Nerve Damage from Weight Loss - thoughts?
mutantspicy
Posts: 624 Member
So I've dropped from 215 to 195 over the last year and half. And my BF% wasn't extremely high at the start probably around 20 to 25, its probably around 15% right now, def not lower than that. I'm looking good guys and gals. Those abs and especially obliques are finally starting to pop out a bit. BUT!!!! I have a problem. My left leg is sparkly. I have a constant needles and pins area, from my hip pointer along the side of my left quad to just above my knee. If I stand hard on that leg it increases in intensity. I thought perhaps I pinched a nerve doing heavy squats. But the docs are saying no, I had an emg. They are saying its because of my weight loss and that the nerve is now more exposed due to less fat, and my underwear waist band is cutting is pushing on it.
IS this even real life? Is this fake news? Has anybody heard of such a thing? I certainly haven't.
Should I get a second opinion? Should I try a chiropractor, I'm not a fan, but some have suggested it may be sciatica.
What are your thoughts? has anyone else experienced this?
IS this even real life? Is this fake news? Has anybody heard of such a thing? I certainly haven't.
Should I get a second opinion? Should I try a chiropractor, I'm not a fan, but some have suggested it may be sciatica.
What are your thoughts? has anyone else experienced this?
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Replies
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Just tried googling. Nerve damage can be associated with extreme weight loss or with weight loss surgery. 20 lbs doesn't sound extreme to me, but I'm no doctor. I think you're right to want a second opinion.
(My anecdata: I went to an after hours clinic when I found blood in my urine after a light dumbbell workout I'd been doing. I'd been using the dumbbells for a number of months, and while I'd been slowly increasing the weights, the heaviest thing I was lifting was a pair of 15s and the workout took me about 75 minutes. The doc sent me for tests, but he also told me that excessive exercise could cause the symptom and I should hold off on working out until they got the results. I did some checking, followed up with my doctor... Seems the 'excessive exercise' was more along the lines of 'if I were training for a marathon' or something. Working out was fine.)0 -
Never heard of such a thing. I'd explore sciatica. I had nerve issues similar when I was doing too much long distance running (6 miles a day, 6 days a week). Do you foam roll everywhere everyday? That seems to help me and my nerves.0
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Any time I have nerve issues of any kind, I don't go to a doctor. I go to my Chiro and he fixes me right up. I had the same issues when I lost my weight last time. My nerve pain would shoot straight down my back and into my leg. The chiro explained that my fat was padding stuff that was out of alignment and once I got them all back into place, those issues went away. I realize that may not be the same for everyone, but in my experience it worked.7
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The bottom of the heel on my right foot, only an area of about 4 square inches, has gone numb for the past several months. I've spoken with my doctor once about it. I thought it might be some kind of nerve damage. She thinks it might be some kind of bone spur. Either way, I don't think it's worth an X-Ray to get a better guess and I sure don't want to move along toward surgery in a 50-50 chance of fixing something that isn't bothering me.
I had lost over 100 lb before that heel numbness started, and partly chose to gain weight to see if that would relieve the issue and restore feeling. That didn't work, so I've returned to losing weight.0 -
theGreatPondero wrote: »Never heard of such a thing. I'd explore sciatica. I had nerve issues similar when I was doing too much long distance running (6 miles a day, 6 days a week). Do you foam roll everywhere everyday? That seems to help me and my nerves.
Good tip on the roller, I haven't tried this its worth a shot. But interesting, I did rescue a Border collie from the shelter nearly 2 years ago, and since I've been going on 3 to 5 miles walks almost daily.
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AmberSpamber wrote: »Any time I have nerve issues of any kind, I don't go to a doctor. I go to my Chiro and he fixes me right up. I had the same issues when I lost my weight last time. My nerve pain would shoot straight down my back and into my leg. The chiro explained that my fat was padding stuff that was out of alignment and once I got them all back into place, those issues went away. I realize that may not be the same for everyone, but in my experience it worked.
