Symptom: Leg numbness

Introduction: Leg numbness

Numbness usually arises from damage or disease of nerves. Numbness is often associated with or preceded by abnormal pain-like sensations often described as pins-and-needles, prickling or burning sensations called paresthesias; see leg paresthesias. Any numbness or abnormal sensations need prompt professional medical advice.

» Review Causes of Leg numbness: full list

Causes of Leg numbness:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Leg numbness. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Leg paresthesias
• Nerve entrapment
• Nerve compression (see Nerve symptoms)
• Wallet pressing on a nerve - if you are sitting on your wallet it may induce leg numbness.
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Diabetic peripheral neuropathy
• See also causes of numbness, foot numbness, or toe numbness
• Leriche syndrome

See full list of 54 causes of Leg numbness

» Review Causes of Leg numbness: full list

Causes of Types of Leg numbness:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Leg numbness:

• Foot numbness (22 causes)
• Toe numbness (19 causes)
• Numbness in Both Feet (41 causes)
• Numbness in one foot (47 causes)

More types of Leg numbness

Leg numbness: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Leg numbness, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Leg numbness: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Leg numbness and Nerve symptoms (47 causes)
• Leg numbness and Numbness (47 causes)
• Leg numbness and Pain (47 causes)
• Leg numbness and Sensations (47 causes)
• Leg numbness and Leg symptoms (46 causes)
• Leg numbness and Arm symptoms (35 causes)
• Leg numbness and Limb symptoms (34 causes)
• Leg numbness and Paresthesias (33 causes)
• Leg numbness and Arm numbness (31 causes)
• Leg numbness and Weakness (31 causes)
• Leg numbness and Leg paresthesia (28 causes)
• Leg numbness and Foot symptoms (26 causes)
• Leg numbness and Muscle symptoms (26 causes)
• Leg numbness and Head symptoms (22 causes)
• Leg numbness and Arm paresthesia (21 causes)
• Leg numbness and Hand symptoms (20 causes)
• Leg numbness and Muscle weakness (20 causes)
• Leg numbness and Digestive symptoms (19 causes)
• Leg numbness and Foot paresthesia (19 causes)
• Leg numbness and Foot numbness (18 causes)

See full list of 875 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Leg numbness

Home Diagnostic Testing and Leg numbness

Home medical tests possibly related to Leg numbness:

• Diabetes: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Tests
  • Home Blood Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Glucose Tests
  • Home Urine Ketone Tests
  • Home Diabetes HbA1c Tests
  • Home Microalbumin Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney)
  • Home Kidney Tests
  • Home Eye Tests

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Leg symptoms (1076 causes)
• Numbness (242 causes)
• Pain (2986 causes)
• Sensations (3186 causes)
• Nerve symptoms (3474 causes)
• Limb symptoms (1032 causes)
• Common symptoms (4555 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Leg numbness

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Leg numbness:

• Leg paresthesia, tingling leg

Diagnostic Guides for Leg numbness

12 MEDICAL SYMPTOM BOOKS: FULL TEXT ONLINE! Read the full text of published book sections related to Leg numbness from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Leg numbness. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Leg numbness

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Leg numbness

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However,...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See symptoms of Vitamin B12 deficiency or misdiagnosis of...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Leg numbness

Diagnostic tests for Leg numbness:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Leg numbness. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Feel the pulses in the legs - if reduced or absent should suggest peripheral atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or obstruction of the abdominal aorta and its branches by atherosclerosis.
  • Examine for a positive straight leg raising test (straightening the leg at the knee while lying on a bed causing pain in thigh, buttock and back) and/or a reduced ankle reflex- indicates herniated disk of L4-5 or L5-S1, lumbar spondylosis, spinal stenosis, cauda equina tumor or spondylolisthesis
  • Examine for a positive femoral stretch test (with the person laying on their stomach, flex knee with hip lifted in extension causes pain in the front of the thigh and the back) or a decreased knee jerk - indicates a herniated disk of L3-4 or L2-3 or lumbar spondylosis.
  • Examine the peripheral reflexes. If diffusely overactive may suggest multiple sclerosis, pernicious anemia, spinal cord tumor, syringomyelia (presence of cavities within the spinal cord) or anterior spinal artery occlusion. If diffusely under active may suggest peripheral neuropathy, poliomyelitis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, cauda equina tumor, metastatic tumor of the lumbar spine and occasionally pernicious anemia or peroneal neuropathy (disease of the peroneal nerve)

