Diagnosis
To diagnose the underlying disease for numbness in the leg, the doctor will first have a detailed conversation with you (anamnesis). For this purpose, you should be able to describe the area, course and accompanying symptoms well and also know, for example, your previous illnesses and medications taken. This is usually followed by a physical examination and possibly a blood sample.
If the doctor suspects that you are suffering from a disease, further diagnostic procedures will be initiated. This may take the form of imaging (such as an MRI of the lumbar spine) or a measurement of the nerve conduction velocity in an electroneurography. If you feel numb, your family doctor will probably refer you to a neurologist. Depending on the cause (e.g. after a herniated disc), an orthopedic surgeon can also take over the treatment.
Other accompanying symptoms
Symptoms that are often accompanied by numbness in the leg are sensations like tingling or burning, pain in the leg or back or paralysis. Other accompanying symptoms can be incontinence of the bladder or bowel or numbness in other areas of the body, visual disturbances or reduction of reflexes. The accompanying symptoms always depend on the underlying disease.
Back pain associated with numbness in the leg may be caused by a slipped disc in the lumbar spine (lumbar spine). In addition, pain in the affected leg can also occur, in addition to numbness, also paralysis or reduction of reflexes. In case of disorders of bladder and bowel emptying, a doctor should be consulted urgently.
Treatment vs. therapy
The treatment and therapy of numbness in the leg depends on the underlying cause. If a herniated disc in the lumbar spine is the cause, it is usually treated without surgery (conservatively) if it is mild. This usually includes physiotherapy and pain treatment.
If the herniated disc is very pronounced, e.g. with a disorder of bladder and bowel emptying or severe paralysis, surgery may also be considered as therapy. In case of a meralgia parästhetica, i.e. the nerve constriction under the inguinal ligament, the cause of the pressure increase in the area of the inguinal ligament should be treated. In case of too tight pants or belts, it is relatively easy, they should simply be omitted.
A pregnancy that causes such an increase in pressure has a regular end. If overweight is the cause, weight loss should be aimed for. If multiple sclerosis is the cause of numbness in the leg, it is important to treat it adequately.
This is done in the form of certain drugs.In relapsing-remitting MS, the relapse is usually treated in hospital with cortisone. However, a basic therapy is also important, for which a range of drugs are available. Together with the treating physician, the best medication for the course of the patient’s disease is selected. Sometimes the medication has to be changed if the desired effect has not occurred. For other causes there are further treatment options available, the exact treatment will be discussed with your attending physician depending on the cause.