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Have you ever experienced a dead leg? It is a common condition in which you may feel a loss of sensation in your limbs. You might feel deadness in single (unilateral) or both (bilateral) limbs. This emotionlessness might also extend to your toes.

So, considering the numb definition, you might wonder why this happens. It is due to the lack of blood supply to a body region or nerve impairment. Besides, it can also occur due to infection, swelling, shock, trauma, and other abnormal progressions. The majority of cases might not result due to life-threatening ailments, but this is a common symptom of stroke or tumor.

So, the numb leg is usually associated with a pins and needles sensation, a tingly or burning sensation known as paraesthesia. However, leg numbness is dead legs, while paralysis is impaired movement and sensation loss.

Causes And Factors Contributing To Numbness In The Legs And Buttocks

Though, the numbness in the legs can vanish quickly (depending on the condition), with emotionlessness in the buttocks and legs after you sit cross-legged for a long time. On the contrary, deadness might occur abruptly or develop slowly. In contrast, chronic numbness hints at nerve damage. This condition might worsen at night and happen if you have paraesthesia.

Suppose you feel emotionless in the legs for more than a few minutes. In that case, it might be a symptom of an underlying ailment, so it is essential to consult a medical professional to discuss your condition. Sometimes, you might feel a loss of bowel control, paralysis, confusion, muscle weakness, and slurred speech. You must seek emergency medical help.

What are the Symptoms of a Dead Leg?

Numbness in limbs might come with another symptom or a range of symptoms. However, the symptoms depend on the root cause. If your legs are numb (due to a compressed nerve in the lower back pain), the pain might travel down your legs and spine. At the same time, leg numbness due to multiple sclerosis might also cause burning and extreme discomfort. Your symptoms help doctors to make the proper diagnosis.

Some common symptoms that you might experience along with numbness include:

• Nervousness

• Burning Sensation

• Recurrent Urination

• Itchiness

• Increased leg emotionless, stinging, or pain when you walk

• Lower Spine Pain

• Muscle Spasm

• Pins-and-needle (prickling) feeling

• Rashes

• Soreness or sensitivity

While these are common symptoms, some severe signs may hint at a life-threatening disorder. In a few cases, leg numbness might come with other disturbing symptoms, which require immediate medical help. 

These signs may include:

• Confusion or loss of consciousness for sometime

• Problem breathing

• Difficulty walking

• Light-headedness

• Loss of bladder or bowel control

• Loss of vision

• Paralysis

• Slurred Speech

• Immediate numbness

• Muscle Weakness

What are the Causes of a Dead Leg?

Posture or Activity: Numbness in the legs is a symptom of several ailments or disorders that either limit blood flow or cause a nerve injury. However, temporary leg numbness might occur after long-time pressure on nerves due to certain activities like cycling or crossing legs.

Nerve Damage: Limb deadness can occur with modest to severe orthopedic conditions that can cause vertebral or peripheral nerve damage. However, a more critical condition might include multiple sclerosis.

Life-threatening Disease: So, whether deadness occurs in one or both legs, it can help your best pain physician in Dallas diagnose the fundamental reason. For instance, numbness in a single leg means a compressed nerve in the lower backbone. In contrast, numbness in both limbs (and other extremities) might indicate a more systemic disorder (that impacts several body parts) like pernicious anemia and multiple sclerosis. So, it means a life-threatening disease that requires immediate medical attention.

Injury: If your torso, backbone, hip, leg, ankle, or feet are injured, it can place pressure on the nerves and cause numbness.

Diabetes: Some people might suffer from nerve damage known as diabetic neuropathy. It leads to numbness, tingling, and pain.

Lower Spinal Issues and Sciatica: If you suffer from lower spine problems like breakdown or spinal herniation, it can cause nerve compression that can lead to numbness and sensory disorder.

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: The tarsal tunnel is a constricted space within the ankle. So, this syndrome might occur when the nerve that travels down to the leg, ankle, and foot gets compressed or damaged. And you might feel emotionlessness, burning, tingling, and pain.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): PAD leads to legs, arms, and tummy narrowing down, hence, diminishing the amount of blood they can pump and restricting blood flow. While legs are one of the most common body parts, and people with PAD might experience pain, numbness, and leg cramping when walking upstairs. However, the symptoms might vanish after resting.

Tumors: Tumors, cysts, or non-cancerous growths can place undue pressure on your brain, vertebrae, legs, or feet. It can limit blood flow to your legs and feet, leading to numbness.

Alcohol Use: If you regularly consume alcohol, you should know that toxins in the drink can lead to nerve impairment that may cause numbness in the leg and feet. Also, excessive consumption can cause nerve damage caused due to vitamin B deficiencies.

Fibromyalgia: It is a chronic or ongoing condition that can cause body pain, sensitivity, and inflammation. However, some people who have fibromyalgia might also experience numbness and pain in several body parts.

Multiple Sclerosis: If you have multiple sclerosis, you are likely to experience sensory nerve damage that can lead to emotionlessness in various parts of the body or limbs. Though numbness like MS can last for a brief period, it is strong enough to disable a person.

Stokes and Mini-Strokes: A stroke can damage your brain, which might impact how your mind construes and processes nerve signals. As a result, you might experience temporary or long-term numbness in the body.

How Can Premier Pain Center Help You?