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Symptoms » Numb thigh
 

Numb thigh

Numb thigh: Introduction

Any kind of tingling, numbness, or burning sensation usually indicates a nerve condition. These are called a "paresthesia" which refers to pins-and-needle type sensations, and they can progress to numbness. The simplest explanation for such thigh symptoms is a pinched nerve or nerve entrapment of the nerve close to the spine. The classic nerve entrapment condition affecting the thigh is called meralgia paresthetica. This condition is pressure on the spinal cord nerve area that controls thigh sensations, and can arise in various ways. For example, an injury to the hip or close spinal area, or something as simple as extra pressure from carrying a baby around on your hip all day. Meralgia paresthetica is usually good news because it should resolve quickly without requiring any treatment once the cause of the nerve pressure is identified and removed.

However, such nerve symptoms like tingling or numbness can also arise from serious illness such as multiple sclerosis or another spinal disorder or nerve disorder. For these types of symptoms, your doctor is certainly going to ask about whether you have any other similar nerve type symptoms, or have had them in the past, as this would greatly increase the risk of multiple sclerosis. Refer to the full list of causes. Prompt diagnosis and treatment of these symptoms is important because of these potentially serious causes.

» Review Causes of Numb thigh: full list

Causes of Numb thigh

See all 5 causes of Numb thigh

Numb thigh: Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Numb thigh, as listed in our database. Visit the Symptom Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Symptom Checker

Symptom Checker

See full list of 92 Symptom Checker combinations related to Numb thigh

Numb thigh: Marketplace Products, Discounts & Offers

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Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

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Causes of Similar Symptoms to Numb thigh

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Numb thigh:

Diagnostic Guides for Numb thigh

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Numb thigh from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Numb thigh. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Numb thigh

Medical Books Excerpts
  • Paresthesia
  • "Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition)" (2006)
  • Paresthesia
  • "Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition)" (2006)
  • Paresthesia
  • "Signs & Symptoms: A 2-in-1 Reference for Nurses" (2007)
 

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Numb thigh: Medical Mistakes

Numb thigh: Undiagnosed Conditions

Conditions that are commonly undiagnosed in related areas may include:

Numb thigh: Research Related Doctors & Specialists

Other ways to find a doctor, or use doctor, physician and specialist online research services:

Misdiagnosis and Numb thigh

RLS sleep disorder causing night-time leg sensations often misdiagnosed: A common but relatively unknown sleep-related disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is often...read more »

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Read more about Misdiagnosis and Numb thigh

Diagnostic tests for Numb thigh:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Numb thigh. Some of these are listed below :

  • Physical examination
    • Examine for a positive femoral stretch test (with the person laying on their stomach, flex knee with hip lifted in extension causes pain in the front of the thigh and the back) or a decreased knee jerk - indicates a herniated disk of L3-4 or L2-3.
    • Examine for signs of femoral nerve neuropathy including weakness of quadriceps, absent knee jerk reflex and loss of sensation over the inner aspect of the thigh and leg
    • Examine for signs of meralgia paresthetica including sensory loss over the outer aspect of the thigh with no loss of power in the lower legs
  • Radiological investigations
    • X-Ray of the lumbosacral spine
  • more tests...»

See full list of 10 diagnostic tests for Numb thigh

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Numb thigh. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

  • How long have you had the numb thigh?
  • Which thigh is numb?
  • Can you point with one finger to the area of numbness?
  • History of a back injury? - may suggest spinal canal stenosis.
  • Risk factors for meralgia paresthetica? - e.g. obesity; pregnancy; ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity); local trauma from belts, trusses or corsets.
  • more questions...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Numb thigh (12 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Numb thigh) may include:

  • Back pain? - may suggest prolapsed disc causing pressure on L2 or L3 nerve roots (note L2 causes buttock pain also).
  • Buttock pain and numbness? - would suggest L2 nerve root pain.
  • Symptoms of meralgia paresthetica? - e.g. a burning pain with associated numbness and tingling over the outer surface of the thigh. The distribution of pain and numbness does not cross the midline. It is due to entrapment of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve of the thigh.
  • Symptoms of L3 nerve root pain? - e.g. pain over the front of thigh, inner aspect of thigh, knee and leg; numbness over the front of thigh.
  • Symptoms of femoral nerve neuropathy? - e.g. numbness over the inner aspect of the thigh and leg; weakness of the quadriceps muscle in the thigh causing weakness of straightening the leg.
  • more symptoms...»

See Diagnosis Checklist for Numb thigh (12 listings)

Home Diagnostic Testing and Numb thigh

Home medical tests possibly related to Numb thigh:

Stories from Users for Numb thigh

Real-life user stories relating to Numb thigh:

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Numb thigh or relevant symptoms:

Videos for Numb thigh

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See full list of 4 related videos

Patient Surveys for Numb thigh

Organs affected by Numb thigh:

The list of organs typically affected by Numb thigh may include, but is not limited to:

Detailed list of causes of Numb thigh

The list below shows some of the causes of Numb thigh mentioned in various sources:

See full list of 5 causes of Numb thigh

How Common are these Causes of Numb thigh?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Numb thigh. Of the 5 causes of Numb thigh that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

  • 0 causes are "very common" diseases
  • 1 causes are "common" diseases
  • 1 causes are "uncommon" diseases
  • 0 causes are "rare" diseases
  • 0 causes are "very rare" diseases
  • 3 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 5 causes of Numb thigh

Conditions listing symptoms: Numb thigh:

The following list of conditions have 'Numb thigh' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

S

  • Spinal conditions ... Thigh paresthesia
  • Spinal Cord Disorders ... Thigh paresthesia
  • Spinal fracture ... Thigh paresthesia
  • Spondylitis ... Thigh paresthesia
  • Sports Injuries ... Thigh paresthesia

    Join in at the forums

    Ask or answer a question about symptoms or diseases at one of our free interactive user forums.

    Medical story forums: If you have a medical story then we want to hear it.

    See a list of all the medical forums

  • Causes of Numb thigh Based on Risk Factors

    This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Numb thigh based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient:

  • Travel - has the patient travelled recently?

    Doctors and specialists: Who should I consult about Numb thigh?

    Depending on the seriousness of the onset of Numb thigh, you may want to consult one of the following medical professionals.

    Important:In extreme cases, always seek advice from emergency services :

    Classifications of Numb thigh:

    Medical Conditions associated with Numb thigh:

    Thigh paresthesias (6 causes), Thigh symptoms (30 causes), Numbness (378 causes), Pain (5609 causes), Sensations (5876 causes), Nerve symptoms (6219 causes), Leg symptoms (1696 causes), Common symptoms (7717 causes), Limb symptoms (1215 causes)

    Symptoms related to Numb thigh:

    Numbness (378 causes), Thigh symptoms (30 causes), Tingling (803 causes), Tingling thigh (6 causes), Thigh paresthesia (6 causes), Paresthesia (803 causes), Spinal conditions, Spinal Cord Disorders, Spinal fracture, Spondylitis, Sports Injuries

    Medical articles on signs and symptoms:

    Doctor-patient articles related to symptoms and diagnosis:

    These general medical articles may be of interest:

    See full list of premium articles on symptoms and diagnosis

    More Ways To Research Medical Signs and Symptoms:


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