Changes in the sensitivity of the legs from the area below the knee to the foot cause a number of inconveniences, ranging from annoying tingling sensations to severe pain in the joints. Such phenomena may indicate the presence of neurological, vascular and other pathologies, which are best treated in the early stages of development. That is why it is necessary to identify the reasons why numbness in the legs below the knees occurs as early as possible.
Most often, the causes of numbness in the legs are somehow related to physical inactivity. Lack of physical activity most often causes complications in the legs. The same can happen with increased load on the lower extremities, which causes premature wear of bone, cartilage, muscle tissue, ligaments, as well as blood vessels and nerve fibers. Moreover, despite the fact that the discomfort is at the level of the knee and spreads below it, the causes are most often located higher - in the spinal column, for example.
Each of these diseases manifests itself with certain symptoms, including loss of sensation in the left or right leg (very rarely in both limbs) below the knee joints.
Video - How to treat numbness in the limbs?
With osteochondrosis, pathological changes occur in the intervertebral discs, through the openings of which nerve fibers pass, responsible for transmitting signals from the brain to the legs, and then back. When they are pinched, pain and numbness appear in the legs, especially often in the left.
Most often, the cause of this disease is a lack of movement, as well as certain chemical compounds in the body, which causes a decrease in the height of the intervertebral discs. This factor is quickly identified during a comprehensive diagnosis, which allows the specialist to understand exactly why the legs are going numb.
You can get rid of loss of sensitivity due to osteochondrosis using an integrated approach to treating the disease.
Kinesitherapy helps to get rid of loss of sensitivity
In addition, during treatment it is necessary to focus on eliminating the cause of osteochondrosis, such as a lack of microelements for the construction of cartilage tissue. For this, the patient is recommended to follow a specially designed diet.
When an intervertebral hernia forms, the cartilage layer between the vertebrae ruptures, causing the disc to become displaced. In this case, pain and numbness occur when the patient is in a sitting position for a long time, as well as at night. Symptoms are less common in the left leg, but occur much more often in the right leg.
It is possible to determine why such symptoms appear using tomography, radiography and ultrasound diagnostics of the spine . There is also another method to determine the causes of numbness at home: during an attack of pain when stretching the leg forward, the limb cramps.
Since intervertebral hernia is of a similar nature to spinal osteochondrosis, it can be treated using the same set of tools and methods.
These methods are considered the most effective, as they completely eliminate the causes of numbness in the legs below the knee.
Neuropathy and multiple sclerosis are rare and very dangerous diseases that often cause loss of sensation in the lower extremities from the knee to the foot. Both of these diseases have a wide range of causes: autoimmune, toxic, hereditary, traumatic and post-infectious. It is sometimes impossible to understand exactly why this or that pathology appeared.
Their essence is the targeted destruction of the myelin sheath of nerve fibers. In multiple sclerosis, the lesions are localized in the brain and spinal cord, in neuropathy - on the peripheral nerves.
It is most often not possible to cure neuropathy and multiple sclerosis completely. However, in medical practice it is customary to use a set of measures
Patients are also advised to give up bad habits and follow a diet.
Raynaud's disease and vascular atherosclerosis are systemic pathologies that are difficult to treat, the treatment of which requires a complete revision of lifestyle and long-term (often lifelong) medication. The essence of these diseases is the lack of normal blood circulation in the tissues, which, in addition to numbness, causes pain, fatigue and weakness in the muscles. In this case, the left and right limbs are affected equally.
Physiotherapeutic treatment with different frequency currents, massage and temperature effects on tissues are also indicated. Some procedures can only be done during remission. If there is no effect or the symptoms worsen, the doctor may decide to perform an operation to restore vascular patency.
Everyone knows the feeling of loss of sensation in the legs or arms. Staying in one position for a long time or squatting, uncomfortably straining your muscles, you can feel a strong tingling sensation. It continues until the position changes - this is a sign of numbness. You should not be afraid of it - it can be eliminated easily and quickly. It's a completely different matter if symptoms appear frequently and get worse over time. This picture should alert you and prompt a visit to the doctor. After the examination, the specialist leaves a note: “diagnosis: paresthesia.” The patient's age does not matter in this case. The disease can manifest itself in both pensioners and young people.
