Dear Doctor,
I am 26 years old and have recently been having problems with my legs falling "half asleep" when I stand or walk for a long period of time. It starts in my feet and then works its way up to my calves and finally my thighs. They also feel stiff and heavy, as though I am walking through water. My feet and legs are also very sensitive to cold, such as air conditioning in a car. They will go numb and fall asleep or get pins and needles as soon as cold air blows on them. These problems appear to affect me for a while, and then disappear for a while, only to return later in greater severity than before. I am wondering what you think could be causing these problems? I am confident that it is not simply my socks or shoes as I have changed these around, but I do have narrow, flat feet and wonder if this could be a factor. Could a problem with my back cause troubles like this?
Many thanks,
Colleen P.