I was out walking yesterday, and my leg started to feel weird. Kind of achy, kind of weak, kind of tingly. It continued to bother me for the rest of the day. Whether standing or sitting, I still had that weird pain and numbness. What do you think this is? Should I call my doctor?
Thanks for your question! I’m not a doctor, so please don’t take my word as law. But I did run your symptoms through the WebMD online symptom checker and one of the possibilities it came up with was a pinched nerve.
A pinched nerve is almost exactly what it sounds like — when pressure is applied to a nerve by bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons. The pressure makes the nerve malfunction, so you may experience pain, tingling, numbness, or weakness. You can have a pinched nerve just about anywhere in your body. A disk in the lower spine can put pressure on a nerve root, resulting in sciatica. A pinched nerve in your wrist can make your hand go numb.
Symptoms of a pinched nerve can include:
- A sharp or burning pain, that may radiate outward (if the pinched nerve is in the spinal cord, coughing or sneezing may make the pain worse)
- Numbness/decreased sensation in the area
- Tingling sensations — like when a limb falls asleep (known as paresthesia)
- Muscle weakness
- Muscle twitching
- Symptoms may worsen during or after sleep
Often, a pinched nerve can be dealt with at home. Take it easy — rest the affected area. Take painkillers or anti-inflammatories if you need them. Most people recover from a pinched nerve within a few days. When a nerve is pinched for just a short time, the nerve is usually not damaged permanently.
However, if the symptoms last for more than a few days and don’t respond to home treatment, you may need to talk to your doctor. Some cases do require surgery to relieve the pain and other symptoms! If you choose to do nothing and let your pain and discomfort continue, you may be at risk for permanent nerve damage.