Of all the types of numbness, partial loss of function of the legs below the knees is the most common, although the thigh area suffers just as much. In the office of a traumatologist, therapist, or vascular surgeon, visitors complain of painful joints, especially when moving, and an unpleasant sensation of needles inside the soft tissues. If such a condition manifests itself sharply, simultaneously in the right and left limbs, then there is reason to suspect serious disorders of the musculoskeletal system. It is necessary to use complex treatment.
Primary causes must be distinguished. In cases where symptoms of numbness appear after prolonged physical activity (hard work, long sports training), there is no need to worry too much. After a few hours of rest and relaxation, functions are restored. The maximum return time is 2-3 days, if an excessive load for the body was applied and the muscles released excess lactic acid. The legs twist, break, the heaviness does not go away for a long time, and sometimes the body temperature rises.
More than 75% of cases of “death” of the hip area are associated with diseases of the spine and infringement of the nerve endings of the spinal cord. Secondary dangers are fraught with:
The disease most often affects people aged 15 to 40 years. The risk group is able-bodied citizens with workaholic tendencies. If you observe symptoms, you must immediately begin to react and take measures:
Risk groups also include people suffering from nervous and heart disorders, pregnant women who are rapidly gaining weight and are prone to anemia. But after childbirth, health returns to normal. Constant tension, stress, headaches prepare fertile ground for paresthesia.
Examination and listening to complaints of stable numbness of the right or left leg above the kneecap leads doctors to conclusions about necrosis of the femoral head, thrombosis, and osteochondrosis. This also indicates the seriousness of problems with the vertebrae, heart, and blood vessels.
Experienced consulting surgeons and neurologists are able to recognize internal diseases from the external picture. They will see an intervertebral hernia and suspect a tumor formation or disc displacement.
Paroxysmal pain after prolonged sitting, bending the leg at the hip, sensation of a foreign object in the groin, compression of the buttock indicate damage to the roots of the nerves at the exit of the spinal column. In most cases, the front of the thighs goes numb (in 60% of examined patients).
Such dysfunctions may indicate lumbar osteochondrosis, sciatica, sciatica, neuralgia or inflammation of the sciatic nerve, spinal stenosis as a consequence of the degenerative dystrophic process. A common provocateur is Bernhardt-Roth and Raynaud's disease tunnel syndrome. This ailment is caused by malfunctions of the aorta after frostbite of the II-III degree, or previous infections.
The factors causing the disease are progressive alcoholism, post-infarction or stroke conditions, minimizing vitamin intake - everything that interferes with the normal passage of impulses from the periphery to the brain center.
Extensive diagnostics will allow you to respond in a timely manner and eliminate the accidental diagnosis of a pseudo-diagnosis. Only knowledge of a complete medical history will give the doctor the opportunity to narrow down their list and help the sick person make a decision. Concomitant or provoking are always defined as:
Not only a survey will help a professional understand, but also general tests, ultrasound examination of organs, magnetic resonance imaging, X-rays, Doppler control, tests for oncological lesions.
If the lower back has been bothering you for 2-3 years and the disease is accompanied by a burning sensation in the legs above the knees or tingling, then 6-8 months of constant pain in the outer part of the buttocks - these are the main signs of paresthesia. The muscles hurt when walking, the skin feels bad when it is touched and pressed lightly. Sometimes current discharges pass through tissues. Distortion of the functionality of nerve roots and capillaries is formed equally on the right or left, regardless of the side, and is capable of migrating and moving to the superficial layers. In runners, jumpers, and figure skaters, the right kicking leg is at greater risk.
The groin becomes numb - you can suspect meralgia paresthetica, analgesia, vertebrobular radiculopathy. There is intermittent claudication when moving or interfering balls are indicated if you bring the bent leg to the stomach while lying down.
The outer and back parts of the surface of the thighs become numb – intervertebral hernia, sciatic nerve neuralgia. Raising the outstretched leg upward will outline the signs more clearly.
