PAGING NURSE VAL!!!!

Hey Val or anyone else that can maybe help me. I've been working at the airport and this is my third week. Last week I noticed that my left leg goes numb right above the left knee. The numb area is a large portion of my left front thigh. It lasts all day and I'm not sure what's going on. I don't know if it's something to worry about or if it's caused from my feet and the walking. I feel like such a dork asking this, but I'd rather feel like a dork here than with the Dr. He always makes me feel stupid. Would appreciate any advice. Tami~ 268/223/120

Well my first piece of solid advice is get another doctor. No physician should ever make anyone feel stupid. That's his job and he should respect you as much as you repsect him. After all he is making money off of you. Now, with that having been said, I honestly don't know. Almost sounds like a pinched nerve somewhere. If you are having a lot of swelling, that could be the cause of it. But, I would definately go have it checked out. You have nerves that travel from your spine to your foot and back (long suckers huh?) that could get pinched or trapped anywhere along that route. Is your thigh swollen at all? Does it come and go or is it constant? Then there is always the worry of a clot. Do you have pain in your calf? Or your lower back? Does your foot go numb too? Is it cold to the touch? See tons of questions! I think your best bet, would be to have your doc (or a new one) check it out. Pain, or other signals like that are your body's way of saying something isn't quite right. So, please, for me call an MD ok? When we find out it isn't anything to get worried about we will have a big sigh of relief! Hugs, Val

Hey Val... Thanks for the post. It's there constantly now....even when I wake up in the morning it's still numb. It feels cold at times and feels also like needles are sticking in me. There isn't any swelling that I can see on that leg, but your post brought up a new worrie. I have pain in my right calf. I thought it was a charley horse type thing....but now i'm a bit worried about the blood clot issue..I didn't think of that. I'll try to find another Dr. and get in tomorrow. Thanks for all the info. Your the best!!!! Ohhhh also....what was the vote? Do you get to keep the programs or not? Tami~

Tami, see if you can find a sports medicine doctor in your area. That's who I use for misc. injuries. I would think it could be something pinched or swollen in your back. I can't feel any of my right thigh and part of my groin and butt. I broke my L3 vertebrate in a car accident when I was 17, and suffered spinal cord damage. I've found that if I lift a lot and my lower back swells slightly, then my numbness gets worse and runs down my knee. Most of the time, it goes away in a few days. As long as you're not in pain, it's probably not an emergency, but it never hurts to check it out. Jennifer

Hey Jennifer: Thanks for posting. It's a great idea to call a sports dr. I hope your back injury doesn't give you too much trouble. Tami~

I agree with the others, also (This happened to Kristie) get your Thiamin checked, low levels can cause nerve damage. We are at risk for this now, she had the exact same symtoms, and now takes B-1, and B12 injections.

Thanks Mikee....wow...i hope Kristie is ok now. I would never have thought of Thiamin. I'll be sure and bring that up with the Dr. Whoever it turns out to be. Thanks for the info. Tami~

Yes, she is good now, caught it before perm. damage was done. We know two people personally that do have perm damage, one ended in a coma and a wheelchair for a year. Thiamin deficiency can lead to Berrie-Berrie (Spelling?) rare nowdays but we are at risk. Your doc will figure it out.

Mike, That is sooo interesting. We had our support group last night and the NP talked about thiamin deficiencies and causing numbness and tingling in the legs. I didn't know that it caused nerve damage either. Thanks for the info. See you can teach an old fart new things! Glad you guys caught it. Val