Interestingly, your chiro's explanation is similar to the neurologist's explanation, except he didn't get into alignment stuff. Its definitely something I'm considering. Because following the doctors suggestion of baggy clothing is not convenient nor has it helped.0 -
It's not sciatica, the sciatic nerve is in the back. It sounds like the femoral nerve. The most common causes of irritation are clothes that are too tight or impingement by the inguinal ligament (think carpal tunnel for your leg).
Stretching wise, stretch the quads and hip flexors.
He's a nice picture kinda showing whats going on:
https://www.rehabmypatient.com/lumbar-spine/femoral-nerve-entrapment6 -
I lost 140lbs and never had this issue so it sounds a bit fishy to me.0
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It's not sciatica, the sciatic nerve is in the back. It sounds like the femoral nerve. The most common causes of irritation are clothes that are too tight or impingement by the inguinal ligament (think carpal tunnel for your leg).
Stretching wise, stretch the quads and hip flexors.
He's a nice picture kinda showing whats going on:
https://www.rehabmypatient.com/lumbar-spine/femoral-nerve-entrapment
yeah that looks like exactly what the neurologist said, and it feels like the pinch is right at my hip pointer and sparkles down from there.0 -
Sounds more like nerve entrapment they way you describe it. If it was from tight undies you would be able to duplicate the issue just by pushing on the area. I am assuming that you saw a neurologist if you had an emg. Perhaps a visit to an ortho who specializes is sports medicine would be helpful. I have found that neuros and orthos who work in sports medicine to have different outlook with problem solving.1
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mutantspicy wrote: »It's not sciatica, the sciatic nerve is in the back. It sounds like the femoral nerve. The most common causes of irritation are clothes that are too tight or impingement by the inguinal ligament (think carpal tunnel for your leg).
Stretching wise, stretch the quads and hip flexors.
He's a nice picture kinda showing whats going on:
https://www.rehabmypatient.com/lumbar-spine/femoral-nerve-entrapment
yeah that looks like exactly what the neurologist said, and it feels like the pinch is right at my hip pointer and sparkles down from there.
Sciatica does NOT "sparkle". It feels like a knife is slicing down through my *kitten* and down the back of my leg. Unless you have the Rated G version compared to my R Rated one, I'd rule that out...1 -
It's not sciatica, the sciatic nerve is in the back. It sounds like the femoral nerve. The most common causes of irritation are clothes that are too tight or impingement by the inguinal ligament (think carpal tunnel for your leg).
Stretching wise, stretch the quads and hip flexors.
He's a nice picture kinda showing whats going on:
https://www.rehabmypatient.com/lumbar-spine/femoral-nerve-entrapment
sciatic nerve issues can cause pain in the leg too though. my grandma had it,my dad had it. my hubby and son both have sciatic nerve issues.it runs from their back down their leg and causes issues.https://medlineplus.gov/ency/imagepages/19503.htm2 -
mutantspicy wrote: »AmberSpamber wrote: »Any time I have nerve issues of any kind, I don't go to a doctor. I go to my Chiro and he fixes me right up. I had the same issues when I lost my weight last time. My nerve pain would shoot straight down my back and into my leg. The chiro explained that my fat was padding stuff that was out of alignment and once I got them all back into place, those issues went away. I realize that may not be the same for everyone, but in my experience it worked.
Interestingly, your chiro's explanation is similar to the neurologist's explanation, except he didn't get into alignment stuff. Its definitely something I'm considering. Because following the doctors suggestion of baggy clothing is not convenient nor has it helped.
Sounds like you need a second opinion. Find a reputable Chiro in your area and go in for a consultation. If you think about how much damage extra weight does to our joints, it makes sense that things in your spine could also be off. It's worth a shot. Its helped me a ton. Good luck!1 -
Crosbinium wrote: »Sounds more like nerve entrapment they way you describe it. If it was from tight undies you would be able to duplicate the issue just by pushing on the area. I am assuming that you saw a neurologist if you had an emg. Perhaps a visit to an ortho who specializes is sports medicine would be helpful. I have found that neuros and orthos who work in sports medicine to have different outlook with problem solving.