The sacrum is responsible for the internal part. It is rarely damaged, so it is necessary to examine urological, proctological areas and gynecology in order to have comprehensive information.
You cannot approach the choice of treatment methods narrowly, one-sidedly. In each case, this should be a complex of 2-5 methods, including medication courses (tablets, injections), physiotherapy, traditional and non-traditional practices.
Acupuncture, physical therapy exercises, massages, electrophoresis, phonophoresis, ultrasound, saturation of blood vessels with oxygen, and fortified foods remain popular and effective.
It is possible to alleviate painful conditions at home if you have folk remedies at hand.
In case of advanced forms or exacerbations, you must immediately contact a medical institution for emergency help so as not to miss, under the guise of numbness, the initial stages of more life-threatening diseases associated with the heart, cerebral cortex, and internal organs, which are difficult and expensive to treat.
Many people are interested in the question of why their legs go numb. There are many reasons for this phenomenon. Numbness can cause discomfort and cause unpleasant pain in the knee joint. As a result, worries about your health may arise.
What is most interesting is that the legs below the knees go numb not only in old people, but also in people in good physical shape. For young people, this condition prevents them from working fully and leads to unpleasant consequences. A person facing a similar problem needs to consult a doctor who will find out the cause of numbness in the legs and prescribe treatment.
Numbness in the leg above or below the knee is often the result of a disorder of nerve sensitivity. This may indicate a serious illness. According to statistics, almost all cases of numbness indicate problems with the musculoskeletal system.
The human spine performs many functions. The normal functioning of the limbs, including the knee joint, directly depends on the condition of the spinal column. If a person suffers from swelling of the legs and their numbness, this indicates the presence of problems in the lumbar region. The complexity of the situation and the stage of development of the disease can be determined by how often numbness in the leg above the knee occurs.
Numbness in the leg due to a hernia occurs just above the knee, a similar symptom in osteochondrosis. This disease is the main cause of discomfort in the limbs. The disease can progress, and at certain stages, numbness in the legs is noted among other symptoms.
Naturally, unpleasant sensations in the legs arise not only due to problems with the spine. For example, the left leg goes numb, as does the right leg, if a person is in an uncomfortable position for a long time, motionless. Among other reasons not related to diseases of the musculoskeletal system, I note the following:
There are several main symptoms accompanying this phenomenon. When there is numbness in the leg above the knee, the following occurs:
If you begin to actively move your leg above the knee while your leg is numb, a sharp pain will immediately appear. Even an ordinary cough can lead to pain. In some cases, numbness of the leg due to a herniated spine is accompanied by cramps.
The process occurs gradually and can be divided into several stages.
If such symptoms occur, you should immediately seek help from a specialist. Timely treatment will identify the causes of numbness and eliminate them.
If your left leg goes numb, this may indicate heart problems. In this case, you should immediately consult a doctor, especially if your leg above the knee goes numb.
To identify the cause of numbness in the limbs, you need to consult a neurologist. Computed tomography and x-rays are used to examine the patient. In some cases, to determine why the leg below or above the knee is numb, an ultrasound scan of the blood vessels and a general blood test are prescribed.
There can be many reasons for numbness. Therefore, in addition to the neurologist, you will have to visit a traumatologist, orthopedist and other specialists. After the diagnosis is made, the necessary comprehensive treatment is selected to eliminate numbness in the legs below or above the knee.
Often the problem lies in a person’s lack of mobility. In order to improve blood circulation, certain physical activities are necessary. It is advisable to walk, run and do aerobics quickly. If a person has weak blood vessels, numbness in the legs below the knee can be eliminated with the help of exercises. You need to lie on your back, raise your limbs up and shake them for 3-4 minutes. If the patient is constantly in one position, it is worth resorting to gymnastics. It will eliminate numbness in the legs below the knee and prevent the occurrence of this symptom.
If your leg above the knee becomes numb, you can turn to traditional medicine. Wraps, compresses and herbal tinctures will help. As a preventative measure, it is recommended to take contrast baths. Under no circumstances should you allow your feet to become hypothermic.
