Leg Numbness Causes & Symptoms to Know for Office Workers

While back pain and shoulder ache are common in office workers who lead a sedentary lifestyle, leg numbness is an often ignored problem because one cannot decipher a direct relationship between leg numbness and sitting. But the truth is excessive sitting, and unhealthy working posture leads to long-term problems, which in turn show up as constant, periodic, or severe leg pain and numbness.

Leg discomfort can range from a minor annoyance that comes and goes to crippling agony that interferes with basic daily activities like sleeping, walking, and exercising. The discomfort can manifest in various ways; some people describe it as hurting, burning, throbbing, or burning. It may also accompany additional symptoms, including a pins-and-needles feeling and weakness in the leg or foot.

Leg pain may result from a problem in the leg, but it frequently originates in the lower back, where the sciatic nerve begins to run and then moves along sciatica, the nerve's course. Hence ignoring back pain and shoving away the constant lower back problems are a serious indication that you could develop leg numbness. This is practically true and more common for office workers because of their prolonged sitting and habit of taking back pain lightly.

Hence it is imperative to be educated about leg numbness causes, symptoms, and daily life habits that lead to this issue. Below is all you need to know about what leads to leg numbness and how one can prevent it.

Causes of Leg Numbness in Office Workers

Leg numbness causes symptoms in many ways, but the main reason is unhealthy work or daily lifestyle. An office worker spends a substantial portion of the day sitting. And if you are someone who also commutes to work for hours, then you subject yourself to even unhealthier sitting behind the wheel when the signal stops or the traffic halts. Hence you are more likely to fall prone to issues like back pain, poor posture, leg numbness, and similar issues.

However, one benefit of highlighting the left leg numbness causes and right leg numbness causes is that you can address the problem from the root and take preventive measures. Below we list some reasons leading to leg numbness in office workers.

High Blood Sugar

For those of you who have diabetic neuropathy, increasing nerve discomfort from elevated blood sugar should not surprise you. The secret to treating nerve pain brought on by extended sitting periods is controlling your blood sugar. With the right diet (ideally one free of gluten) and consistent exercise, controlling your blood sugar is simple. However, limiting how long you sit can have a bigger impact on your blood sugar levels. Thus a height-adjustable desk that allows you to alternate between sitting and standing does help you keep the pressure off your nerves.

Pressure on Back

If your back is uncomfortable, your spine is uncomfortable. This leads to nerve problems leading to lower back and thigh muscle tissues. Hence one of the leading lower leg numbness causes it to sit improperly for long hours. A simple solution is to opt for an ergonomic chair that adjusts to your body and keeps your back from unhealthy alignment. For people with already existing back pain, a reclining ergonomic chair is very helpful because you can tilt the chair to a comfortable angle and enjoy working or resting peacefully.

Poor Circulation

Poor blood flow can be caused by sitting for long periods throughout the body. Your blood stays in your feet and legs once circulation slows down from sitting, ultimately lowering blood flow. The absence of nutrients and oxygen from a healthy blood flow might be hazardous for people with nerve discomfort—the intensity of symptoms like tingling or numbness increases. Every 10-15 minutes, make sure to stand up and stretch to keep the circulation circulating.

Symptoms of Leg Numbness

Thankfully not all leg pain in office workers is an alarming indication of back issues. Some are temporary, some are due to poor shoes, and some could be because of a recent workout routine or muscle spasm. But here are some symptoms to classify work-related leg numbness.

Burning Pain

This is another leg numbness cause. Burning pain is a sharp pain that extends from your lower back to buttocks and then to the legs. This pain feels like heating, needles poking the muscles, or a literal sharp burn feeling. It might come and go at intervals; in some serious cases, it becomes constant.

Tingling

A tingling or tickling feeling is a periodic feeling that occurs at short or long intervals. In this type of pain, the leg muscles experience a sudden irritating shiver that can travel up to the spine. Tingling can also be experienced in toes, feet, and sometimes the sole of the feet.

Constant Pain

Although technically not leg pain because it is typically felt in the buttock region, it may coexist with other types of pain experienced in the legs. Occasionally spreading pain into the leg from the buttock is another possibility. This is regarded as nerve pain and comes in the category of sciatica as well. You should notice this leg numbness cause.

How to Prevent and Solve Leg Numbness

Leg numbness feels like a sensation of muscle loss in the body and can show up at any stage of life. Although in older people, it is more common because their muscles, spine, and backbone aren't as strong as adults or youngsters. However, with constant care and few changes in routine, leg numbness can be treated or prevented. Here are some ways to address the leg numbness issue.

Back Support

Since the pain originates in the back and spine, taking care of your back health is mandatory. Invest in the best ergonomic chair or separate lumbar support for the office chair. Ensure your back and spinal region are protected from pain and pressure. Buying and searching specifically for the best office chair for back pain is highly known to fight such issues.

Standing Desks

Standing desks are known to bring wonders for physical and mental health in workplaces. A standing desk helps you regulate work hours between sitting and standing, taking off extra pressure from your back. Opt for electric standing desks that allow multiple height settings. You can pick the right one through the employee purchase program.

Keep Moving

Just because you are at work doesn’t mean you have to be working all 8 hours. It is recommended to leave your workstation every 1 hour or so to relax for a few minutes. Take a walk, stretch at your desk or lift your body from the chair.