Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsDiagnosisTreatmentWhen to Seek Medical Care
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment
When to Seek Medical Care
How to stop numbness in legs and feet, known asparesthesia, is a common issue with many possible answers.
Some solutions are simple. For example, sitting in the same position for a long time can reduce blood flow or put too much pressure on nerves. This type of numbness typically subsides once you start to move around again.
However, unexplained or chronic numbness in the legs and feet may indicate an underlying medical disorder. Conditions affecting the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis,encephalitis, or a peripheral nerve disorder like tarsel tunnel syndrome, can cause leg and foot numbness.
The treatment you receive will depend on the cause of your leg and foot numbness.
Rabizo / Getty Images
There are many potential causes of numbness in the legs and feet.
Sitting or standing in one position for a long time can temporarily cause this “pins and needles” sensation, due to compression of nerves or lack of blood flow. Once you move, the sensation typically goes away.
Tingling and numbnessin the legs can also be a symptom of a wide range of health conditions that cause nerve injury or restrict blood flow.
Potential acute (sudden or short-term) causes of this sensation include:
Injury can sometimes produce the feeling of numbness or tingling, such as:
Other causes for numbness in the legs and feet are generally from either neurological injury or disease.
Chronic Conditions
Some chronic health conditions have leg numbness and tingling as a symptom. Examples of conditions that may cause this sensation include:
Other Symptoms Associated With Numbness
Everyone experiences the feeling of numbness from time to time.
However, in some cases, leg and foot numbness can be a sign of a serious disease. If you are experiencing ongoing or frequent episodes of numbness consult your healthcare provider.
During your appointment, you will be asked about your symptoms and medical history, and undergo a physical examination.
Share all your symptoms—even those that don’t seem related to your numbness—and mention recent injuries, vaccinations, and any medications and supplements you are taking.
Additional tests may be needed to provide a diagnosis, including:
How to Stop Numbness in Legs and Feet
Your treatment will depend on the cause of your symptoms.
In the meantime, medication may be prescribed to help. Medications prescribed for nerve pain and discomfort include:
Self-Care
Depending on what is causing the numbness in your legs and feet, you may also find somehome remedieshelpful.
The following remedies may bring you temporary relief:
When to See a Healthcare Provider
In some cases, feelings of tingling and numbness in the legs can indicate a serious medical condition or injury.
Consult your healthcare provider about numbness in your legs and feet if:
When to Call 911Seek medical care immediately if you have or are experiencing any of the following:Numbness that starts suddenly (within minutes or hours)Injury to the back, head, or neckInability to move or walkLoss of bladder and/or bowel controlConfusionLoss of consciousnessSlurred speechVision problems
When to Call 911
Seek medical care immediately if you have or are experiencing any of the following:Numbness that starts suddenly (within minutes or hours)Injury to the back, head, or neckInability to move or walkLoss of bladder and/or bowel controlConfusionLoss of consciousnessSlurred speechVision problems
Seek medical care immediately if you have or are experiencing any of the following:
Summary
Consult a healthcare provider if you have ongoing or frequent episodes of numbness in your legs and/or feet. A physical examination and other testing will help to determine the cause. Simple treatments can sometimes manage lower leg numbness. Some conditions will require ongoing treatments and medical care.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overview of nervous system disorders.Merck Manual Professional Version.Numbness.Regli I, Strapazzon G, Falla M, Oberhammer R, Brugger H.Long-term sequelae of frostbite—a scoping review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep;18(18):9655. doi:10.3390/ijerph18189655Reda B, Wong I.Postoperative numbness: A survery of patients after hip arthroscopic surgery.Orthopaed J Spor Med. 2018 May;6(5). doi:10.1177/2325967118771535Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vasculitic neuropathy.Washington State Department of Health.Shellfish poisoning: paralytic, domoic acid, diarrhetic.