Numbness all the way down leg from standing
 

Hi folks. Yesterday evening I was at an event and was standing in one place for about an hour and a half. Pretty soon I was completely numb down the outside of both legs into the little toes.

A shift in position (bending my knee, for example) would pretty quickly resolve the numbness, but then it would come back once I was just standing again.

I'm sure I have meralgia paresthetica (self-diagnosed, but it all fits exactly)--numbness on the outside of my thighs when standing or changing position, also when my purse hangs against my thigh while shopping.

But could meralgia paresthetica make you go numb all the way down to your little toes??

I know my back isn't great because I have scoliosis and apparently some degenerative changes (x-ray years ago), and doctors have been unable to get spinal fluid during attempted taps, even when done under x-ray, I guess because of my spine.

But I don't have any significant back pain or leg pain.

Does the numbness from hip to little toe, both legs, after standing awhile, sound familiar to anyone?? what could it be?

Thanks for any thoughts/advice/info.

Nancy

Meralgia Parasthetica--
 

--would not produce those kinds of symptoms all the way down the leg, past the knee, as the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, which is the one compromised in meralgia parasthetica, stops just above the knee. Typically, symptoms from that conditions are limited to the outside thigh, though they can be quite debilitating.

This sounds more like something that may stem from the lower spine or the sciatic nerve distribution. And, there is certainly the possibility that this is not primarily nerve related but circulatory, given that you say that position shifts change the severity of symptoms.

Hi Nancy T,

I totally agree with glenntaj. Meralgia paresthetica does not extend beyond the thigh, It is also usually limited to ONE leg but can be bilateral.

I would seek other reasons for your symptoms. I do not think you are on the proper track.

Thank you, Glenn and Hopeless. You both said what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure. Thank you for the confirmation that it's not merely a matter of meralgia paresthetica. Looking at a dermatome map, I see the outside-of-the-foot, little-toe numbness would be in the S1 area.

Glenn, I didn't even think of circulatory issues. Good point.

I do know I've been having ever more trouble with parts of my arms or legs falling asleep if I sit or hold my arms in certain positions anymore (such as crossed legs, holding newborn grandchildren, etc.).

Well, 56 years old, overweight, and a not-so-good spine....I guess as long as the numbness resolves when I change position, it's not anything worrisome.

Thanks again for your input! I really appreciate it.

Nancy