Good idea about sport medicine specialist, that makes sense to me but so does a chiro just to see if a lower body adjustment would relieve the symptoms. I do think it is the femoral nerve, after reading more. But the tight clothes thing seems far fetched, I wear compression pants/shorts during work outs but other than that I don't even wear a belt most days much less tight clothes or tight underwear. But the sensation is there all the time, whether I'm nude, in pajamas, or fully clothed. I don't feel any weirdness in my hips like alignment issues, but they have always been turned in. And so I have I hard time with getting full extension on hip/glute bridges. Every now and then I get sharp twinge at the pointer when squatting down with weights.0 -
I have had the similar symptoms for a couple of years. I have come to the conclusion (with consultation with physio and massage therapists) that it is from tight hip flexors. I use a roller on my thigh and gluteus and do a lot of stretching of the flexors.0
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Do you sleep on one side more than the other? If so, sleep on the other side more. Also place a pillow between your knees to keep the hips aligned. If you sleep on your back, place the pillow under your knees.
When you sit, remove any wallet from your back pocket, and don't cross your legs.
If you've been doing a lot of sit-ups or leg raises, try skipping them.
Keep us updated..
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Cherimoose wrote: »Do you sleep on one side more than the other? If so, sleep on the other side more. Also place a pillow between your knees to keep the hips aligned. If you sleep on your back, place the pillow under your knees.
When you sit, remove any wallet from your back pocket, and don't cross your legs.
If you've been doing a lot of sit-ups or leg raises, try skipping them.
Keep us updated..
yeah, I've wondered about the sleeping thing, I do tend to favor my left side when sleeping. nice tips. Ill try the other side and see if there is improvement.0 -
mutantspicy wrote: »They are saying its because of my weight loss and that the nerve is now more exposed due to less fat, and my underwear waist band is cutting is pushing on it.
IS this even real life? Is this fake news? Has anybody heard of such a thing? I certainly haven't.
Should I get a second opinion? Should I try a chiropractor, I'm not a fan, but some have suggested it may be sciatica.
What are your thoughts? has anyone else experienced this?
The ONLY way this would be a reasonable explanation is if you had the exact same problem when you were this weight before (like, you just have a weirdly placed nerve that gets easily compressed from outside sources). Because IF the nerve is 'more exposed' due to less fat, then you should have had the same problem when you were a lower weight and had yet to gain weight, you know?
If that's not the case, then their explanation doesn't hold water. And if they didn't ASK if this was a problem when you were this weight before, then their jump to an assumption, without checking the facts to support it, doesn't indicate they are doing a very good job at diagnosing you. If wearing baggy clothes doesn't help, as you say, then that immediately disproves their theory as well.
There can be a lot of reasons for this, but it can be tricky to get them diagnosed.
1. If you have a lot of inflammation for some reason (diet change, a new mild food allergy), that can sometimes inflame the nerves and they start pretty much cause pain or pins and needles. Trying some anti-inflammatories can sometime help - and if they DO help, then that may point to something like this.
2. An auto-immune disease has developed. These can cause inflammation, or many can have symptoms like this specifically, and sometimes they can be triggered by physical stressors, including illness, injury, or even weight loss or weight gain may do it (they don't absolutely know, because there is much research to be done, but there are some docs who theorize). The thing is, 75% of patients with auto-immune disorders are women, so docs will often not even think about them when they are trying to diagnose men. googling your symptoms plus auto-immune disorder might pop up something, if you are interested.
In any case, I would definitely get a second opinion, if it were me.0 -
mutantspicy wrote: »They are saying its because of my weight loss and that the nerve is now more exposed due to less fat, and my underwear waist band is cutting is pushing on it.
IS this even real life? Is this fake news? Has anybody heard of such a thing? I certainly haven't.
