Can repetitive ankle sprains cause numbness

[Northnr]

The first time I sprained my right ankle was in 1996. I stepped over a baby gate ad my foot landed with the sole facing inward. Hurt like heck had to nurse it as usual but had no problems until 2004. In 2004 I again sprained/rolled the ankle again. Walking in the dark and stepped on a icy patch cant remember how the akle turned. Within a few weeks of this injury I again rolled it walking on an uneven old brick walkway. Again in summer 2005 I was walking down a steep loose gravel driveway with somewhat unstable high sandals on and went down. The left leg landed straight out and my right leg was bent like I was doing a left leg stretch. This unfortunatey happened as I was gettig ready to drive home 4 hours away and had no choice. So i did not ice it and I dont think I wrapped it, I know I didnt elevate it becuase I was driving. Next injury was Fall 2007 just walking for exercise and rolled outward, then may 2008 was standing on a uneven patch of grass and stepped back with my right leg wearing flat sandals and it rolled. Next about a moth later again just walking with flat sandals on flat round and most recently walking for exercise. Each of the most recent since 2007 times it initially hurt for a few days and I did the RICE but then as soon as it was better I used a eliptical for 10-20 minutes a few times a week. I have not really walked that much for exercise. But I have noticed that it is taking much less for this to happen, and that I have had increasign periodic mild numbness in the aera between my ankle and knee. I'll just add this in that in 2003 I had my gallbladder removed and that was the first time I experienced the numbness around my outer right knee area.

Could the increasign numbness be from the repetitive sprains? IS there anything to do for this. Should I see a doc and what kind?

[Northnr]

Also I have been iagnosed with bulged disc and spinal stenosis but since chiro and acupuncture this has not bothered me in almost 2 years.

Kathy

[Heidi]

Hi,

I think the numbeness in the lower leg is probably not related to the ankle sprain. Usually numbess would be at the same level, or below the level of the injury. Not above it. I think it is more likely coming from your back problems. I would return to the chiropractor for some maintenance work to see if this is the problem

Good luck!

[Northnr]

It can be from the back even if that isnt causing me any pain or problems?

[Heidi]

Yes,

I have a similar problem at the moment. Am training for a half marathon and started getting pain in my right hamstring, at the top. Thought it was the tendon where they attach to the pelvis. However stretching, massage, ultrasound had no effect. Have found that I have a very tight piriformis muscle impinging on my scaitic nerve. Have been treating this and getting definate improvement. I never had any pain in the buttock.

All it takes is a slight impingement on this nerve to cause referred pain, tingling or in your case, numbness.