Why do your legs go numb?

Have you ever sat in the same position for a long time and suddenly felt a tingling or “pins and needles” sensation in your leg?

This is usually temporary and goes away after you change your position and move around.

Sitting with your legs crossed keeping your legs hanging for a long time, staying in one position for too long or wearing tight shoes that put pressure on your feet can sometimes cause numbness or tingling.

Why does a leg go numb?

Numbness can happen in different parts of the body, but it is often noticed in the legs, feet, hands and arms. When you stay in one position for a long time, pressure can build up on certain nerves.

This can temporarily affect the signals traveling between the nerves and the brain.

As a result you may feel less sensation in your leg, making it seem as if the leg has “fallen asleep.”  Changing your position and moving the leg usually helps the nerves and blood flow return to normal and the tingling gradually disappears.

When should you be concerned?

Occasional numbness that quickly improves after changing position is usually not a cause for concern.

However repeated or long lasting numbness should not be ignored.

Frequent numbness may sometimes be linked to health problems such as vitamin B12 deficiencies a slipped or herniated disc thyroid problems diabetes or certain nerve related conditions.

Sudden numbness can also be a warning sign of a stroke especially when it happens on one side of the body along with weakness trouble speaking or other sudden symptoms.

If numbness happens often lasts for a long time or occurs without an obvious reason it is a good idea to speak with a doctor to find out what may be causing it.