Should I get a second opinion? Should I try a chiropractor, I'm not a fan, but some have suggested it may be sciatica.
What are your thoughts? has anyone else experienced this?
The ONLY way this would be a reasonable explanation is if you had the exact same problem when you were this weight before (like, you just have a weirdly placed nerve that gets easily compressed from outside sources). Because IF the nerve is 'more exposed' due to less fat, then you should have had the same problem when you were a lower weight and had yet to gain weight, you know?
If that's not the case, then their explanation doesn't hold water. And if they didn't ASK if this was a problem when you were this weight before, then their jump to an assumption, without checking the facts to support it, doesn't indicate they are doing a very good job at diagnosing you. If wearing baggy clothes doesn't help, as you say, then that immediately disproves their theory as well.
There can be a lot of reasons for this, but it can be tricky to get them diagnosed.
1. If you have a lot of inflammation for some reason (diet change, a new mild food allergy), that can sometimes inflame the nerves and they start pretty much cause pain or pins and needles. Trying some anti-inflammatories can sometime help - and if they DO help, then that may point to something like this.
2. An auto-immune disease has developed. These can cause inflammation, or many can have symptoms like this specifically, and sometimes they can be triggered by physical stressors, including illness, injury, or even weight loss or weight gain may do it (they don't absolutely know, because there is much research to be done, but there are some docs who theorize). The thing is, 75% of patients with auto-immune disorders are women, so docs will often not even think about them when they are trying to diagnose men. googling your symptoms plus auto-immune disorder might pop up something, if you are interested.
In any case, I would definitely get a second opinion, if it were me.
actually I have had more issues seem to crop up since I lost weight compared to when I was obese.even when I was a healthy weight in my younger years these issues werent there or did not present themselves.so yeah it can happen to show up when you lose weight. why I dont know. I know in my sons case he seemed to have no issues with sciatic nerve issues(hes 25) until he gained weight.
hes not obese or anything when my dad and grandma were alive they were of normal weight, and had sciatic nerve issues. hubby started having it as he got older.hes been a normal weight almost all of his life. I have RA and dont have the pins and needle thing and no sciatica yet. I think with anything it depends on the person and what is causing the issue but I think that for the op losing weight could for some reason seem to make his issues present themselves more than they did when overweight.
I know for me it seems to be that way.0 -
estherdragonbat wrote: »Just tried googling. Nerve damage can be associated with extreme weight loss or with weight loss surgery. 20 lbs doesn't sound extreme to me, but I'm no doctor. I think you're right to want a second opinion.
(My anecdata: I went to an after hours clinic when I found blood in my urine after a light dumbbell workout I'd been doing. I'd been using the dumbbells for a number of months, and while I'd been slowly increasing the weights, the heaviest thing I was lifting was a pair of 15s and the workout took me about 75 minutes. The doc sent me for tests, but he also told me that excessive exercise could cause the symptom and I should hold off on working out until they got the results. I did some checking, followed up with my doctor... Seems the 'excessive exercise' was more along the lines of 'if I were training for a marathon' or something. Working out was fine.)
How careless of the doctor to tell you to hold off excercise while they waited on test results in order to protect your kidneys in case you ck WAS dangerously elevated. Amature.
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CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »mutantspicy wrote: »They are saying its because of my weight loss and that the nerve is now more exposed due to less fat, and my underwear waist band is cutting is pushing on it.
IS this even real life? Is this fake news? Has anybody heard of such a thing? I certainly haven't.
Should I get a second opinion? Should I try a chiropractor, I'm not a fan, but some have suggested it may be sciatica.
What are your thoughts? has anyone else experienced this?
The ONLY way this would be a reasonable explanation is if you had the exact same problem when you were this weight before (like, you just have a weirdly placed nerve that gets easily compressed from outside sources). Because IF the nerve is 'more exposed' due to less fat, then you should have had the same problem when you were a lower weight and had yet to gain weight, you know?