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Peripheral neuropathy.Choi E, Henkin S.Raynaud’s phenomenon and related vasospastic disorders.Vasc Med. 2021 Feb;26(1):3-118. doi:10.1177/1358863X20983455Mahran S, Galluccio F, Khedr T, et al.Peripheral neuropathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: What can neuromuscular ultrasonography (NMUS) tell us? A cross-sectional study.Lupus Sci Med. 2021 Jul;8(1):e000521. doi:10.1136/lupus-2021-000521Gupta N, Arora M, Sharma R, Arora KS.Peripheral and central nervous system involvement in recently diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism: An electrophysiological study.Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2016 Oct;6(5):261-266. doi:10.4103/amhsr.amhsr_39_16UPMC.Numbness and weakness.Fornasari D.Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain: A review.Pain Ther. 2017 Dec;6(1):25-33. doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0091-4Nadi M, Bambaeichi E, Marandi SM.Comparison of the effect of two therapeutic exercises on the inflammatory and physiological conditions and complications of diabetic neuropathy in female patients.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019;12:1493-1501. Published 2019 Aug 20. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S206454Rabe E, Partsch H, Hafner J, et al.Indications for medical compression stockings in venous and lymphatic disorders: An evidence-based consensus statement.Phlebology. 2018 Apr;33(3):163-184. doi:10.1177/0268355516689631Emine K, Gulbeyaz C.The effect of salt-water bath in the management of treatment-related peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients receiving taxane and platinum-based treatment.Explore. 2022 Jun;18(3):347-356. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2021.07.002Peppin J, Pappagallo M.Capsaicinoids in the treatment of neuropathic pain: A review.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2014 Jan;7(1):22-32. doi:10.1177/1756285613501576
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overview of nervous system disorders.Merck Manual Professional Version.Numbness.Regli I, Strapazzon G, Falla M, Oberhammer R, Brugger H.Long-term sequelae of frostbite—a scoping review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep;18(18):9655. doi:10.3390/ijerph18189655Reda B, Wong I.Postoperative numbness: A survery of patients after hip arthroscopic surgery.Orthopaed J Spor Med. 2018 May;6(5). doi:10.1177/2325967118771535Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vasculitic neuropathy.Washington State Department of Health.Shellfish poisoning: paralytic, domoic acid, diarrhetic.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Peripheral neuropathy.Choi E, Henkin S.Raynaud’s phenomenon and related vasospastic disorders.Vasc Med. 2021 Feb;26(1):3-118. doi:10.1177/1358863X20983455Mahran S, Galluccio F, Khedr T, et al.Peripheral neuropathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: What can neuromuscular ultrasonography (NMUS) tell us? A cross-sectional study.Lupus Sci Med. 2021 Jul;8(1):e000521. doi:10.1136/lupus-2021-000521Gupta N, Arora M, Sharma R, Arora KS.Peripheral and central nervous system involvement in recently diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism: An electrophysiological study.Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2016 Oct;6(5):261-266. doi:10.4103/amhsr.amhsr_39_16UPMC.Numbness and weakness.Fornasari D.Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain: A review.Pain Ther. 2017 Dec;6(1):25-33. doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0091-4Nadi M, Bambaeichi E, Marandi SM.Comparison of the effect of two therapeutic exercises on the inflammatory and physiological conditions and complications of diabetic neuropathy in female patients.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019;12:1493-1501. Published 2019 Aug 20. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S206454Rabe E, Partsch H, Hafner J, et al.Indications for medical compression stockings in venous and lymphatic disorders: An evidence-based consensus statement.Phlebology. 2018 Apr;33(3):163-184. doi:10.1177/0268355516689631Emine K, Gulbeyaz C.The effect of salt-water bath in the management of treatment-related peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients receiving taxane and platinum-based treatment.Explore. 2022 Jun;18(3):347-356. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2021.07.002Peppin J, Pappagallo M.Capsaicinoids in the treatment of neuropathic pain: A review.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2014 Jan;7(1):22-32. doi:10.1177/1756285613501576
