What Causes Weird Sensation In Upper Leg And Numbness In Lower Back?

Posted on Tue, 31 May 2016

Question: I had a hip replacement last August which is fine. I also have degeneration disc in my lower back. for 3 months now, I have had a weird sensation in my upper leg and thigh. Feels numb. when I touch my lower back, I feel it in my right thigh. Like a nerve. I found out I do have 2 pinched nerves and have been going to physical therapy for 2 months. still the same. will it ever go away? I take gabapentin 1800 mg a day

Answered by Dr. Prof. Kunal Saha (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
The nerves seem to be getting entrapped and compressed.

Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.

It seems that the degenerative disc disease is the cause of your problems. The spinal nerves that exit from either side of the vertebral column, are entrapped due to the degenerative changes and the resultant nerve compression may lead to muscle spasm and stiffness. It is perhaps the increased tone of muscles that you interpret to be 'nerves'.

Physical therapy is the mainstay of treatment but based on the situation spinal traction might also be needed. Ultrasonotherapy might provide transient relief. There is a less prevalent option of injection of botox into such muscles and you need to discuss about it with a neurologist. With proper intervention the problems can go away completely.

Regards

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar