Are you having tingling in the back of your leg? Let's talk about the Sural Nerve!

Sometimes you may have felt a tingling sensation in the back of your leg, from your heel to the outside of your foot, or just a burning sensation. Some people feel this when they walk or stand. Many people don't pay much attention to it, thinking, "My leg must be tingling." But the cause of this discomfort could be a small, but very important nerve in your leg. Today we're talking about the sural nerve, which not everyone talks about much, but is very important to our body.

What is the Sural Nerve?

Simply put, the sural nerve is a sensory nerve located under the skin in your groin area, that is, on the back of your leg below the knee. A sensory nerve is a nerve that carries information to the brain. It's like a 'sensory wire' in our body.

This is part of our body's peripheral nervous system . This system is the network of nerves that extends throughout the body, excluding our brain and spinal cord. It is because of this network that we feel things like touch, pain, and heat. So the sural nerve is an important representative of this large network, related to the legs.

What happens to our body through this nerve?

You'd be surprised to hear what happens with this tiny nerve. It's what gives sensation to certain parts of our legs and feet. Imagine walking barefoot on grass. This nerve helps your brain to sense things like the coolness of the grass and the texture of the ground that your feet feel.

Mainly, the sural nerve allows us to feel:

• Touch: The feeling you get when someone touches your genitals, or when a shoe hits the back of your foot when you put it on.
• Foot position: Even with your eyes closed, you can tell which way your foot is, whether your ankle is bent or not, right? This nerve helps with that too.
• Temperature: This nerve senses the difference between a drop of cold water falling on your foot and a foot placed on warm ground.
• Pain: When something hits your foot, or your foot gets stuck in a shoe and hurts, it is this nerve that sends the pain to the brain and protects you from danger.
• Vibration: This nerve helps us detect even the slightest vibration in the ground.

These sensations are what allow us to maintain our balance when we stand and walk. Imagine how difficult it would be to walk if you couldn't feel exactly where your feet were.

Is it true that this nerve is also used for other medical purposes?

Yes, that's true. Because of the location and nature of this nerve, it is used a lot in medicine.

1. For biopsy tests (Biopsies)

Sometimes, when a disease is suspected that affects the nerves in the body, it is necessary to take a piece of nerve tissue and examine it to find out exactly what it is. This is called a biopsy . The sural nerve is often chosen for this.

Why choose this particular nerve for that?

• Ease of finding: This nerve is very close to the skin, almost superficial, so it is very easy for doctors to find it.
• Safety: This means that there are very few major complications after a small piece is removed. And the wound heals quickly.
• Being a sensory nerve: Since this is not a nerve related to movement, but only to sensation, if a piece of it is removed, the leg will not be paralyzed or unable to walk. Some tingling may remain in the area, but it will not have a major effect.

A sural nerve biopsy can be performed to diagnose diseases such as:

• AL (light chain) amyloidosis: An abnormal type of protein produced in the body that is deposited in organs such as nerves.
• Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels.
• Other Neurological Diseases: Other peripheral neurological diseases that are difficult to diagnose precisely.

2. For Nerve Grafting

Imagine that an accident has damaged a nerve in your hand, face, or other vital area. Sometimes the nerve cannot be repaired directly. In that case, doctors take a piece of healthy nerve from a less vital part of the body and transplant it to the damaged area. It's like a bridge connecting the two pieces.

The sural nerve is also used for this purpose. Because it is a long nerve, a piece of tissue of the required length can be taken for transplantation. The sural nerve is transplanted in cases such as:

• Brachial plexus damage, which affects areas such as the shoulder and arm.
• Damage to the sciatic or peroneal nerves affecting the leg and ankle.
• Some erectile dysfunction conditions.
• Facial paralysis .
• Neurotrophic keratitis is a rare condition that affects the nerves of the eye.

What are the common problems that affect the sural nerve?

Some things we do in our daily lives and some medical conditions can damage this important nerve. This is when the symptoms mentioned earlier, such as pain, numbness, and inflammation, appear.

So what should we do to protect this nerve?

"Prevention is better than cure," they say. So there are a few simple things we can do to protect this nerve from damage.

• Control your diabetes: If you have diabetes, follow your doctor's instructions exactly. Take your medication on time, control your diet, and exercise. Keeping your blood sugar levels under control is the best way to protect your nerves.
• Wear shoes that fit well: Wear comfortable shoes that fit your feet well, are not too tight, and are comfortable. Especially if you play sports, wear shoes that are good quality and are suitable for the sport. When your shoes wear out or lose their cushioning, buy new ones.
• Avoid smoking: Smoking and tobacco products are very harmful to your blood vessels and nerves. If you smoke, trying to quit is a great help to your entire body.
• Healthy diet: Eat a well-balanced diet. Include foods rich in vitamin D and vitamin B12 (fish, milk, eggs, green vegetables), which are especially important for nerve health.

What symptoms should prompt you to see a doctor?

If you continue to experience one or more of these symptoms on your lower leg, especially on the back, or on the top of your foot, don't ignore it and see a doctor.

Watch out for these symptoms:

• If it feels like a burn.
• If you feel a loss of sensation or numbness in that area.
• If you feel extreme sensitivity or pain when clothing rubs against your body or when your hand touches it.
• If you experience sharp pain or a stabbing pain.
• If you constantly feel like ants are running around (tingling) .

When you go to the doctor, he will examine you, refer you for special neurological tests (such as nerve conduction studies) if necessary, find the exact cause of your problem, and prescribe the necessary treatment.

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