Front of thigh pain and weakness

For about a week now I have been having the weirdest sensation in my left leg. I run about 4-5 miles a day, no knee pain and I know my shoes are NOT the cause of my problem. About 2 miles into my run, the front of my thigh, quadricep starts to ache and then I find my leg gets weak to a point where my foot slaps the ground due to the weakness. Sitting produces pain in the front of my thigh and a tingling sensation down my leg to my toes. I went to see my physio, he thinks it's a gait imbalance and nerve impingement maybe in my lower back (i have no lower back pain). Its very annoying and I foam roll, stretch everything. Has anyone ever had this and what can I do about it? Thanks so much everyone!

Hi Sarah21

Yes that is quite likely a low back problem and you are developing impingement of the sciatic nerve. this is what This is what is causing the weakness at the foot and the pins and needles into the toes. As you get it in running it is quite likely it is something to do with excessive extension (arching) and rotation (twisting) of the spine. You can have no symptoms in the back and just the nerve symptoms - weird, I know but this can happen.

Of course there could be a problem with the nerve further down from the low back but that is less common

do exercise everyday. avoid high sodium and eat nutritious food.
have some check up to.

Greetings.
Ms. Sarah,


Your femoral nerve may be irritated and also the saphenous branch of the femoral nerve is also referring pain i suppose , May be you need a neurodynamic testing done to confirm. from your subjective data i presume this diagnosis.

Get well soon.

Shanmugam.
Physio

It is probably unlikely to be the femoral nerve because because there is weakness in the ankle dorsiflexors (foot slaps down on running). All the muscles that contribute to ankle dorsiflexion are supplied by the deep peroneal nerve (L4,5,S1). the ache in the anterior thigh could be explained by dural involvement.

its true that there is Nerve involvement thats why you are facing abnormal sensations and sudden weakness but its possible that nerve is not entrapped at level of back, at some other level, might be at pirirformis level due to shortening of piriformis muscle ...

i think, now you get some idea about your problem n get well soon...

thanks ...