Complex therapy also involves the use of medications. The choice of drugs depends on the cause that triggered the appearance of numbness. For treatment to be as effective as possible, it is important to carry out high-quality diagnostics.
Blood circulation problems often occur in pregnant women. In this case, taking multivitamins with a high content of iron and minerals will help eliminate numbness of the limbs. Walking before bed and a warm shower will be helpful.
If your leg goes numb from the knee to the hip, then you shouldn’t immediately make terrible diagnoses. Usually short-term loss of sensitivity may occur due to excessive physical exertion. If this is the reason, then this unpleasant symptom will go away on its own, but if it occurs quite often, then you need to consult a doctor and undergo a full examination. Even if no illnesses are identified, you can play it safe and understand that there are no serious reasons for concern.
Before looking for the reason why your leg is numb from the hip to the knee, you need to understand what numbness is. It is a subjective symptomatology consisting of a set of clinical manifestations.
The patient may feel the lower limbs or feet begin to tingle, itching and burning appear, indicating that blood circulation in this area is impaired. In medicine, temporary loss of sensation in the limbs is called paresthesia. Its appearance is characterized by goosebumps, tingling and temporary incapacity of the limbs.
It can occur due to prolonged compression, irritation of nerve endings or poor circulation in a particular area of the lower extremities. This sensitivity disorder is called transient, since the symptoms disappear quickly enough. As an example of such a situation, we can take loss of sensitivity when sitting for a long time with crossed legs or falling asleep in the wrong position.
If paresthesia is detected in a chronic course, then this is a pathological condition that occurs as a result of damage to any part of the nervous system. The reason for its appearance may be due to the following factors:
But in some cases, it may be caused by alcoholism or vitamin deficiency.
As mentioned above, paresthesia is just a symptom of some kind of malfunction in the body, telling you about health problems through numbness in the lower extremities. Most often, paresthesia occurs as a result of the following diseases:
Osteochondrosis. This disease most often causes paresthesia of the lower extremities, which is the main symptom of this disease. Loss of sensation develops due to compression of nerve endings, leading to disruption of impulses sent to and from organs or parts of the body. In this case, not only the innervation of the lower extremities is disrupted, but also the vascular network in the spinal column is pinched, which leads to aggravation of symptoms. Osteochondrosis develops as a result of an inactive lifestyle and sedentary work.
Intervertebral hernia. The reason that the left leg goes numb from the hip to the knee can be the displacement of the discs located between the vertebrae. As a result, the radicular portions of the spinal cord emerge from the spinal canal and protrude between the vertebral discs. Thus, they are constantly injured, causing loss of sensation in the legs.
Atherosclerosis. This disease is characterized by increased formation of cholesterol, which clogs blood vessels. It is attached to their stacks, thus narrowing the lumen for normal blood circulation. Over time, the vessels can become completely clogged, resulting in oxygen starvation of the tissues and slowing down blood flow. For this reason, goosebumps, tingling and numbness will be felt in areas affected by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis develops against the background of obesity and high blood cholesterol.
Rheumatoid arthritis. This disease is an inflammation that appears against the background of degenerative changes in the joints. Rheumatism can affect either one joint or several at once. Most often it is caused by a genetic predisposition. Due to the fact that the joint capsule swells and becomes inflamed, compression of the nerves occurs and the development of anemia. As a result, the limbs may temporarily lose sensation.
Neuropathy. This disease affects nerve endings with complete or partial loss of their functions. Symptoms of the disease are constant tingling, numbness, itching and swelling of the lower extremities.
Lack of physical activity. Lack of physical activity most often causes numbness in the leg from the hip to the knee. If you lead a sedentary lifestyle or have a sedentary job, then you are probably familiar with the problem of loss of sensation in your limbs. To avoid this, it is enough to do leg exercises several times a day or at least walk around the room from time to time.
Pregnancy. Frequent numbness of the leg from the hip to the knee is observed in expectant mothers and is associated with changes occurring in the body during pregnancy. Since the body’s primary task is to deliver blood to the fetus, and not to the mother, numbness can appear not only in the lower, but also in the upper extremities.
