular doctor is not familiar with this condition request a referral for a neurologist or neurosurgeon.
posted by walmerhoz at 8:27 PM on November 7, 2012


Response by poster: My fiance forced me to go to another doctor and have since scheduled tests for next week. This doctor thinks it's not my diabetes and could have something to do with my back surgery earlier this year. The loss of feeling comes and goes so that doesn't seem to make sense to this doctor either but at least he is listening to me.
posted by roxiesmom at 12:09 PM on November 9, 2012


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