Tingling or numbness in the lower legs can be temporary, after sitting or standing for long.
Yet it can also be a warning sign of many serious medical conditions and some may require surgery.
For people with peripheral neuropathy - nerve damage that affects your legs, feet, toes, hands and arms - this numbness and tingling does not go away easily.
Most peripheral neuropathies are the result of damage to the message-carrying nerves.
Symptoms often start in the extremities — the feet and toes - followed by the hands and fingers.
From discomfort and a loss of feeling, one may have a feet having a wooden feeling.
Some people may experience a burning sensation, pins-and-needles, while others experience a stabbing pain from harmless stimuli like a light touch on the skin.
Treatment is quick if the cause is established. For instance, if it is diabetes, blood sugar levels can be controlled with diet, exercise or medication.
If it is alcohol use, heavy drinkers can reduce and the problem will stop progressing.
Another common nerve problem in the legs is the femoral nerve damage, which affects one’s ability to walk and may cause reduced sensation in the leg.
This may be caused by a direct injury, a tumor or other growth blocking or trapping part of the nerve.
Another cause is diabetes or bleeding into the space behind the abdomen.
The first step in treating femoral neuropathy is dealing with the underlying condition or cause.
Often, diabetes leads a list that includes alcohol consumption, nutritional deficiencies, exposure to toxic chemicals and autoimmune disorders.
Doctors might prescribe injections in the leg to reduce inflammation or medication to reduce pain and discomfort.
The doctor may also recommend surgery if there is a growth blocking the femoral nerve. This will relieve the pressure on the nerve.
Edited by Henry Makori