HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

What Causes Numbness In The Toes Post Exercise?

Posted on Mon, 7 Aug 2017

Question: I am a 40 yr old female, weigh 200 lbs, and in the past six months have lost 15 lbs through diet and exercise. I work on weight training with a trainer two times a week and do cardio the rest of the week, mostly walking. When I first starting walking (usually 45-60 min, brisk pace) I would get very tight in my calf muscles and soon developed a sore right iliac muscle right behind the Iliac crest/hip bone. The physical therapist gave me exercises to strengthen the other hip/glute muscles saying that they weren't strong enough and were forcing my right side to overcompensate. About a week ago I really strained the entire right hip/top of pubic bone area trying to give our large dog a bath with the hose in the backyard. Since then I have been limping with a lot of pain when putting weight on the right leg. The physical therapist does not think I really injured anything and thinks some weeks with rest and his exercises will resolve it. But now my left leg is feeling extremely fatigued and tired, with some sciatic nerve pain and numbness in my toes that were not there before. Should I see a doctor for this? Why would my left leg/hip/glute area all of a sudden be so fatigued, etc?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (59 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Can be a disc bulge.

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The pain and fatigue in the hip and left leg with nerve pain and numbness can be due to a mild disc bulge or degenerative changes in the lower spine.
The following measures will help with the pain
• Lie on a hard bed.
• Use analgesics like advil or aleve and muscle relaxants to relieve pain and muscle spasm, as needed. Vitamin B12 supplements & Pregabalin may be helpful in controlling the neuropathic pain.
• Avoid forward bending.
• Correct your posture while sitting
• Avoid prolonged sitting
• Avoid strenuous activity & lifting heavy weights.
• Apply diclofenac gel on the affected area. Warm compresses will also help.
Also get an MRI spine done to confirm the diagnosis. Please consult an orthopedic surgeon and discuss the treatment options with him.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (23 minutes later)

It is mostly fatigue. Could this simply be due to compensating for the right hip issues?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (11 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can be due to compensation and overuse

Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
Fatigue can be due to compensation and overuse but numbness is suggestive of a nerve related issue.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.

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

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (8 hours later)

I also deal with health anxiety and can get worried it would be something like ALS, a tumor ot MS. But I do have very hypermobile joints so I guess I should expect things like this if I am exercising .

Answered by Dr. Dr. Praveen Tayal (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Can be due to hypermobile joints.

Detailed Answer:
Anxiety and hypermobility of joints can cause such minor issues. Relaxation exercises and Yoga can help.
Regards.

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

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