If that's not the case, then their explanation doesn't hold water. And if they didn't ASK if this was a problem when you were this weight before, then their jump to an assumption, without checking the facts to support it, doesn't indicate they are doing a very good job at diagnosing you. If wearing baggy clothes doesn't help, as you say, then that immediately disproves their theory as well.
There can be a lot of reasons for this, but it can be tricky to get them diagnosed.
1. If you have a lot of inflammation for some reason (diet change, a new mild food allergy), that can sometimes inflame the nerves and they start pretty much cause pain or pins and needles. Trying some anti-inflammatories can sometime help - and if they DO help, then that may point to something like this.
2. An auto-immune disease has developed. These can cause inflammation, or many can have symptoms like this specifically, and sometimes they can be triggered by physical stressors, including illness, injury, or even weight loss or weight gain may do it (they don't absolutely know, because there is much research to be done, but there are some docs who theorize). The thing is, 75% of patients with auto-immune disorders are women, so docs will often not even think about them when they are trying to diagnose men. googling your symptoms plus auto-immune disorder might pop up something, if you are interested.
In any case, I would definitely get a second opinion, if it were me.
actually I have had more issues seem to crop up since I lost weight compared to when I was obese.even when I was a healthy weight in my younger years these issues werent there or did not present themselves.so yeah it can happen to show up when you lose weight. why I dont know. I know in my sons case he seemed to have no issues with sciatic nerve issues(hes 25) until he gained weight.
hes not obese or anything when my dad and grandma were alive they were of normal weight, and had sciatic nerve issues. hubby started having it as he got older.hes been a normal weight almost all of his life. I have RA and dont have the pins and needle thing and no sciatica yet. I think with anything it depends on the person and what is causing the issue but I think that for the op losing weight could for some reason seem to make his issues present themselves more than they did when overweight.
I know for me it seems to be that way.
Well my body composition is different now as well. When I was originally at 185lb, I had less muscle and my BF% was higher than it is now. I put on a solid 10lbs of clean muscle, then a few years later got chubby. Maybe going to 185 is unrealistic for me now, I don't think so though. Either way there was a time when I was around 195 15% to 20% bf or so and I didn't have this issue, about where I'm at today. That's why wonder about the alignment stuff because I am an engineer, tho I purposely walk a lot, I do at times sit for long periods, maybe its just taken its toll over the years. Well anyway yeah I hope I don't have any autoimmune sorcery happening that would suck.0 -
I have this exact same thing and had been googling my symptoms. This is the area that bothers me and feels numb. I believe a nerve is pinched from the belt i wear at work waitressing. I have lost a lot of weight recently and just one day a couple weeks ago my outside hip/thigh went numb and is sore sometimes.
content://media/external/file/121308
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I have this exact same thing and had been googling my symptoms. This is the area that bothers me and feels numb. I believe a nerve is pinched from the belt i wear at work waitressing. I have lost a lot of weight recently and just one day a couple weeks ago my outside hip/thigh went numb and is sore sometimes.
content://media/external/file/121308
That sounds familiar, for me I felt like it did doing squats in a workout. My leg felt tingly that day, and during the lift I felt a twinge like an electrical spike not an injury. Later It went numb, and this has been this way ever since. And yeah my hip pointer does have some soreness at times as well. Though for me it feels like something inside like a muscle or tendon inflamed or misaligned and not exterior If you find anything please post it. But doctor's did tell me that belts and clothing can cause this issue when you lose weight.0 -
mutantspicy wrote: »CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »mutantspicy wrote: »They are saying its because of my weight loss and that the nerve is now more exposed due to less fat, and my underwear waist band is cutting is pushing on it.
IS this even real life? Is this fake news? Has anybody heard of such a thing? I certainly haven't.
Should I get a second opinion? Should I try a chiropractor, I'm not a fan, but some have suggested it may be sciatica.
What are your thoughts? has anyone else experienced this?
