So I've decided to pick my lazy butt off the couch and start making some lifestyle changes, starting with a healthy diet and exercise. As you guys probably know, I have 2 herniations in my lower back, but the doctors have mixed opinions on whether or not it could be causing pain in my feet, so I have decided to hold off on surgery.... anyways, when I stretch, especially during the touching toes or the straight leg raise stretch, my feet start to tingle and eventually go a little numb. My legs are fine, just my feet tingle/go slightly numb. It gets better when I release the stretch. Any ideas on what this could mean? Thanks.

about the exercise you choose, and stretches.

Can you get a referral to PT(physical therapy)? I think it would be wise to have
some guidance in how to stretch, what to stretch and how much, etc.
You don't want to continue to strain any pre-existing problem.

I have seen great results with people who have back issues (some severe)
by guided exercises involving the inflatable balls, and using the rubber straps.
One gal I worked with eliminated almost all her pain, which was severe.
But this was taught at physical therapy.

Also males do not have the fluid retention issues that females have, but I have to wonder if you are consuming too much salt. Those feelings seem familiar to me when I have fluid retention events. One pickle you know, can do alot damage to people who have tendencies towards being salt sensitive. (this is typically genetically controlled).

Well I did do physical therapy a few years back with no success, so I know the exercises and stretches I should do for my lower back.. and what's this thing about salt? I was thinking that it was nerve compression/circulation because it feels exactly like a foot falling asleep... I also have this sensation when I sit on the floor with my legs stretched out.

When you sit on a hard surface, you can compress the nerves in the buttocks (sciatic) and create paresthesias...odd feelings. The ischial tuberosity bone onthe bottom of the pelvis can make the feet go numb because you are squeezing tissues between two hard surfaces.

People vary in their responses to pressure. These are called pressure palsies when severe. You might see that term on this board now and then.

When you retain fluid (due to too much salt--or hypothyroidism or pregnancy for women etc), your hands and feet may compress nerves in the wrists and ankles giving these sensations too. That is when I know I need my diuretic, which I don't like to take. One Lasix and I am good for another week or two. I just sprang for some nice pickles, so I am suffering today. This is much more common in women with their hormone fluctuations. So if you eat alot of salty foods, this can aggravate numbness/tingling if you already have that.

--during certain parts of my exercise routine.

They do not always occur, and do not occur in the same wasy always when they do, but I get a range of tinglings, pricking, feelings of warmth/cold, and the like when I am really trying to extend and work certain body parts.

Fortunately, so far none of these have been permanent, and they eventually fade, though sometimes it takes days.

I've written before that I am fiarly convinced that those of us with any kind of nerve damage are and will be more prone to the type of compressive effects that Mrs. D describes--the added mechanical pressure on already damaged nerves (the so called "double-crush phenomenon") produces symptoms in us that a "normal" person would not likely get.

Also, keep in mind that healing and reconnected nerves cause their own weird sensations. As the nerve growth cones fight through other tissue trying to re-establish connections, they are very vulnerable to compressive effects, and often produce weird feelings. Eventually, the brain learns how to better interpret these, but that may take quite a while (and it is unlikely that the re-wiring will be in exactly the same configuration as the original, and it probably won't be quite as complete, either--"slow, partial recovery" is more the way things seem to go).

Often when I do hamstring stretches my feet will start tingling and itch. sometimes when I am squatting over and balancing on my feet, my feet are getting stretched and they will start to burn.

Sometimes when I use my hands too much they will also burn.

I think it's the effect of the nerves being stimulated.

I get something like what you're talking about. It happens when I stretch my feet. Like pointing my toes straight out. I get this tingling/burning/stretching feeling on the tops and insteps of my feet. My toes tingle. It hurts a good bit. I have no idea what causes it.

Thanks to my son who is Massage and PT. and got me started on Malf.I
think i would be screaming my head off..When he moved away and got
a pt to take over i'm not sure what i would do..Guess he would have to come
back and i'm no competition to that beautifull dr. wife of his..It's a blessing for some of us...hugs lady, Sue

I have got problems with C5 C6 & C7, the best advise i have ever got before doing any stretching exercises, is to warm the affected/injured area for 10 minutes before hand with a heat bag, this is the only possible way i can do any stretching to that area i mention and i found that it's most important is not to over do the stretching, i have tried doing stretching exercises without the heat before and finished up in real pain.

Brian

so I was doing stretches and my knee went completely numb after stretching my adductor. I put ice on it for about 15 minutes and now it is swollen and still has no feeling. It is under the knee cap and above the connection of the calf muscle in the front side. I'm worried about blood clotting or if I pulled a nerve or something.