Board Certified Chiropractor This article was co-authored by Jasper Sidhu, DC. Dr. Sidhu is a Chiropractor in Toronto with more than 20 years of experience. He received his DC from Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in 1994, and later completed a 3 year Certification in Rehabilitation. This article has been viewed 67,138 times.
Co-authors: 12 Updated: July 25, 2022 Views: 67,138 Article Rating: 71% - 7 votes Categories: Foot Problems
Medical Disclaimer The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, examination, diagnosis, or treatment. You should always contact your doctor or other qualified healthcare professional before starting, changing, or stopping any kind of health treatment.
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Jenna had been coloring for almost 25 minutes, sitting with one leg tucked under her. When the bell rang, she jumped up and her leg felt funny. It was asleep! If this has happened to you, you know that for a short while you might have lost feeling in your foot, it might have felt heavy, or you might have felt "pins and needles." But why would your foot fall asleep? Many people say this is because you've cut off the blood supply to your foot, but your nerves are more to blame. Nerves are like tiny threads or wires that run through your whole body, and they carry messages back and forth between your brain and body. When you sit on your foot, you temporarily compress, or squash, the nerves in that area. These nerves can't send messages back to the brain normally, and so for the moment, the connection is cut off and you don't feel anything. It's kind of like a phone call where your friend hangs up and you haven't yet: Your brain is saying "hello," but your foot isn't able to answer. After you stand up or uncross your legs and the nerves are no longer compressed, the feeling in your foot soon comes back. It might feel a bit tingly as this happens, like pins and needles or even a bit painful. But it only lasts a few seconds as the connection returns to normal, and it won't hurt your body. Worried about your sleepy feet? You don't need to be — everyone has a foot fall asleep once in a while, and it's rare for it to mean there is something wrong in a kid's body. If you want to keep your feet awake and kicking, don't sit on them or put them in other positions where you're squashing the nerves.
We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process. A person may feel numbness in their legs and feet due to sitting in a position that puts too much pressure on the nerves or reduces blood flow. However, long-lasting or unexplained numbness may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Long-term numbness or a tingling feeling in the legs and feet may be due to conditions such as multiple sclerosis (MS), diabetes, peripheral artery disease, or fibromyalgia. The sensation may be felt in the whole leg, below the knee, or in different areas of the foot. In this article, we look at some of the reasons why a person might experience numbness in the legs and feet, along with symptoms and treatments. Share on PinterestCrossing the legs for a long time may cause numbness and tingling in the legs and feet. Often, a person’s legs go numb temporarily because of their posture. However, chronic or long-lasting numbness in the feet and legs is almost always a sign of an underlying medical condition. Conditions associated with feet and leg numbness include: Posture Postural habits that put pressure on nerves or reduce blood flow in the lower limbs are the most common cause of temporary numbness in the legs and feet. Many people say their leg has “fallen asleep,” and the medical term is transient (temporary) paresthesia. Habits that can cause the feet and legs to fall asleep include:
Injury Injuries to the torso, spine, hips, legs, ankles, and feet can put pressure on nerves and cause the feet and legs to go numb. Diabetes Some people with diabetes develop a type of nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet, and if severe, the legs as well. Lower back issues and sciatica Problems in the lower back, such as a breakdown or herniation of spinal discs, can cause compression of the nerves going to the legs, leading to numbness or sensory disturbances. Sciatica is the name for irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back to the legs. If this nerve becomes irritated or compressed, a person may experience numbness or tingling in their legs or feet. Tarsal tunnel syndrome Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when a nerve that runs down the back of the leg and along the inside of the ankle and into the foot is compressed, squeezed, or damaged. The tarsal tunnel is a narrow space on the inside of the ankle. People with tarsal tunnel syndrome tend to feel numbness, burning, tingling, and shooting pain in their ankles, heels, and feet. Peripheral artery disease Peripheral artery disease (PAD) causes the peripheral blood arteries in the legs, arms, and stomach to narrow, reducing the amount of blood they can pump and reducing blood flow. The legs are one of the most common parts of the body impacted by PAD. Most people with PAD experience pain and cramping in their legs and hips when they are walking or going upstairs. Some people with PAD also experience leg numbness and weakness. Symptoms of PAD typically go away after a few minutes of rest. Tumors or other abnormal growths Tumors, cysts, abscesses, and benign (non-cancerous) growths can put pressure on the brain, spinal cord, or any part of the legs and feet. This pressure can restrict blood flow to the legs and feet, causing numbness. Alcohol use The toxins in alcohol can cause nerve damage that is associated with numbness, especially in the feet. Chronic or excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to nerve damage that causes numbness. This type of nerve damage is linked to reduced levels of B vitamins, such as B-1 (thiamine), B-9 (folate), and B-12, which is caused by excessive alcohol intake. Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic or long-lasting condition that causes widespread body pain, aching, and tenderness. Some people with fibromyalgia also experience numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. Most people with fibromyalgia experience a variety of symptoms including:
Almost everyone with fibromyalgia experiences symptoms in more than one part of their body for at least 3 months at a time. If numbness in the legs and feet is not accompanied by any other symptoms or is not long-term, it is unlikely to be caused by fibromyalgia. Multiple sclerosis People with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience sensory nerve damage that can cause numbness in a small region of their body or whole limbs. Although numbness associated with MS often only lasts for a short period, it can last long enough to become disabling. Stokes and mini-strokes Strokes or mini-strokes can cause brain damage that may affect how the mind interprets and processes nerve signals. A stroke or mini-stroke can sometimes cause temporary or long-term numbness in parts of the body. Share on PinterestNumbness in the legs and feet may be accompanied by tingling or itching sensations. Numbness is just one of the many symptoms associated with temporary and chronic numbness. Many people with numbness in their legs and feet experience additional symptoms at the same time or intermittingly, such as:
The proper treatment for numb legs and feet depends entirely on the cause. MedicationMedical options for long-term numbness in the legs and feet include:
Home remediesHome remedies that may help to relieve uncomfortable numbness in the legs and feet include:
Alternative therapiesShare on PinterestMassage therapy may reduce the symptoms of conditions that can cause numbness. Some alternative therapies have been shown to help reduce the symptoms of conditions known to cause numbness in the legs and feet. Therapies include:
Talk with a doctor about numbness in the legs and feet that:
Numbness in the legs and feet is a common disorder, though when it becomes chronic, it may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. Anyone who experiences numbness that is unexplained, persistent, frequent, painful, disabling, or accompanied by other chronic symptoms should see a doctor for a diagnosis and to discuss treatment options. Read the article in Spanish. Last medically reviewed on January 22, 2020
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