Numbness in Legs | Spine Problem

Numbness / pins and needles / tingling

Some patients may think that the numbness in their legs is a result of issues with their feet but it can sometimes be as a result of a spine problem. This may occur due to the “jelly” like nucleus pulposus, present between two vertebral bones over your back, popping out from its normal position within its outer lining of the disc (Figure 1).Your nerves may also get compressed by bony spurs or overgrown joints (facets), and thickened ligaments of your back (Figure 2).

numbness in legs — Figure 1 Figure 1 Image courtesy of AAOS (American Academy of Orthopaedic SurgPressure over the nerves may cause it to function inappropriately temporarily and eventually lose all its function. Inappropriate functioning may appear to you as feeling “rubber-like” thickness over skin supplied by the particular nerve or weakness of the muscles controlled by it.

Learn more about the associated issues in Causes of Back Pain, Back Pain Diagnosis, Non-surgical Treatment and Surgical Treatment for Back Pain.

Understanding your spine can help you understand any spine problems that you may have. For a comprehensive diagnosis of your back pain, contact our spine surgeon Dr Hee Hwan Tak today.