Why did my left leg go numb

On this page

• What is limb numbness?
• What causes limb numbness?
• When should I see my doctor?
• How is limb numbness treated?
• Can limb numbness be prevented?
• Related information on Australian websites

What is limb numbness?

Numbness, sometimes called ‘paresthesia’, means you lose some or all sensation in the affected part of your body. You won’t feel a light touch, pain or temperature. Numbness is due to a problem with the nerves sending signals to the brain.

You can experience numbness anywhere in your body, but it’s most commonly felt in the fingers, hands, feet, arms, or legs. You might also feel a tingling, prickling, or ‘pins and needles’.

Having a numb limb can lead to other problems, such as falling or not noticing an injury, infection or sore.

What causes limb numbness?

There are many causes of limb numbness. Usually it’s just because you’ve been sitting on one of your legs or sleeping on an arm and this has compressed the nerves that go to the area.

Many more serious conditions can also make your limbs go numb. These include:

• an injury, such as a herniated disc, compressing or injuring a nerve (if it's in your neck it will affect your arm, if it's in your back it will affect your leg)
• diabetes
• chronic kidney disease
• stroke or a mini-stroke (numbness will be on one side)
• a tumour or abscess in the brain (numbness will be on one side)
• multiple sclerosis
• carpal tunnel syndrome
• fibromyalgia
• an insect bite
• migraine
• radiotherapy
• abnormal levels of some vitamins and minerals in your body, such as vitamin B-12, potassium, calcium or sodium
• pressure being put on a nerve, such as because of a tumour, scar tissue, enlarged blood vessels or an infection
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• seizures
• hardening of the arteries
• an underactive thyroid
• damage to the skin, such as from frostbite or shingles

Nerve damage can also be caused by some medicines, including chemotherapy medicines, as well as by too much alcohol or tobacco.

When should I see my doctor?

Seek emergency medical help by calling triple zero (000) for an ambulance if your limb is numb and you also suddenly have:

• weakness or paralysis
• confusion
• difficulty talking
• dizziness
• a sudden, severe headache

See your doctor if your limb is numb for a long time, if it's not caused by your posture, and if you have any other symptoms, including:

• dizziness
• muscle spasms
• a rash
• your leg numbness is worse when you walk
• you're urinating more often than usual
• you have had a recent injury, especially to your back, neck or head
• you're confused
• your speech is slurred
• you can't see properly
• you feel weak
• you're in pain
• you can't control your bowels or bladder

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How is limb numbness treated?

Your doctor will order tests to find out the cause of your numbness. Make sure you tell them if you have had any recent injuries, illnesses or infections.

The treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the numbness. Long-term nerve problems can sometimes be treated with medicines including antidepressants, corticosteroids or gabapentin and pregabalin (if you have fibromyalgia, MS or diabetic neuropathy).

Can limb numbness be prevented?

You can massage the affected limb to help improve blood flow. Sometimes putting an ice pack or heat pack on the area for 15 minutes can help — but be very careful not to damage the skin. If the area is numb you won’t notice if it’s getting too hot or cold.

Exercise frequently to improve your blood flow and fitness. Make sure you get plenty of rest. Eat a healthy diet and avoid too much alcohol.

Some alternative therapies, such as massage or acupuncture, might also help. If your numbness is caused by a vitamin deficiency, your doctor may advise you to take supplements.

Numbness or tingling in the legs—or a pins-and-needles sensation—is common when you’ve been sitting in the same position for a long time. This can reduce blood flow or put too much pressure on the nerves, and usually goes away once you’ve moved around. 

Long-lasting or unexplained numbness or tingling, known as paresthesia, may be an indication of vitamin deficiency or toxicity or be a side effect of medication, alcohol, or injury. In some cases, it may be a symptom of a serious issue, such as diabetes, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, or stroke. The treatment you receive will depend on the cause of the sensation. 

This article discusses what can cause numbness or tingling in the legs, other symptoms that can accompany it, and how paresthesia is diagnosed and treated.

Associated Symptoms

If you’re experiencing leg tingling and numbness, it may be accompanied by other symptoms, including:

• Aches and pains in the affected leg
• Anxiety
• Back pain that may or may not shoot down the leg
• Burning sensation in the leg
• Crawling feeling under the skin 
• Itchiness
• Muscle spasms
• Sensitivity to touch 
• Trouble sitting upright or standing
• Weakness of the affected leg

Common Causes

There are many potential causes of leg numbness and tingling. Sitting or standing in one position for a long time can temporarily cause this sensation, due to compression of nerves or lack of blood flow. Once you move, the sensation typically goes away. 

