A numb hamstring can you hinder you from taking part in sports or exercise. The hamstring is needed in any physical activity that involves your legs. Numbness in this large thigh muscle can indicate an injury, which may require medical attention. If your hamstring feels numb and is limiting your mobility speak to your doctor to determine a cause and treatment.
Muscles
The hamstring consists of three muscles that run down the back of your thigh. They are the semitendinosus, the semimembranosus and the biceps femoris. The muscles are attached to the bottom of the pelvis bone and stretch down to the fibula and tibia bones of the lower leg. The hamstring muscles help you to bend your legs at the knees and to extend your legs backward. The hamstring works in tandem with the quadriceps muscles on the front of your legs to curl and extend them, which makes them essential to nearly any type of physical activity that requires mobility.
Injuries
The hamstring can be injured in various ways. You can pull the muscles, as well as partially or completely tear them. Hamstring injuries primarily occur in the thick, meaty part of the muscles, or near the fusion of muscle and tendon fibers. Severe hamstring injuries typically don't cause numbness, as partial or complete tears are extremely painful. Slight pulls and tears that are not obvious can result in numbness. You should stop what you are doing if you feel numbness or other discomfort in your hamstring.
Sciatic Nerve
You may experience numbness in the hamstring due to sciatica. This is a painful condition caused by the entrapment of the sciatic and/or posterior femoral cutaneous nerves, according to PubMedHealth.com. This entrapment can cause radiating pain through the nerve, which stretches from your buttocks down through the back of your legs. Symptoms include numbness in the area where the nerve is pinched or entrapped. It is believed that a slipped or herniated disk is the cause for sciatica.
Medical Attention
You should consult your doctor if you experience chronic numbness in your hamstring, as this may be a sign that a pull or tear is not healing properly. Besides numbness you may also experience some swelling around the affected area and the skin may become discolored. To make an accurate diagnosis your doctor will likely perform a physical exam to determine the strength of your muscles, your reflexes and severity of pain based on which position the leg is in. Blood tests, X-rays and an MRI may be necessary if a physical exam does not yield enough information.
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