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Numbness in one shin but none in foot

Posted by jesse58579 @jesse58579, 1 day ago

Since 2022 I started noticing some numbness in my right shin. Went to my local walk-in clinic. They thought maybe I just needed a break from exercising. I bicycle and run a lot.

Break from exercise didn't help. Gave it some time. In 2024 went back in again as numbness was still there.

They did MRI and thought it could be due to pinched nerves at L4 and L5. Tried steroid injections twice. Didn't really help much.

Then tried an EMG which also pointed to L4 or L5 being the culprit.

My local medical facility seems to think a bone fusion might be the only thing that could potentially help. However, they advise against it too since over time can make rest of spine more compromised. They did mention some type of nerve medication but didn't seem really confident that would help.

Went to a chiropractor too. He thought it was odd that my feet and toes wouldn't also be numb.

I don't have any pain but concerned that numbness might spread over time and affect muscle function. Every once in a great while I have some slight pins and needle sensations but not really painful.

So confused at this point. Hoping someone else has experienced something similar or has some advice.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

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dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | 19 hours ago

@jesse58579
I have the same thing. I went to a neurologist and had EMG/nerve conduction studies that showed pinched nerves (radiculopathy) and I have bilateral carpal tunnel compression. My MRIs of cervical and lumbar spine showed degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, cervical myelopathy and neurogenic claudication. I ended up having L3-L5 decompressed and fused since my symptoms became significant and worsened over 5-7 years. I held off as long as possible getting surgery understanding that adjacent segment issues in the future were possible. I was 54 at the time and had lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet pain, weakness and numbness. It was hard to stand, walk, sit, do stairs, etc. at that point.

I also had been diagnosed by my neurologist with small fiber neuropathy by doing a skin punch biopsy which is the gold standard test. In 2017, I started having burning and pins and needles in my feet, especially when walking and in warm weather, plus restless legs at night. Sleeping was disrupted by these sensations.

If physical therapy, pain management medication and injections, plus topical nerve pain creams and patches don’t help anymore, surgery is the last option to consider. Over time, spinal cord/nerve roots/nerves will be injured/damaged if compressed for long periods because they are not getting proper blood flow/nutrients, etc. Think of it like an electrical cord being jammed in a door. Over time, it won’t work right and may become permanently damaged where it doesn’t work at all.

REPLY
1 reply
cookiezz | @cookiezz | 12 hours ago
In reply to @dlydailyhope "@jesse58579 I have the same thing. I went to a neurologist and had EMG/nerve conduction studies..." + (show)
@dlydailyhope

@jesse58579
I have the same thing. I went to a neurologist and had EMG/nerve conduction studies that showed pinched nerves (radiculopathy) and I have bilateral carpal tunnel compression. My MRIs of cervical and lumbar spine showed degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, cervical myelopathy and neurogenic claudication. I ended up having L3-L5 decompressed and fused since my symptoms became significant and worsened over 5-7 years. I held off as long as possible getting surgery understanding that adjacent segment issues in the future were possible. I was 54 at the time and had lower back, hips, buttocks, legs and feet pain, weakness and numbness. It was hard to stand, walk, sit, do stairs, etc. at that point.

I also had been diagnosed by my neurologist with small fiber neuropathy by doing a skin punch biopsy which is the gold standard test. In 2017, I started having burning and pins and needles in my feet, especially when walking and in warm weather, plus restless legs at night. Sleeping was disrupted by these sensations.

If physical therapy, pain management medication and injections, plus topical nerve pain creams and patches don’t help anymore, surgery is the last option to consider. Over time, spinal cord/nerve roots/nerves will be injured/damaged if compressed for long periods because they are not getting proper blood flow/nutrients, etc. Think of it like an electrical cord being jammed in a door. Over time, it won’t work right and may become permanently damaged where it doesn’t work at all.

Jump to this post

That’s quite a lot to go through. I had 2 vomiting discs in my neck, which I had a steroid shot for and seemed to help for a while. Then one day I was starting to have my little pain between my shoulder blades and light arms. I thought that was kind of weird, but only last a few minutes so I didn’t complain too much then all of a sudden one day I lost and went to pull the lever on my chair and I couldn’t move my arm, so I went into AR ER and because of my age, they thought that I had a stroke, but I had told them I had two bulging disc on my neck and thought maybe that would be an issue. Finally, a new doctor replaced the other one and asked me if I wanted an MRI which I did and after the MRI they made appointment to go see a surgeon because of as you said the two bulging discs were bulging into my spinal cord, and the surgeon explained that if I didn’t have it taken care of the longer, I waited the less chances of having a full use of my arm so naturally I opted for the operation and it went very well and I’ve never had a really problem with that sense but my lower back has been an issue like you. I had several tests and MRIs and found pinched nerves and so forth I did have a three level cage done and I had an awful time of recovering from the surgery due to the anesthesia but luckily that recited and it took me about a year to get kind of pain-free, which only lasted few years because it doesn’t get rid of the arthritis disease which now has increased and having problems with my L2 & L3 .
It’s such a hard decision to decide surgery or not, but I certainly don’t wanna go through other back surgery but again, depending on how much I needed and how much it’s affecting me possibly will, but I’m just getting too old for this stuff lol

REPLY
1 reply
dlydailyhope | @dlydailyhope | 11 hours ago
In reply to @cookiezz "That’s quite a lot to go through. I had 2 vomiting discs in my neck, which..." + (show)
@cookiezz

That’s quite a lot to go through. I had 2 vomiting discs in my neck, which I had a steroid shot for and seemed to help for a while. Then one day I was starting to have my little pain between my shoulder blades and light arms. I thought that was kind of weird, but only last a few minutes so I didn’t complain too much then all of a sudden one day I lost and went to pull the lever on my chair and I couldn’t move my arm, so I went into AR ER and because of my age, they thought that I had a stroke, but I had told them I had two bulging disc on my neck and thought maybe that would be an issue. Finally, a new doctor replaced the other one and asked me if I wanted an MRI which I did and after the MRI they made appointment to go see a surgeon because of as you said the two bulging discs were bulging into my spinal cord, and the surgeon explained that if I didn’t have it taken care of the longer, I waited the less chances of having a full use of my arm so naturally I opted for the operation and it went very well and I’ve never had a really problem with that sense but my lower back has been an issue like you. I had several tests and MRIs and found pinched nerves and so forth I did have a three level cage done and I had an awful time of recovering from the surgery due to the anesthesia but luckily that recited and it took me about a year to get kind of pain-free, which only lasted few years because it doesn’t get rid of the arthritis disease which now has increased and having problems with my L2 & L3 .
It’s such a hard decision to decide surgery or not, but I certainly don’t wanna go through other back surgery but again, depending on how much I needed and how much it’s affecting me possibly will, but I’m just getting too old for this stuff lol

Jump to this post

@cookiezz
I hear you! I’m tired of getting surgeries. I’ve had 6 in the last 4 years and having my 7th next week (ACDF on C6-C7 due to herniated disc pressing on my spinal cord). I already had C5-C6 decompressed and fused. My understanding is that having fusion and just general aging will increase the risk of adjacent segment issues above and below the levels fused. I am expecting to need more surgeries in the future some I have a congenitally narrow spinal canal. Average diameter is usually 13-15 mm and mine with the herniated disc is only 8 mm which is absolute stenosis. Despite this, my lovely insurance company is denying coverage of the surgery since they don’t want to pay for it. They make people dealing with health issues and the need for surgery spend time and energy fighting the insurance companies to get coverage of claims that should be covered. Why do we pay so much money for insurance if they can just decide what to deny claims and leave their members hanging and health issues not treated?

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