If you monitor the process of numbness and identify in which part of the limb it most often occurs, you can understand the symptoms of what disease paresthesia is.
There are many ways to restore sensation in the legs, but you can choose which one is right for you only after the doctor discovers the cause of paresthesia and makes the correct diagnosis.
More often, anti-inflammatory drugs, vitamins, therapy to relax muscles and improve blood circulation, as well as therapeutic exercises and physiotherapeutic procedures are prescribed to eliminate numbness in the extremities. After completing the full course of treatment, discomfort and paresthesia completely disappear.
If after examination in the clinic the doctor did not find any serious pathologies, then most likely the reason is a sedentary lifestyle. For this reason, it is necessary to move as much as possible, walk more often, visit the gym and pool, and, of course, make sure that your diet contains as many vitamins and microelements as possible.
By following these simple rules, you can get rid of numbness completely and prevent it from appearing again. Be healthy.
Numbness of the skin of the thigh on the left (right) leg is a loss of sensitivity, paresthesia in the area from the groin to the knee. Patients describe as paroxysmal symptoms that appear after prolonged sitting, bringing the thigh to the abdomen, after sleep or walking.
In 60% of cases, the front part of the thigh becomes numb; less often, numbness occurs above the knee, on the inside or outside of the leg, or on the back surface. In 90% of cases, the sensations are combined with pain in the lower back, groin or buttock and indicate damage to the nerve roots in the area of their exit from the spine by intervertebral hernias.
Differential diagnosis allows you to rule out other problems that cause similar symptoms. After conducting an examination and having a complete history of the disease, the doctor will be able to rule out underlying diseases. Finding out the presence of injuries, hypothermia and symptoms of the disease will help narrow the list of diagnostic methods. The following may be recommended: general blood and urinalysis, blood biochemistry, ultrasound of internal organs, thyroid gland, vessels of the lower extremities, MRI of the brain, tumor markers, etc.
Site of onset of numbness in Roth syndrome
— I’ve had lower back pain for several years, numbness in the right/left thigh, burning, slight tingling;
— For six months, the skin above the knee, on the outside of the buttocks, constantly goes numb;
— After sleep, at night the outer surface of the “thigh” of the left leg becomes numb;
- Bringing the thigh to the stomach, a feeling of a ball in the groin and the upper part of the thigh goes numb;
- Above the knee on the inside of the thigh there is numbness and sharp pain, like electric shock;
— I can’t feel the skin of my left (right) leg, this appears periodically, but each time it gets stronger;
- “Goosebumps” run up the leg, more noticeable in the thigh, if you don’t move for a long time it becomes numb;
— I can’t walk because of pain in my buttock and leg, the outside of my leg is already numb;
— Slight tingling in the thigh on the left/right, as if blood is not flowing into the leg;
- Suddenly the back of the thigh began to become very numb and does not go away when touching the skin - I feel it worse on the sore side;
— A patch of skin on my thigh goes numb, just like when I served my leg, the numbness constantly torments me.
-Burning pain in the thigh, muscles ache and become numb.
Numbness in the right thigh, like the left, does not indicate a clear cause, since problems are equally likely to occur on both sides. The exception is athletes who often experience numbness in their right leg due to additional stress on one side.
Damage to the nerve roots and vascular disorders occur on any side and tend to move and migrate. Many patients say that at first their right leg went numb, but then the same symptoms appeared on the right side, and vice versa.
Inguinal part in the leg area with Bernhardt-Roth syndrome, vertebral radiculopathy of the L1-3 roots. With carpal tunnel syndrome, an area appears on the upper thigh , closer to the outer part. This occurs due to compression of the neurovascular outlet in a narrow channel, which causes paresthesia and analgesia. If you bring a bent leg to your stomach, the symptoms intensify, a feeling of a foreign body appears in the groin area.
The posterior and outer surface becomes numb with intervertebral hernias and radiculopathy of the lumbar roots, neuralgia of the sciatic nerve. In this case, piriformis syndrome (pain in the buttock) may occur; the symptoms intensify when raising a straight leg up.
