A patient reports numbness and tingling of the right lower extremity. Which condition may be associated with this symptom?

Numbness and tingling in a lower extremity can be indicative of nerve compression or irritation, which is commonly associated with degenerative disc disease. This condition involves the deterioration of the intervertebral discs in the spine, which can lead to herniation or other changes that compress nearby nerves. When these nerves are compressed, they can produce sensations of numbness, tingling, or even pain along the pathways they innervate.

While hypertension, hypothyroidism, and diabetes mellitus may have their own neurological presentations, they do not specifically correlate with isolated lower extremity numbness and tingling in the same direct manner as degenerative disc disease. Hypertension is primarily vascular and does not directly cause these sensory symptoms. Hypothyroidism can lead to peripheral neuropathy, but that usually encompasses a broader array of symptoms, such as generalized weakness or fatigue. Diabetes mellitus can also lead to neuropathy, typically presenting in a diffracted pattern such as "stocking and glove," affecting both lower extremities rather than isolated numbness in one side.

Thus, the association of numbness and tingling in the right lower extremity is most directly connected to degenerative disc disease, as it can lead to the mechanical factors necessary for nerve involvement in