I did check your profile, but couldn't find out why your husband was bed-ridden. I assume this is not due to cirrhosis (is it?).
Extremities will always suffer with bad circulation. For the legs you could try pressure stockings, but I suspect the real answer is exercise.

Craig

Can't he do any sort of exercise lying down?

My hubby has complained about numbness,mostly in the first year and a half when he was at his weakest and in bed a lot too.His numbness in his feet was from nerve damage due to his diabetes. He complained about numbness in his hands too,but not untill his cirrhosis grew worse. He doesn't complain as much now,and can walk about 10 city blocks several times a week. He was at his weakest when he was having terrible amounts of fluid build-up in his belly,which he no longer suffers with.

I do have the same symptoms but mine is in my toes to just under my big toe. HARD TO PUT ON SHOES! Can't tell if your toes are upside, squished, etc. If he can't walk he needs to stimulate circulation. Rub his own feet (hands need the exercise too!) or a foot vibrator, lots of options! They are all a tremendous help to me.
Good Luck

I often get this problem in my legs. I still wear my pressure stockings but they are itchy and uncomfortable (and forget them in the summer, it's just too hot). When I'm not really feeling up to walking on the treadmill I try to do some light stretching exercises even if it means having my husband help me. Seems to me like this gets my circulation going and makes me more comfortable.

Peripheral neuropathy is common with cirrhosis and HCV. It is apparently caused directly from an effect on the nerves instead of being a symptom of some other problem such as lack of exercise.

A confounding problem is that many cirrhotic patients are diabetic. Diabetes, too, can cause peripheral neuropathy.

At least that is what I think I learned when a spot on the bottom of one foot became numb.

A larger spot on the other foot is numb but that was the result of being stupid and going mountaineering in Alaska in the winter - frostbite. (grin)

If this thread becomes more intense I can call my spy the doc and make him look it up in the real medical literature. Remember, I'm just another poor non-doc. Take what I say with a grain of salt.

Or maybe not -- you are probably salt restricted. (Ok - no more bad jokes)

I am diabetic also so the neuropathy is bad sometimes from that.
However Peripheral Neropathy is also common with liver disease also.
Below is a link on Medscape
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/460036_2

I know alot of liver patients with this problem.
Gail

Yup, I have the neuropathy. I don't know if it is from going through
tx 3x's for Hep C & not responding or if it's from my cirrhosis. But
irregardless, it's there.
I just live with it, though balance is a problem. I've fallen several
times because I can't feel my feet. Though walking is what I do
to keep from losing everything in those leg muscles.
If he's bedridden and can't get up to even walk around a little each
day, he will have to have some type of motion exercise in bed to
retain his muscle mass. Otherwise it will atrophy overtime.
I wish both of you the best.
*hugs*
Josi

have had this in all toes and a good section of my right thigh for about 3 years and loganalaska spot on. this is caused by the liver and depending on your stage of liver disease and viral load. See if you can get him to walk in a pool takes weight off the feet.

I'm stage 4 cirrhosis and I have the same problem as your husband...sometimes my leg will go completly numb and it takes a couple minutes for it to get back to normal... I don't really do anything for it....I try to go on short walks but thats about all I know or do...I really hate it when my fingers go numb...very strange feeling...

I recently had my right foot go numb while I slept so I awoke to it. I actually thought I may have gotten a spider bite, but no evidence of one. Then I started asking around if it could be from my liver disease and as you all must know I was surprised to find that liver disease causes this. Someone in this thread mentioned it started under the big toe which mine did also but now it goes to 3/4 of the top portion of my foot all the way to my calve. Just the right foot and leg though not the left. I exercise a lot and for someone with a MELD score of 29 I feel pretty good. I got used to using the bathroom every 2 to 3 weeks and I got used to losing my appetite for weeks on end and I got used to bad muscle cramps and I sure hope I get used to this soon too because I refuse to let this disease get me down. This is my first attempt to reach out to others. My doctor suggested it so I could start comparing notes with you guys because when something new pops up in regards to liver disease I kinda wanna know everything I can about it. I think I drive their office crazy. lol