The inner part of the thigh becomes numb quite rarely; the sacral roots, which are damaged much less frequently, are responsible for the innervation of this area. Additionally, it is necessary to exclude proctological, urological, gynecological (for women) diseases.
Quite a few patients experience numbness in the thigh when walking, limping, and a crawling sensation. During such a load, all components of the limb and the cardiovascular system are involved. In diseases of the spine, loss of sensitivity is accompanied by discomfort in the back, intensifies when the leg is stretched and can extend to the heel, below/above the knee. It is worth remembering that in an upright position, blood flow to the legs increases and if there is insufficiency, then this can also manifest itself with such signs.
There are many methods used to restore sensation in the leg, but all of them should be used after an established diagnosis and differential diagnosis.
When the spine is affected, spinal correction is used to eliminate the root cause of the symptoms and prevent new exacerbations and deterioration. In case of significant inflammation, NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory drugs such as diclofenac, meloxicam, xevocam, nimesil, etc.), muscle relaxants, B vitamins, nootropics, etc. may be recommended. Next, a special therapeutic exercise is selected, with which the patient restores lost functions, optimizes the motor pattern and completely restores the affected side. The earlier treatment is started, the fewer consequences have to be treated in the future.
Loss of sensation in the right lower limb can occur due to a number of reasons that cause disruption in the innervation of the limb or its blood circulation. Most often, the right hip, above/below the knee, foot area, toes or heel may become numb. Depending on the level of pain and other symptoms, a possible cause can be suggested.
Sometimes the symptoms are combined with lower back pain, numbness in the arm, and worsen with movement or a stationary position (for example, while driving a car). The leg freezes in the cold and “goosebumps” appear.
In almost 90% of cases, the cause is complicated osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, which causes irritation of the nerve roots and neurological syndromes. Lumboischialgia (sciatica or inflammation of the sciatic nerve) develops. It is always necessary to exclude vascular diseases (varicose veins, thrombosis), systemic diseases (polyneuropathy, diabetes mellitus) and post-traumatic phenomena.
The toes of the right foot may go numb , all or some of them. The fifth lumbar nerve root is responsible for the innervation of the fingers. Therefore, the hernia can be located at the L4-L5 level. Symptoms extend from the outer part of the lower leg to the knee. In this case, the big toe and 2.3 fingers are affected. With significant deterioration, patients' right foot becomes weaker and they are unable to stand on their toes. Leaning the head and torso forward, taking deep breaths, or coughing may cause symptoms to worsen. When you lift your straight leg up, the numbness intensifies and radiates to the lower back on the right near the sacrum.
The little toe and part of the fourth toe of the right foot are innervated by the first sacral nerve root. Therefore, the hernia may be located at the L5-S1 level. The entire little finger becomes numb, spreading to the heel area. Worsening of the disease leads to a decrease in the Achilles tendon reflex, patients cannot stand on the right heel. The pain intensifies when sitting on a hard surface, walking or lifting a straight leg.
Symptoms accompanied by redness, swelling or limited mobility require consultation with an orthopedic traumatologist and may indicate systemic tissue damage, burns or frostbite, arthritis, Raynaud's syndrome, etc.
The right thigh starts from the knee to the level of the hip joint, the groin line. Numbness of the thigh of the right leg on the right upper part of the groin line indicates Bernhardt-Roth disease, intervertebral hernia L1-L4, damage to the nerve roots by tumor processes. There is also a rich number of lymph nodes and blood vessels in this area, but the symptoms are different from numbness.
The inside of the right thigh is numb , closer to the knee. At this level, the femoral nerve can be damaged in narrow canals, causing shooting pain when sitting.
One of the most common complaints in patients with intervertebral disc damage is numbness on the outside of the right leg . Signs increase when bending forward, trying to put on shoes, or raising the right straight leg.
Numbness in the right calf area, accompanied by periodic cramps and pain when walking, may indicate carpal tunnel syndrome in this area.
Numbness of the right heel is quite common, the symptoms periodically intensify, they are especially disturbing while sitting or when walking or any other movements. Tension of the sciatic nerve causes pain, even cramping. Some people wake up at night from unbearable tingling sensations and numbness in the right foot.