The ONLY way this would be a reasonable explanation is if you had the exact same problem when you were this weight before (like, you just have a weirdly placed nerve that gets easily compressed from outside sources). Because IF the nerve is 'more exposed' due to less fat, then you should have had the same problem when you were a lower weight and had yet to gain weight, you know?
If that's not the case, then their explanation doesn't hold water. And if they didn't ASK if this was a problem when you were this weight before, then their jump to an assumption, without checking the facts to support it, doesn't indicate they are doing a very good job at diagnosing you. If wearing baggy clothes doesn't help, as you say, then that immediately disproves their theory as well.
There can be a lot of reasons for this, but it can be tricky to get them diagnosed.
1. If you have a lot of inflammation for some reason (diet change, a new mild food allergy), that can sometimes inflame the nerves and they start pretty much cause pain or pins and needles. Trying some anti-inflammatories can sometime help - and if they DO help, then that may point to something like this.
2. An auto-immune disease has developed. These can cause inflammation, or many can have symptoms like this specifically, and sometimes they can be triggered by physical stressors, including illness, injury, or even weight loss or weight gain may do it (they don't absolutely know, because there is much research to be done, but there are some docs who theorize). The thing is, 75% of patients with auto-immune disorders are women, so docs will often not even think about them when they are trying to diagnose men. googling your symptoms plus auto-immune disorder might pop up something, if you are interested.
In any case, I would definitely get a second opinion, if it were me.
actually I have had more issues seem to crop up since I lost weight compared to when I was obese.even when I was a healthy weight in my younger years these issues werent there or did not present themselves.so yeah it can happen to show up when you lose weight. why I dont know. I know in my sons case he seemed to have no issues with sciatic nerve issues(hes 25) until he gained weight.
hes not obese or anything when my dad and grandma were alive they were of normal weight, and had sciatic nerve issues. hubby started having it as he got older.hes been a normal weight almost all of his life. I have RA and dont have the pins and needle thing and no sciatica yet. I think with anything it depends on the person and what is causing the issue but I think that for the op losing weight could for some reason seem to make his issues present themselves more than they did when overweight.
I know for me it seems to be that way.
Well my body composition is different now as well. When I was originally at 185lb, I had less muscle and my BF% was higher than it is now. I put on a solid 10lbs of clean muscle, then a few years later got chubby. Maybe going to 185 is unrealistic for me now, I don't think so though. Either way there was a time when I was around 195 15% to 20% bf or so and I didn't have this issue, about where I'm at today. That's why wonder about the alignment stuff because I am an engineer, tho I purposely walk a lot, I do at times sit for long periods, maybe its just taken its toll over the years. Well anyway yeah I hope I don't have any autoimmune sorcery happening that would suck.
could be years from sitting but its hard to tell. I would see a neurologist to rule anything out if possible. any old injuries could have aggravated the condition too if you had anything like that. and yeah autoimmune problems suck0 -
crackpotbaby wrote: »estherdragonbat wrote: »Just tried googling. Nerve damage can be associated with extreme weight loss or with weight loss surgery. 20 lbs doesn't sound extreme to me, but I'm no doctor. I think you're right to want a second opinion.
(My anecdata: I went to an after hours clinic when I found blood in my urine after a light dumbbell workout I'd been doing. I'd been using the dumbbells for a number of months, and while I'd been slowly increasing the weights, the heaviest thing I was lifting was a pair of 15s and the workout took me about 75 minutes. The doc sent me for tests, but he also told me that excessive exercise could cause the symptom and I should hold off on working out until they got the results. I did some checking, followed up with my doctor... Seems the 'excessive exercise' was more along the lines of 'if I were training for a marathon' or something. Working out was fine.)
How careless of the doctor to tell you to hold off excercise while they waited on test results in order to protect your kidneys in case you ck WAS dangerously elevated. Amature.
Actually, the doctor who initially assessed me at the clinic happened to be a nephrologist and immediately ruled out kidney issues.0
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