Therapy
The therapy of a leg that has fallen asleep depends on the underlying cause that is responsible for the symptoms. In most cases, moving the leg and the associated relief of the affected nerve is sufficient so that the leg “wakes up” and the symptoms disappear. However, if this measure does not lead to an improvement or if recurring symptoms appear without a clear cause, a doctor should be consulted for clarification.
Depending on the cause, different therapies can lead to a successful treatment. If there is a circulatory disorder of the leg, an improvement in circulation can be achieved by conservative or surgical measures. In the case of systemic underlying diseases, a systemic therapy should always be aimed for, which in many cases can achieve an improvement in the numb leg.
Forecast
The prognosis of a fallen asleep leg is generally considered to be very good. In most cases, it is a simple pinching of a nerve, which manifests itself with the known symptoms. By relieving the nerve, complete freedom from symptoms can be achieved within minutes.
In rare cases, serious illnesses can be behind the complaints which require medical clarification. Depending on the clinical picture, the prognosis of these diseases can be assessed very differently. An individual assessment can be made by the treating physician.
Diagnosis
In most cases a medical examination of a fallen asleep leg is not necessary. Thus the complaints usually disappear by themselves after the nerves have been relieved. However, if accompanying symptoms occur or a fallen asleep leg persists for a long time, a medical examination of the complaints is recommended.
At the beginning of the diagnosis, the attending physician usually discusses the activity or sitting position in which the fallen asleep legs occur. In some cases, a possible cause of nerve compression can already be found through this discussion. By means of a physical examination, accompanying symptoms can be addressed and, if necessary, the circle of possible diseases can be narrowed down.
Of particular importance are gait and function tests, through which a herniated disc in the lumbar spine can be detected. If no reason for the existing symptoms can be found by a physical examination, blood tests can give an indication for the presence of systemic diseases. Imaging procedures such as an MRI examination of the lumbar spine can provide clarity about individual nerve tracts and thus uncover rare causes of fallen asleep legs.
Prophylaxis
Since in most cases a pinching of the nerves running along the leg is the cause of the complaints of a fallen asleep leg, preventing this nerve compression is a suitable prophylaxis for legs that fall asleep. Legs that fall asleep due to circulatory disorders can be prevented by avoiding the risk factors. Especially cigarette consumption, overweight and an unhealthy lifestyle are known as risk factors for circulatory disorders of the legs and can be consciously avoided.