Neuropathy of the tibial and peroneal nerves occurs slightly less frequently. Numbness begins in the ankle area and extends into the foot. Pain points can be found near the Achilles tendon. In this case, the foot may go into spasm or, on the contrary, sag. Walking on heels or toes becomes more difficult.
Causes of numbness in the right leg:
The following treatment methods are available:
Numbness of the lower extremities is a fairly common problem that worries both the elderly and young people. In this article we will try to find the causes of numbness in the leg up to the knee/above/below the knee. Also, let’s pay attention to what can be done in a situation where your legs go numb?
In medicine, complete or partial loss of sensation in the lower extremities is called numbness or paresthesia. Most often, patients experience numbness in the area below the knees.
In this case, you will hear complaints such as: unpleasant tingling in the lower extremities, pain in the joints when moving. With a sharp one-time numbness of the lower extremities, a suspicion of diseases of the musculoskeletal system immediately arises.
At best, a person may experience numbness as a result of prolonged physical labor or after intense training in the gym. Then the numbness, as a rule, goes away after a few hours - a maximum of a few days. The lower limbs may become numb when a person applies a load that is unusual for the body. In this case, the muscles begin to secrete lactic acid in excess. The legs are painfully twisted, broken, causing painful sensations to the person.
If numbness occurs, it is imperative to consult a traumatologist, therapist and vascular surgeon.
Before we begin to describe the unpleasant symptoms of numbness in the legs above/below the knee, we will provide some statistics. About 80% of cases associated with numbness of the lower extremities are associated with diseases of the spine and musculoskeletal system.
In second place are problems that are associated with a sedentary lifestyle, as well as pathologies of the circulatory system, diseases of the central nervous system that nourish the legs.
Symptoms of numbness in the legs above/below the knee:
Doctors recommend additionally paying attention to how the patient feels, does he have a headache, does his heart hurt, does his temperature rise with numbness, is his blood pressure stable, is there any gastrointestinal disorder? If you can fully describe to the doctor all the unpleasant symptoms that are bothering you, this will speed up the diagnosis.
Of course, the reasons for numbness in the legs above/below the knee may come down to heredity. That is, if your first-degree relatives - mom, dad, sister, brother, as well as grandparents - had problems with the lower extremities, then this is more likely to happen to you too.
Further, a fairly common reason is an unhealthy lifestyle - if a person eats poorly, has a long history of smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages, then all this will definitely affect physical well-being.
The most common causes of numbness in the legs above/below the knee can be:
Treatment of pathologies such as osteochondrosis and intervertebral hernia should occur exclusively under the supervision of a doctor. You cannot help yourself on your own.
If a person has a history of diagnosed diseases such as diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, then their consequence may be the occurrence of neuropathy. With neuropathy, rapid damage to the nerve endings of the lower extremities begins. In such cases, therapy should cover not only the restoration of the sensitivity of nerve fibers, but also the treatment of the underlying disease that led to this pathology.
If numbness of the limbs began in an elderly patient (over 50 years old), then the cause should be sought in a disease such as atherosclerosis. With the acute and progressive development of atherosclerosis, a person experiences symptoms such as: weakness throughout the body, increased fatigue, pain during movement, pain when bending the knee.
With multiple sclerosis (this is damage to the nerve tissues of the spinal cord and brain), an unpleasant symptom such as numbness/stiffness begins to occur. Treatment is carried out in the inpatient department of a medical institution.
There is another reason for numbness in the knees above/below - the little-studied Raynaud's disease. This pathological course is characterized by impaired blood circulation in the lower extremities. A person complains of unpleasant spasms and convulsions in the lower extremities.
Any treatment for numbness of the lower extremities should begin with a visit to a specialist. The therapy for restoring lost sensitivity necessarily includes physical exercise.
Even in old age, it is recommended to pay special attention to the load on the lower limbs. In particular, you can start with walks in the fresh air, swimming, cycling. It is important to promote increased blood circulation using loads on the lower extremities.
Next, you definitely need to exclude coffee/strong tea/alcohol/smoking from your daily life.