Leg numbness and tingling can also be a symptom of a wide range of health conditions that cause injury to the nerves or restrict blood flow. Potential causes of this sensation include:

• Abnormal vitamin and mineral levels, including vitamin B12, calcium, potassium, and sodium 
• Frostbite (damage caused by frozen skin and the underlying tissue)
• Insect bite
• Medications, such as chemotherapy
• Radiation therapy
• Surgery
• Shingles (a painful rash caused by the chicken pox virus)
• Skin rash
• Toxins in seafood

Injury can sometimes produce the feeling of numbness or tingling, such as: 

• Back injury 
• Bone fractures in the leg 
• Herniated disk (a bulging, slipped, or ruptured area between bones of the spine)
• Injured nerve in the cervical spine (neck) due to trauma, such as a car accident or fall
• Pinched or compressed nerve

Other causes generally fall into the categories of neurological injury or disease.  

Chronic Conditions

Some chronic health conditions cause leg numbness and tingling as a symptom. Examples of conditions that may cause this sensation include:

• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Diabetes (condition involving how your body processes blood sugar)
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Migraine (severe, recurring headache)
• Multiple sclerosis (autoimmune disease affecting the brain and spinal cord)
• Peripheral neuropathy (damaged nerves outside the brain and spinal cord)
• Raynaud’s phenomenon (a condition causing decreased blood flow to the fingers)
• Seizures (sudden electrical disturbances in the brain)
• Stroke (blood flow to the brain is interrupted or reduced)
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (autoimmune disease causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage)
• Transverse myelitis (neurological disorder that causes inflammation in the spinal cord)

Diagnosis

Everyone experiences the feeling of numbness or tingling in their legs from time to time. Chances are you’ve felt it when you’ve been sitting in one position for a long time and felt better once you moved around. However, leg numbness and tingling can be a sign of a serious disease in some cases. If you’re experiencing ongoing or frequent episodes of leg numbness and tingling, make an appointment with your healthcare provider. 

When you meet with your healthcare provider, you will be asked about your symptoms and medical history, and you will undergo a physical examination. Share all of your symptoms, even if they don’t seem related to the sensations in your leg. Be sure to mention any recent injuries, vaccinations, or current medications and supplements you are taking. 

Your healthcare provider may order additional tests to provide a diagnosis. This may include blood work, nerve conduction studies, lumbar puncture (spinal tap, removing a sample of cerebrospinal fluid from the lower back), thyroid function testing, toxicology screening, and vitamin level testing, 

You may also undergo imaging tests such as a computerized tomography scan (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to help your doctor give an accurate diagnosis.

Treatment

There are many causes of leg numbness and tingling, and your treatment will depend on the cause of your symptoms. If your symptoms are caused by a chronic health condition, treatment will focus on reducing symptoms and slowing disease activity. If your symptoms are caused by an acute (severe and sudden onset) condition or injury, treatment will focus on healing and rehabilitation. 

When to Seek Medical Help

In some cases, feelings of numbness and tingling in the leg can indicate a serious medical condition or injury. Talk with your healthcare provider about numbness and tingling if:

• It lasts for long periods of time or occurs frequently.
• It is accompanied by other symptoms .
• It is accompanied by changes in the color, shape, or temperature of your leg.
• There is no obvious cause.
• You feel dizzy, have a rash, or muscle spasms.

Call 911 in These Instances

Seek medical care immediately if you have or are experiencing any of the following:

• Injury to the back, head, or neck
• Inability to move or walk
• Loss of bladder and/or bowel control
• Feelings of confusion
• Loss of consciousness
• Slurred speech
• Vision problems

Summary 

Numbness or tingling in the legs can be caused by many things, including sitting or standing in one position for too long, neurological injury or disease, or chronic health conditions, such as multiple sclerosis or fibromyalgia (chronic, widespread pain).

Talk to your healthcare provider if you have ongoing or frequent episodes of leg numbness or tingling. They will give you a physical examination and may order tests to determine the cause. Some causes of lower leg numbness can be managed with simple treatments, and others will require ongoing treatments and medical care. 

A Word From Verywell 

A combination of numbness and tingling in the legs is common, and often easily treated. When it becomes chronic or disrupts your quality of life, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires treatment. If you are experiencing numbness or tingling accompanied by other symptoms, or if the condition becomes painful or frequent, speak with your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and treatment. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should you see a neurologist about leg numbness?

  Numbness or tingling in the leg can occur for many different reasons, some as simple as sitting in a way that presses on a nerve or cuts off blood circulation in the leg. If you experience ongoing or frequent numbness or tingling or if it comes on suddenly, it may be time to see a neurologist, a medical doctor specializing in conditions of the brain and nervous system. 

• Will an MRI show nerve damage?

  Magnetic resonance imaging provides images of soft tissue structures in the body. Though an MRI cannot show nerve damage, it can help identify any structural changes or abnormalities in the body that may be causing nerve compression, such as a herniated disk. Nerve damage is typically diagnosed based on the results of a neurological examination. 

• Can heart problems cause leg numbness?

  Numbness and tingling in the legs may be a sign of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD occurs when peripheral arteries that carry blood away from the heart to other parts of the body become narrow. Edema (swelling) in the legs can be a symptom of heart disease. 

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