“Numbness from hip to toe”
I am a 47 yr old female. I had a double hip replacement over the past couple of years, and the last one was about a year ago. No problems, no complications. I was walking on the same day and without a walker or crutches by the 3rd day. However, over the past 6 months or so (maybe longer) my legs (from the hip to the foot) have been going numb, when bent inward. Either while sleeping or awake. It wakes me up in the middle of the night and I can move it and all the feeling will return. This past Monday though, that changed. I woke up and my right leg was numb from the knee down. That's normal for me (although they can't figure out what's causing it) the difference this time is, it's Thursday and my foot under my big toe, heel and arc of foot are still numb. It's also VERY painful if I bend my leg inward (like half Indian style sitting) if I stay like that for more than a couple mins it is excruciating to unbend my knee. Recently I had an MRI of the left knee taken that showed some minor issues and overgrowth of cartilage. Also I have had the nerve test done and it came back fine. So what is causing this numbness? In both legs? Could the overgrowth of cartilage be putting pressure on a small nerve (one that cant be tested) in my knee causing it to go numb? My doctor has sent me to P.T. but we still haven't figured out the problem.
Female | 47 years old
Complaint duration: 6-10 months
Conditions: Both hips replaced/ buldging disc in back and neck
3 Answers
Numbness is usually a result of nerve compression somewhere along the pathway. Has your provider looked at your low back with imaging? The cartilage in the knee that is overgrown may be causing compression but may also have created a state of inflammation which would result in swelling and further nerve compression. You mention you have a bulging disc in the back. I would have that looked at first as the cause.
Hello,
More than likely coming from your lumbar spine. The nerve roots at L4, L5 and S1 innervate the lower extremities. It may be that you have a disc protrusion or neuroforaminal stenosis. I would get a MRI to assess.
More than likely coming from your lumbar spine. The nerve roots at L4, L5 and S1 innervate the lower extremities. It may be that you have a disc protrusion or neuroforaminal stenosis. I would get a MRI to assess.
I would recommend an MRI of the lumbar spine to see if there is nerve impingement causing the neuropathy you're experiencing. Likely, you have OA in your spine already if you needed bilateral hip replacements at such a young age.
