funny sensation in leg

[stevepaa]

Over the past few days i get a funny sensation in my right leg. It is as though I have my phone on vibrate and in my pants pocket. I grab my thigh with both hands but cannot feel any muscle vibrations.

Any docs have ideas??

[John Rogers]

I had similar sensations back in 1978 or so and it got worse and worse and finally would loose all feeling of the right leg and would actually fall over as it was if my leg was not there! There were two tests ran, one was electrical probes down my spine and the end of the leg and it showed that one of the nerve channels was getting blocked due to several broken off pieces of disc. The other test was a ct scan that did not show anything wrong? Anyways the doc at Balboa Naval hospital sliced it open and pulled out the small pieces and all have been well since.

I would suggest seeing a specialist that knows about these things although there will be several here that will say it is in your head or do sit ups or sleep on your belly, etc, etc, etc.

[matt f]

Possible lateral femoral cutaneous nerve impingement.
Will occur if trauma to anterior superior aspect of pelvis or even tight pants at waist.

[vash]

wierd..someone just asked this exact question on some hunting forum.

[stevepaa]

Thanks, I know I can always get good information here.

[rnln]

Same for me for a while, maybe a year or so, but on the left.
Is it that serious?

Originally Posted by stevepaa

Over the past few days i get a funny sensation in my right leg. It is as though I have my phone on vibrate and in my pants pocket. I grab my thigh with both hands but cannot feel any muscle vibrations.

Any docs have ideas??

[Chocaholic]

Originally Posted by vash

wierd..someone just asked this exact question on some hunting forum.

Caused by the presence of a multi-round clip in the vicinity of your pants pocket. Due to a new government mandate, a persistent and uncomfortable pulsation is applied to the leg until said clip is proactively returned to your local Democratic National Committee office.

Nothing to be concerned about. Just your government taking steps to protect you from yourself.

[BeyGon]

I thought this would be about Chris Mathews

[ckelly78z]

Most women would be interested in "the man with a vibrating leg", so stop complaining and start advertising !

[pavulon]

I've read an article about this very thing and in that article it was a phantom sensation...google may turn up the same article.

[JAR0023]

Herniated disk between L5 and S1 did it for me. Got that sensation periodically for a year or so after the original incident.

-J

[pwd72s]

Hmmm. Steve, how old are you? I'd suggest visiting a neurologist. There are many symptoms to MS...but it usually shows on the left side first. Don't wish to alarm you. When Cindy was diagnosed, the really bad stuff that was eliminated made the MS diagnosis almost a relief.

This diagnosis came shortly after we'd been married 2 years. We're now 37 years and counting....played pool for a few hours yesterday, too!

Reason I asked your age was that MS symptoms usually begin to show during the early 30's.

[Crowbob]

It's all in your head. Do situps and sleep on your belly.

[matt f]

Originally Posted by JAR0023

Herniated disk between L5 and S1 did it for me. Got that sensation periodically for a year or so after the original incident.

-J

L5-S1 IVD herniation would affect sensation in the anterior and lateral aspects of the leg and foot. The muscles (motor) generally affected are the ones responsible for the ability to stand on your toes(S1) and to lift your foot(L5) while walking on the heel of your foot. You may have had pain radiate from your back, down your posterior thigh and into your leg, which is common.

Steve stated his symptoms are localized to his thigh and are sensory only in nature.
That area is supplied by nerves higher in the lumbar plexus, specifically in the area he described, L2,L3.

Meralgia Parasthetica is a neurological condition of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve(L2,L3) that MAY explain his sense of vibration in the described area.

The LFC nerve has no motor content(sensory only) and without motor/muscle dysfunction would be a logical rule/out.

[matt f]

Originally Posted by pavulon

I've read an article about this very thing and in that article it was a phantom sensation...google may turn up the same article.

This is usually seen in amputees.

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by matt f

This is usually seen in amputees.

That's true.

However, having experienced the same odd thing the OP discussed, I found an article similar to the below. In my case, it seems psychosomatic even though I'm not really into cellphones. Certainly, legitimate problems could cause the sensation but the odds are markedly in the OP's favor.

The Phone That Wasn't There: 11 Things You Need to Know About Phantom Vibrations - Robinson Meyer - The Atlantic

[matt f]

Originally Posted by pavulon

That's true.

However, having experienced the same odd thing the OP discussed, I found an article similar to the below. In my case, it seems psychosomatic even though I'm not really into cellphones. Certainly, legitimate problems could cause the sensation but the odds are markedly in the OP's favor.

The Phone That Wasn't There: 11 Things You Need to Know About Phantom Vibrations - Robinson Meyer - The Atlantic

Good article.
Thank you for the link.
Another possibility for r/o.

If the vibratory sensation is intermittent, not reproducible and fleeting this is an option.
If, however, the sensation is somewhat constant, or reproducible it would be advisable to look deeper.

Thank you again for the link, it never hurts to learn something new.

[pavulon]

You're welcome. I was a bit relieved to find it as there is some MS in my family.

[Tobra]

When does it happen? Sitting, standing, driving in the car?

Do NOT get a nerve conduction velocity test.

I always have found phantom limb pain to be fascinating, and have sadly seen more of it than I would like. You can help them with it sometimes, sometimes not. Seem to remember reading something about spinal anesthesia reducing the incidence of it, oops had it backwards, precipitating it.
Clinics - Phantom limb pain induced by spinal anesthesia

MS in the family, zoinks

[pavulon]

While a bit of a drift from the topic of phantom vibrations, phantom limb pain has some really odd treatments. Regional anesthesia techniques (continuous peripheral nerve block via infusion) initiated very early in the injury (i.e. military combat area hosptials) have been used to some success but less invasive therapies such as mirror box treatments have also shown to be useful.

As most are aware, chronic pain and management of the same is a problem of epidemic proportions. Enough so that it is a medical sub-specialty in itself. I've only done a little of it which was enough to understand that it takes a unique person to do it well for a long time.