Medical Questions » Nerves Questions » Question No. 729
| Question: | For 6 weeks i have had a strange pins and needles like sensation in both feet associated with numbness. It seems to be slowly progressing from my soles and toes up my legs. Walking is becoming a problem as a result. I would appreciate your advice |
| Answer: | The technical term for the pins and needles sensation that you are experiencing is paraesthesia, and it is caused by irritation of the sensory nerves supplying the area affected. The big question is, what is irritating the nerve.
If you are having difficulty walking, it is probable that the nerves supplying the muscles, and telling them what to do, are also affected.
For both types of nerves to be damaged, the most likely explanation is that they are being compressed in the lower back, at the point where they pass through narrow gaps between the vertebrae on their way from the spinal cord (and therefore the brain) to the legs.
In some people, this can be a temporary problem from a back strain or injury, but if it is steadily progressing, you should see a doctor as soon as possible, as you may have a disc that is pressing on the nerve, or more seriously, the spinal canal may becoming narrowed due to injury to a disc or a vertebra.
You ' will need appropriate investigations, usually X-rays and CT scans of the spine, to see what damage there is to the back, and blood tests to exclude less common causes of this problem (eg. poorly controlled diabetes). In many cases, surgery is necessary to correct the problem.
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