When the leg begins to go numb from the hip to the knee, you should not panic. Usually this condition occurs due to excessive physical exertion and goes away on its own. However, you should be wary if the leg goes numb quite often and this happens for a long time. This is an occasion to see a doctor and undergo an examination. So why is the leg numb from hip to knee? Let's try to find out the reasons for this.
Medical statistics
In approximately 70% of cases, patient complaints are related to numbness of the front of the thigh. In severe cases, when the musculoskeletal system is affected, patients note that not only does the leg go numb from the hip to the knee, but pain also occurs in the perineum, groin, buttocks, abdominal cavity and lumbar region. Usually this condition is characteristic of an intervertebral hernia.
What is numbness?
Medical terminology refers to numbness with the term "paresthesia". This is a violation of sensitivity, accompanied by a feeling of numbness, running ants, burning sensations. Paresthesia usually occurs as a result of prolonged mechanical compression or irritation of the superficial nerve bundle, as well as due to a temporary violation of the blood supply to a certain area of the body. Such numbness is called passing, as it passes quickly enough. For example, if a person is in a sitting position for a very long time, then the leg begins to go numb and tingle.
Chronic paresthesia is already a pathology and quite often indicates a defeat of any part of the nervous system.
Common causes
If the leg goes numb from the hip to the knee, the reasons may be as follows:
- Osteochondrosis is considered the most common cause of numbness in the legs. With this disease, the nerve is squeezed, because of which the impulse to the organ and vice versa is disturbed. In addition to disturbing the innervation of the site, vessels in the spine begin to pinched reflexively, exacerbating the situation. Osteochondrosis occurs due to low physical activity or its absence and can develop at any age.
- An intervertebral hernia is also a common cause of numbness from the hip to the knee. With such a disease, they shift intervertebral discs, because of which the roots of the spinal cord do not fall into the spinal canal, where they should be located, but appear between the articular discs. As a result, they are constantly injured, causing numbness.
- Atherosclerosis is a disease that is characterized by the appearance of cholesterol plaques that attach to the walls of large vessels and gradually clog their lumen. This leads to the fact that oxygen ceases to flow to organs and tissues, and blood circulation slows down. Muscles and joints also begin to experience oxygen starvation, there is a feeling of numbness and tingling. Causes atherosclerosis overweight, bad habits, high blood cholesterol.
- Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory autoimmune joint disease. Swelling of the joint bag leads to compression of the nerve, causing numbness.
- Neuropathy - this disease is characterized by a complete loss of the function of nerve endings. The patient has a feeling of tingling, pain, burning, numbness, itching, legs begin to swell strongly.
- Low physical activity often leads to a numb leg from the hip to the knee. If the legs are constantly without movement, then in addition to numbness, you can earn osteochondrosis. Therefore, people whose profession is associated with a long stay in one place without movement should pay much more attention to the health of their legs. It is necessary to allocate 5-10 minutes every hour for gymnastics, which will prevent any disease of the legs.
- Pregnancy also provokes numbness of the lower extremities. At this time, the woman’s body begins to rebuild, and blood flow goes through the umbilical arteries. There is a feeling of numbness in different parts of the skin.
Other reasons
In addition to these common causes, there are others:
- Prolonged alcohol abuse.
- Mental abnormalities and disorders.
- Treatment with drugs, the side effect of which is a negative effect on the blood vessels and nerve endings.
- Thyroid disease.
- Injury to the spine, thighs, lower extremities.
- Diabetes.
Symptoms of Numbness
Depending on which part of the leg has lost sensitivity, the doctor is able to determine the disease that caused this pathological condition.
If the left leg is numb from the hip to the knee, as well as the right, then this is usually observed with polyneuropathy. If such a pathological condition has covered the inguinal region, this is a clear sign of a Bernhardt-Roth symptom or radiculopathy. Both of these diseases are hereditary.
If one leg is numb, this indicates problems with the spine, and usually the lesion is observed from the affected leg. Pain in the lower back may also occur. A pathological condition in the area of the knee or slightly below it indicates that the sciatic nerve is pinched.
Also, if the right leg is numb from the hip to the knee, then this may be due to the features of professional activity. This also applies to the left leg.
Numbness and pain that occurs in the upper thigh may indicate tunnel syndrome. It is characterized by the fact that the neurovascular bundle passes through a very narrow channel and its compression occurs. The external and posterior surfaces of the thigh are usually numb with radiculopathy and intervertebral hernias. Gluteal muscle pain may also occur.
If the leg goes numb from the hip to the knee when walking, lameness, a feeling of running goosebumps appear, then problems with the cardiovascular system are likely.
Diagnostics
Despite the pronounced symptoms that indicate the cause of numbness of the legs, diagnostic measures must be taken. They include the following examination methods:
- roentgenography;
- Ultrasound
- computed or magnetic resonance imaging;
- analysis of blood plasma for the level of vitamins and minerals.
Treatment
If the leg goes numb from hip to knee, what should I do? It is necessary to consult a doctor. Only treatment started on time can bring a positive result and guarantees complete relief from this ailment. If numbness in the leg bothers a person for a long time, then in advanced cases atrophy of nerve fibers and roots develops. The disease takes a chronic form, and it is likely that a feeling of numbness will periodically occur throughout life.
In addition, weakness and a feeling of pain in the leg may increase . The restructuring of the musculoskeletal system is possible, and then the body weight is transferred to a healthy leg, which leads to curvature of the spine. There is also a high probability of occurrence of disorders of the nervous system, manifested in the form of depression.
Thus, if the leg goes numb from the hip to the knee, treatment should begin with getting rid of the factor that causes this pathological condition. In diseases of the spine, the entire musculoskeletal system is carefully examined and corrected to prevent the development of new symptoms.
Treatment includes the use of the following drugs and events:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (Nimesulide, Diclofenac), produced in the form of tablets, ointments, injections;
- restorative drugs and vitamins of group B;
- muscle relaxants ("Tizanidine", "Baclofen") relieve muscle tension and restore their tone;
- nootropic drugs ("Piracetam", "Cavinton") restore and improve blood flow;
- medical gymnastics helps to activate muscle function and relieves discomfort;
- physiotherapy that helps restore nerves (paraffin baths , mud baths).
In addition, surgical intervention is possible to eliminate compression of the nerve roots with a hernia or protrusion of the disc, as well as osteochondrosis.
Preventative measures
If, after the examination, a serious disease was not detected, and the cause of numbness of the leg is insufficient physical activity, it is recommended that more time be devoted to walking. Walking time must be increased gradually so that the legs do not overstrain. It is advisable to have orthopedic shoes so that the pressure when walking is distributed evenly not only to the muscles of the legs, but also to the entire spine.
Output
Thus, if the leg goes numb from the hip to the knee, then the sooner the treatment is carried out, the more likely it is to get rid of such a pathological condition without any consequences. Early diagnosis of a serious disease, the symptom of which is numbness of the lower extremities, helps to stop the development of disorders in the body. Do not neglect your health, but it is better to use preventive measures to prevent diseases.