- Locations in Clifton, Barnegat, Freehold, Holmdel, Monroe, Ocean NJ
Do you experience ongoing numbness, pain, and discomfort in one or both of your legs? Leg numbness can be annoying at best and debilitating at worst, causing you to miss out on life’s most precious moments. However, you can find relief at the practice of Dr. Grigory Goldberg.
Dr. Grigory Goldberg, M.D., is a top-rated spine specialist in New Jersey, offering advanced services for a wide variety of medical conditions. Our team can diagnose the root cause of your leg numbness and help you get the treatment you need.
Leg numbness refers to a loss of sensation or tingling in your legs and feet. It can affect your entire leg, everything below the knee, or just specific areas of your foot. Although your leg might go numb from sitting awkwardly and cutting off blood circulation, it could be a sign of more serious underlying medical conditions.
In addition to numbness and tingling, some common symptoms of leg numbness include:
Your leg might “fall asleep” for any number of reasons — some trivial, others worth seeing a specialist about. For example, poor posture can put pressure on your nerves or restrict blood flow to your leg. However, various health problems may also be behind this loss of sensation.
The sciatic nerve is a nerve that runs to your legs from the lower back. Putting pressure on this nerve, twisting your back too fast and too often, or injuring your lower spine can result in sciatic nerve damage (also known as sciatica) and long-term leg numbness. According to the Cleveland Clinic, about 40% of Americans suffer from sciatica at some point in their life.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is another common cause of leg numbness. In this condition, peripheral arteries in the stomach, arms, and legs grow narrower and reduce blood flow to these areas of the body. Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that about 6.5 million people in the U.S. older than 39 have PAD.
Fibromyalgia can also cause numbness, tingling, burning, and itching in the leg. This condition affects the entire body and leads to ongoing, widespread alteration in sensation. While fibromyalgia is treatable, doctors have a limited understanding of what contributes to it.
Regular, excessive alcohol consumption often leads to a wide range of health problems, including leg numbness. The toxins in alcoholic beverages can damage your nerves and make your legs and feet feel numb. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, the connection between alcohol and nerve damage may lie in alcohol’s negative effect on B vitamins.
Playing sports and staying active are great ways to keep healthy, but they also increase your risk of injury. Injuries to your lower back, spine, hips, and ankles can put stress on your nerves and cause numbness and tingling.
Diagnosing leg numbness and discovering what’s behind it can be complicated. However, Dr. Grigory Goldberg and our team of highly trained professionals make the process go as quickly and smoothly as possible. We have the experience and cutting-edge technology to do the following and provide an accurate diagnosis:
When it comes to treating leg numbness, you have several options. One treatment method isn’t necessarily better than another, but one might work better than the next for your situation. Always discuss treatment options with a qualified professional before you proceed with treatment.
Various types of medications can help manage symptoms and enable you to recover from long-term leg numbness. Antidepressants like milnacipran and duloxetine are effective treatments for fibromyalgia and can reduce the risk of mental health issues resulting from loss of quality of life. You can also take corticosteroids to help mitigate inflammation and chronic numbness.
Therapy is an excellent way to treat nerve-related medical conditions. Physical therapy can help you recover from an injury, massages can ease nerve pain and reduce symptoms, and vitamin B supplementation can give your body the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. Other types of therapy that might help with leg numbness include the following:
Some treatment options do not require the hands-on assistance of a healthcare specialist. Many patients successfully treat leg numbness and peripheral neuropathy at home using time-tested home remedies. Here are some great DIY treatments for leg numbness:
Are you looking for relief from your leg numbness? Dr. Grigory Goldberg is here to help with an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan. Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Book an appointment online, or contact us to discuss your situation with a New Jersey orthopedic spine specialist.
Yes, leg numbness is a fairly common condition that affects many people throughout the U.S. However, that does not mean it isn’t serious. Peripheral neuropathy and leg numbness can significantly impact your daily routine and leave you with ongoing pain and discomfort.
How long leg numbness lasts may vary from patient to patient. Some individuals experience a numbing or tingling sensation for only a couple of days, while others suffer for years. It depends on multiple factors, including the underlying cause and how soon you seek treatment.
You should worry about your leg numbness if it persists, even though it might not be excruciating. Everyone knows what it feels like to have a leg go to sleep temporarily, but it’s a major warning sign if the problem continues for days, weeks, and months.