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overview of nervous system disorders.Merck Manual Professional Version.Numbness.Regli I, Strapazzon G, Falla M, Oberhammer R, Brugger H.Long-term sequelae of frostbite—a scoping review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep;18(18):9655. doi:10.3390/ijerph18189655Reda B, Wong I.Postoperative numbness: A survery of patients after hip arthroscopic surgery.Orthopaed J Spor Med. 2018 May;6(5). doi:10.1177/2325967118771535Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vasculitic neuropathy.Washington State Department of Health.Shellfish poisoning: paralytic, domoic acid, diarrhetic.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Peripheral neuropathy.Choi E, Henkin S.Raynaud’s phenomenon and related vasospastic disorders.Vasc Med. 2021 Feb;26(1):3-118. doi:10.1177/1358863X20983455Mahran S, Galluccio F, Khedr T, et al.Peripheral neuropathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: What can neuromuscular ultrasonography (NMUS) tell us? A cross-sectional study.Lupus Sci Med. 2021 Jul;8(1):e000521. doi:10.1136/lupus-2021-000521Gupta N, Arora M, Sharma R, Arora KS.Peripheral and central nervous system involvement in recently diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism: An electrophysiological study.Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2016 Oct;6(5):261-266. doi:10.4103/amhsr.amhsr_39_16UPMC.Numbness and weakness.Fornasari D.Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain: A review.Pain Ther. 2017 Dec;6(1):25-33. doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0091-4Nadi M, Bambaeichi E, Marandi SM.Comparison of the effect of two therapeutic exercises on the inflammatory and physiological conditions and complications of diabetic neuropathy in female patients.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019;12:1493-1501. Published 2019 Aug 20. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S206454Rabe E, Partsch H, Hafner J, et al.Indications for medical compression stockings in venous and lymphatic disorders: An evidence-based consensus statement.Phlebology. 2018 Apr;33(3):163-184. doi:10.1177/0268355516689631Emine K, Gulbeyaz C.The effect of salt-water bath in the management of treatment-related peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients receiving taxane and platinum-based treatment.Explore. 2022 Jun;18(3):347-356. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2021.07.002Peppin J, Pappagallo M.Capsaicinoids in the treatment of neuropathic pain: A review.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2014 Jan;7(1):22-32. doi:10.1177/1756285613501576
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overview of nervous system disorders.
Merck Manual Professional Version.Numbness.
Regli I, Strapazzon G, Falla M, Oberhammer R, Brugger H.Long-term sequelae of frostbite—a scoping review.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep;18(18):9655. doi:10.3390/ijerph18189655
Reda B, Wong I.Postoperative numbness: A survery of patients after hip arthroscopic surgery.Orthopaed J Spor Med. 2018 May;6(5). doi:10.1177/2325967118771535
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vasculitic neuropathy.
Washington State Department of Health.Shellfish poisoning: paralytic, domoic acid, diarrhetic.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Peripheral neuropathy.
Choi E, Henkin S.Raynaud’s phenomenon and related vasospastic disorders.Vasc Med. 2021 Feb;26(1):3-118. doi:10.1177/1358863X20983455
Mahran S, Galluccio F, Khedr T, et al.Peripheral neuropathy in systemic lupus erythematosus: What can neuromuscular ultrasonography (NMUS) tell us? A cross-sectional study.Lupus Sci Med. 2021 Jul;8(1):e000521. doi:10.1136/lupus-2021-000521
Gupta N, Arora M, Sharma R, Arora KS.Peripheral and central nervous system involvement in recently diagnosed cases of hypothyroidism: An electrophysiological study.Ann Med Health Sci Res. 2016 Oct;6(5):261-266. doi:10.4103/amhsr.amhsr_39_16
UPMC.Numbness and weakness.
Fornasari D.Pharmacotherapy for neuropathic pain: A review.Pain Ther. 2017 Dec;6(1):25-33. doi:10.1007/s40122-017-0091-4
Nadi M, Bambaeichi E, Marandi SM.Comparison of the effect of two therapeutic exercises on the inflammatory and physiological conditions and complications of diabetic neuropathy in female patients.Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2019;12:1493-1501. Published 2019 Aug 20. doi:10.2147/DMSO.S206454
Rabe E, Partsch H, Hafner J, et al.Indications for medical compression stockings in venous and lymphatic disorders: An evidence-based consensus statement.Phlebology. 2018 Apr;33(3):163-184. doi:10.1177/0268355516689631
Emine K, Gulbeyaz C.The effect of salt-water bath in the management of treatment-related peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients receiving taxane and platinum-based treatment.Explore. 2022 Jun;18(3):347-356. doi:10.1016/j.explore.2021.07.002
Peppin J, Pappagallo M.Capsaicinoids in the treatment of neuropathic pain: A review.Ther Adv Neurol Disord. 2014 Jan;7(1):22-32. doi:10.1177/1756285613501576
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