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Avatar universal

Electric/tingle feeling in leg

Hi Dr.,
This past January I was snowboarding and had fallen multiple times causing trauma to my tailbone/lower back. For about a week it hurt to sit and relieve pressure too. About a week after that pain began to go away I started to notice a tingling almost electric feeling in my left buttocks. I would also notice it on my inner left side, front side of my left knee and shin and sometimes in my toes. It is not painful, just something I have become aware of and more like a nuisance  . It was better for a while then I must have slept funny then it began to act up again. I am still experiencing these feeling randomly. Sometimes  I notice this in my right leg too.  

My questions are as follows:
1) Is it likely that these sensations are caused by my original trauma to my back?
2) Is it uncommon for those sensations to start happening a week after the original trauma occurred?
3) Do you recommend I see a neurologist for a complete work up? It is not debilitating so I am not sure if there is anything that can be done or if it is even worth getting it looked at.
4) What do you recommend would help eliminate these sensations? (Stretches)
6 Responses
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Avatar universal
sorry..could not stand for more than 2 mins
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Avatar universal
I had that for over a year. I started getting deep massages once a week. after about a year I was able to now go once a month. Happen to my mom also and now she goes to the massage place where I go and is now pain free long as she goes once a month. Some Doc. agree with that and others want to get u to let them do surgery's. I actually had a Dr who referred me to a massage place and yes I am living proof it works. when I had what u have it got so bad I could stand for more than 2 minutes or even walk around for more than that. As long as I go once a month I stay pain free.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for you advice.
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351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Yes, especially if there are pinched nerves due to wrong posture or slipped disc or arthritis etc.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your advice. It is not any sort of sensation that require pain killers, just random twinges that I know sometimes throughout the day. They seem to happen more while sitting.

For about 3-4weeks these sensations were gone, but then returned one morning after my back hurt fro sleeping. Final question: Is it possible that my back hurting from sleep could reactivate these sensations?
Helpful - 0
351246 tn?1379682132
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi!

The areas you describe are supplied by the lumbar spinal nerves L2, 3, 4 and to some extent L5 (the inner thigh, knee, shin and toe areas) and the sacral nerves (especially the buttock area). This could be caused by a slipped disc in the lower back due to the fall or may be a stretched nerve or a nerve compressed in the muscles due to injury.

This can be diagnosed by MRI, nerve conduction studies and EMG. Yes, it is possible to first get pain and then when the inflammation reduces the pain becomes less. This is when you realize there are other problems such as tingling etc.

Treatment usually involves complete bed rest for the first few days. During this time pain killers are given. After an initial period of 3-4 days of rest and painkillers, physiotherapy is started. Spinal manipulation, traction, back exercises, massage, etc are done.

The symptoms could also be due to  combination of pinched nerves and muscle injury.

However, as confirmed diagnosis is not possible on net, please do not start any treatment at home, except may be take a pain killer. Please take things easy until you can see a doctor.

Hope you get well soon! Good Luck and take care!
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