See full list of 31 diagnostic tests for Leg numbness

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Leg numbness. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had the leg numbness? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Is it unilateral or bilateral? - symmetrical involvement of both legs suggest peripheral neuropathy. If leg numbness is asymmetrical or confined to one limb this may suggest individual nerve disease.
• What area of the leg and/or foot is affected by numbness? - may help determine the cause.
• History of trauma or injury to leg? - e.g. broken leg or foot may damage nerves and cause leg numbness.
• History of a back injury? - may suggest spinal canal stenosis.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Leg numbness (16 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Leg numbness) may include:

• Pain in the involved leg or foot? - may suggest lumbar spine spondylosis (degeneration), spinal stenosis, tumor of the cauda equina (distal tip of the spinal cord and its nerves), spondylolisthesis (forward movement of one lumbar vertebrae on the one below it), herniated disk or pelvic tumor.
• Incontinence of urine? - If incontinence or urine is present, this may suggest poliomyelitis, cauda equina tumor or metastatic tumor of the lumbar spine.
• Symptoms of spinal canal stenosis? - e.g. long history of backache; pain initially in the lumbar back area and then radiating distally into buttocks and legs; numbness may be present in groin, medial thigh, big toe or little toe.
• Symptoms of peripheral atherosclerosis? - e.g. intermittent claudication (cramp like pain in the calves with exercise, relieved by rest), calf pain with rest, occasionally may have transient numbness of the leg accompanying the pain and fatigue of claudication.
• Symptoms of acute lower limb ischemia? - e.g. sudden severe leg pain, pallor of skin, paresthesia or numbness of lower leg, paralysis or weakness of leg.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Leg numbness (16 listings)

Stories from Users for Leg numbness

Real-life user stories relating to Leg numbness:

• Numbness and tingling all over
• palpitations, lightheadedness, heavy-feeling limbs, no diagnosis for 2+ years!
• Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
• numbness and tingling in legs
• 20 y/o -- Can't feel empty!
• constant diarrhea with numbness of my legs.
• numb tingling feet, back of legs.
• Numbness and Tingling from left torso down into both legs?
• I feel hopeless, can't get help
• My Fallice is numb
• Numbness, tremors, clear MRI
• elderly relative with numbness in feet and legs
• Constant Dizziness, Numbing of the Fingers, Legs and Feet
• Pulsating/Tingling/Numbness
• Handpain,numbness and dizzyness
• Numbness
• Numbness
• Funny feeling in left leg
• numbness
• Feeling strange - can't diagnose

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Leg numbness or relevant symptoms:

• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
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• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories
• Endocrine (Growth and Metabolism) (93)
  • Symptoms of Cushing's - Tests all negative
  • Has anyone been diagnosed with Wilson's Temperature Syndrome and are being treated??
  • Pitutary tumor
  • I am at my wits end with these symptoms
  • I think I have Cushings, can you help?
  • More user stories

Videos for Leg numbness

Patient Surveys for Leg numbness

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Medications or substances causing Leg numbness:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Leg numbness as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Fungizone Intravenous
• Capace
• Thalidomide
• Thalomid
• Stavudine

See full list of 14 medications causing Leg numbness

Drug interactions causing Leg numbness:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Leg numbness as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Dihydroergotamine and Nitroglycerin interaction

See full list of 1 drug interactions causing Leg numbness

Organs affected by Leg numbness:

The list of organs typically affected by Leg numbness may include, but is not limited to:

• Leg nerves
• Legs
• Skin

Detailed list of causes of Leg numbness

The list below shows some of the causes of Leg numbness mentioned in various sources:

• Acroosteolysis neurogenic - numb feet
• Amyloidosis AL - leg numbness
• Arachnoid Cysts - leg numbness
• Arteriosclerosis Obliterans - limb numbness
• Brain cancer - Numbness of arms or legs

See full list of 54 causes of Leg numbness

How Common are these Causes of Leg numbness?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Leg numbness. Of the 54 causes of Leg numbness that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 3 causes are "very common" diseases
• 2 causes are "common" diseases
• 0 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 0 causes are "rare" diseases
• 3 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 49 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 54 causes of Leg numbness

Conditions listing symptoms: Leg numbness:

The following list of conditions have 'Leg numbness' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Leg numbness Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Leg numbness based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: