Question

A client presents to the emergency department stating numbness and tingling occurring down the left leg into the left foot. when documenting the experience, which medical terminology would the nurse be most correct to report? herniation sciatic nerve pain paralysis paresthesia

Answer 1

A paresthesia, which is an abnormal or painful sensation, is the based terminology to describe this shooting leg pain. No other history or physical examination information is given to support herniation (slipped lumbar vertebral disc), sciatica (pinched nerve), or paralysis (loss of sensation due to spinal nerve severance.