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“Numbness in leg?”

What would cause your leg to be totally numb, including foot?

Female | 61 years old
Complaint duration: One day
Medications: Atorvastin, gabapentin, Hydrocodone 10, pant to profile, meta to pro!
Conditions: high blood pressure, history of blood clots, four herniated discs

7 Answers

OrthopaedicSurgeonOrthopaedicSurgeon
A number of conditions can cause the symptoms that you are describing. It seems like you are on a neuropathy mediation already (gabapentin). I recommend that you go and speak with the doctor that prescribe you this medication and address your symptom and concern.
There are many things that can cause numbness in the legs. But I see from your medications you are taking Gabapentin. That medication is specifically for Nerve-related pain and issues. So you clearly already have some sort of nerve damage and nerve pathology in your body. Furthermore, you have 4 herniated discs. Herniated discs or any conditions that cause Radiculopathy may pinch the nerves in the back that travel into the legs and feet, and that may cause this type of neuropathic response, as well. You should see your neurologist ASAP and discuss the problem.
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Will walking on a torn meniscus make it worse?

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Sounds like a spinal compression or stroke. See a neurosurgeon or neurologist.
The most common reasons are a pinched nerve or loss of blood supply. This symptom should be medically evaluated soon.

Good luck,

Dr. L
Numbness can have multiple causes. It can be localized or related to an issue in your back. I recommend you discuss with your Primary Care Physician and a foot and ankle surgeon(podiatrist) to get a working diagnosis and treatment plan
Leg numbness is often caused by herniated discs. It is rare for the entire leg to become numb. Is your foot warm and pink? If not, you may have a blood clot. You should contact your doctor immediately.

Christopher B. Michelsen, MD, FAOA, FAAOS, FACS
Good morning. The most common reason for numbness in the leg is pressure on the nerves to the leg. In your case increasing pressure from the herniated disk or disk fragments would be high on the list of reasons. Bone spurring is another possible cause. Less likely are vascular reasons (aneurysm), tumor or neurological (MS) etc. I would revisit the issue with Orthopedic surgeon, Neurosurgeon or Neurologist. Do not wait to long if it is not going away. The numbness could become permanent. Good luck.

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