If you have lost sensation in any part of the body, it is referred to as “numbness”. This can last from few seconds to several minutes and in rare cases it could become permanent. Some people may also feel burning pain or pins and needles feeling in their legs or hands. Numbness can be described as loss of sensation and it can affect a single nerve or multiple nerves. It may occur on one side of the body or on both sides. Often, numbness can be felt in hands, feet or arms and legs but it may occur on any part of the body.
There are several factors that can cause numbness in your legs. In medical terms, numbness is known as “paresthesia”. Simple reasons like falling asleep in your arm or sitting in the same position for extended hours can also cause numbness. But numbness can become serious if caused due to medical condition and accompanied with other symptoms. Leg numbness can be treated after diagnosing its root cause.
Symptoms :
Temporary leg numbness would not show any other symptoms. Leg numbness caused due to other medical conditions is accompanied by other symptoms like leg pain, feeling of pins and needles on the affected leg. Not all the people having numbness in leg would have the same signs. Some people may get burning pain in the affected leg that radiates from the low back till the leg.
And some others would have pain in the lower leg particularly on their foot. It can cause severe tingling sensation in the leg that can affect the quality of life. In addition it may cause heaviness on the foot that can affect the normal movement. Nerve pain can occur for some people which can extend up to the buttocks area.
Causes :
The cause of leg numbness may vary from temporary illness to severe. Lack of movement of legs and keeping the legs crossed for extended duration can cause numbness. For some people certain medical conditions can affect the nerves causing numbness. In rare cases, problems in the brain or spinal cord can lead to numbness.