Good morning, I am a 71 year old male, active, and in good health, except for this sudden occurrence of a numb spot on my left leg. This spot is directly above my patella and is approximately 6" x 8". The problem is that the area which was previously numb is now very painful, to the point of severely limiting my walking. It feels like all the nerve endings are screaming at me, but only when I'm walking or making a sudden movement. No pain when sitting or lying down. Three weeks ago I helped cut down a large tree and two weeks ago I bagged 7 bags of leaves; both situations were most exerting.
I respectfully await your response. Andy

Hard to say, could be nerve damage, could just be muscle strain. I would get it looked at by your doctor.

Have you ever had Chickenpox? If so, it is possible you are suffering from Shingles. However, only your doctor can diagnose this.

After muscle strain, pinched nerve, and shingles, I'm wondering about something like a femoral hernia hitting a bunch of nerves. Less likely though, but I add it because of all the exertion you did.