Mechanical Thigh Numbness

Mechanical Thigh Numbness




By Tony Oliveri, DPT

Thigh numbness can arise from many causes. This article will address the issue of mechanical thigh numbness, which occurs when there is pressure on a nerve, or the nerve has been stretched. There are many other causes for thigh numbness, which should be addressed by your physician, should the problem linger or not appear to be mechanical. With a mechanical problem, the numbness or tingling in your thigh will often change, depending upon the position of your thigh, hip, or lower back.



Sometimes, a slight contusion, such as bumping into a table or counter with your hip or thigh, can bruise a nerve and lead to numbness which may not occur until days later. If that is the case, you may not even recall the incident that led to the numbness. Another characteristic of thigh numbness that can be confusing is that it may not be constant. When the nerve is not compressed or stretched, there may not be any numbness. Compression or irritation of nerves supplying your thigh can occur in the thigh itself, parts of the lower back, hip, or groin. For example, many of us have had or know someone who has a pinched nerve in the lower back. If that is the case, changing positions of the lower back will often affect how the thigh feels.



On the other hand, if only the lower back is addressed during treatment, there may be little or no affect on thigh numbness. In some cases, thigh numbness can arise from actual stretching of a nerve, or compression from a surrounding muscle or other body part. Excessive stretching of a nerve can occur in a similar fashion as straining or over-stretching a muscle. Compression can occur directly on the nerve, (ever sat too long at the movies and your foot went numb?!), or on a nearby blood vessel. Since nerves do need oxygen, compression of circulation can lead to symptoms such as numbness or tingling.



Thigh numbness or tingling that lasts more than a few days should be addressed by a health care professional. In physical therapy, the cause of the numbness is explored prior to initiating treatment. That treatment may involve gentle movements to help restore normal mobility and circulation to the area. Your physical therapist may teach you exercises to help in this regard. Care must be taken, however, to avoid stretching a nerve that may be already over-stretched. In addition, physical therapy may also include treatments such as ultrasound, infrared, or cold laser, which have all been shown to promote healing.