The duration of numbness is a sign of how serious the issue is and the punch in of treatment.

With minor issues, the feeling should pass quickly once you get blood circulating again.

Persistant and recurrent numbers indicates an underlying condition that requires a medical evaluation and treatment.

Woman with leg pain

Rabizo / Getty Images

Rabizo / Getty Images

Causes

There are many potential causes oftingling and numbnessin the legs and feet.

These include temporary circumstances that can usually be rectified and reversed.

However, the lack of sensation can also be due to a chronic condition that requires long-term treatment.

Short-Term Conditions

The most common cause of temporary “pins and needles” is poor posture.

Other acute (sudden or short-term) causes can be related to more complex conditions.

Causes of sciatica include:

These can be treated with home care such as rest and over-the-counter pain relievers.

Chronic Conditions

Some chronic health conditions have leg numbness and tingling as a symptom.

In the meantime, medication may be prescribed to help.

Consult a healthcare provider if you have ongoing or frequent episodes of numbness in your legs and/or feet.

A physical examination and other testing will help to determine the cause.

Simple treatments can sometimes manage lower leg numbness.

Some conditions will require ongoing treatments and medical care.

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