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A MySpondylitisTeam Member asked a question 💭

My leg isn't hot, but inside it feels like I'm pouring warm water on my thigh. I've had this for about 3 weeks now. Comes and goes.

August 31
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Answer Summary

Members connected over the unusual question of warm, cold, or wet sensations in the legs and thighs related to ankylosing spondylitis, with... Read more

Members connected over the unusual question of warm, cold, or wet sensations in the legs and thighs related to ankylosing spondylitis, with many sharing relief that others experience the same strange feelings. Several members described sensations ranging from numbness and cold to feeling like water was running down their legs or like they had stepped in a puddle, with one member noting that nerve-deadening injections had helped in the past. A recurring theme was the comfort found in shared experience, along with personal stories of delayed diagnoses and the importance of family history awareness in managing AS.

MySpondylitisTeam

That warm, internal sensation in the thigh or leg — without the skin actually feeling hot — is something others with spondylitis have reported. It can be related to nerve involvement, which is not uncommon with spondylitis, particularly when the spine is affected and nerves become irritated or compressed.

Since this has Show Full Answer

That warm, internal sensation in the thigh or leg — without the skin actually feeling hot — is something others with spondylitis have reported. It can be related to nerve involvement, which is not uncommon with spondylitis, particularly when the spine is affected and nerves become irritated or compressed.

Since this has been going on for about 3 weeks and comes and goes, it's worth mentioning to your doctor. Nerve sensations like this can sometimes be linked to sciatica, which does occur in people with spondylitis. In the meantime, some things that MySpondylitisTeam members have found helpful for nerve-related discomfort include:

- Heat or cold packs applied to the affected area
- Gentle stretching and low-impact movement like walking
- Massage
- Pain relief gels or lidocaine on affected areas
- TENS units (a small device using mild electrical current for pain relief, available through a physical therapist)

That said, please don't wait too long to bring this up with your doctor, especially since it's been 3 weeks. Nerve symptoms are worth getting checked out sooner rather than later.

August 31
A MySpondylitisTeam Member

Strange sensation isn't it. Like what they call phantom pain.

September 2
A MySpondylitisTeam Member

@A MySpondylitisTeam Member, @RobCalhoun2; Hi to both of you. I used to get sensations like that but they were in combo with the nerves in my legs acting up: I could touch my thigh, it would hurt, but if I touched the thigh with my fingers it felt numb. All of it was my body reacting to my body attacking itself but I didn’t know it or understand it at the time.
Hope it stops for you both. What might help is to get a shot to
put in your thigh that deadens the nerves that run in the areas you are having the flareup.
Good luck, Get better!- Drew

August 31
A MySpondylitisTeam Member

When I lay down and relax, my left hip get an odd "really cold" sensation and the skin feels numb to the touch. It lasts for about 20-30 minutes.

August 31
A MySpondylitisTeam Member

@A MySpondylitisTeam Member it was the same with me. Stroke and heart run in my family. So when I got diagnosed at 41 with AS, all the pain I've suffered through my teens, 20s, 30s.....etc. I found out my dad's mom had AS, and his brother had it. Out of 14 kids in my dad's family, one had AS. Out of 5 kids out of my family, I'm the one who was graced with it. ( That's sarcasm). But as you say, trying to help others if we can, helps us all to feel not alone in this journey.

September 1

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