Leg pain can have several causes, such as poor circulation, sciatica, excessive physical exertion or neuropathy and, therefore, to identify its cause, the exact location and characteristics of the pain must be observed, as well as whether both legs are affected or only one and if the pain worsens or improves with rest.
A leg pain that doesn’t improve with rest usually indicates circulation problems, such as peripheral vascular disease, while leg pain when waking can be a sign of night cramps or lack of circulation.On the other hand, it can be a symptom of spinal problems or compression of the sciatic nerve, for example.
Possible causes of leg pain include
Muscle pain in the legs does not follow the path of the nerves and worsens when the legs move.Some changes that can cause pain include myositis, tenosynovitis, thigh abscess and fibromyalgia.Muscle pain can occur after sudden physical exertion, such as after intensive exertion.physical exercise, or when you are wearing an uncomfortable shoe.In these cases, pain usually occurs at the end of the day and often feels like “leg fatigue.”Cramps that usually occur during the night and are very common during pregnancy are another common cause of muscle pain in the legs.
Pain in the potato area of the leg can also be caused by lodge syndrome, which causes severe pain and swelling of the legs, which occur 5 to 10 minutes after the onset of physical activity and the area remains sore for prolonged periods.The anterior area of the leg can also be caused by anterior tibia tendinitis, which occurs in athletes and people who perform very intense physical activity, such as long-distance runners.
What to do: Take a hot bath and stretch your legs up because it facilitates blood circulation and reduces fatigue.Rest is also important, but you don’t need absolute rest, just to avoid training and hard work.In the case of tendinitis, the use of ice and anti-inflammatory ointments may help a faster recovery.
Particularly in older people, leg pain may be related to orthopedic problems such as arthritis or osteoarthritis.In these cases, other symptoms such as joint pain and stiffness should occur in the first 15 minutes of the morning.Pain may not be present every day, but it tends to get worse with exertion and decreases with rest.A knee deformity may indicate osteoarthritis, while a redr and warmer appearance may indicate arthritis.However, knee pain may also be present after a fall, hip disease, or a difference in leg length.
What to do: Apply a hot compress to the affected joint, such as the knee or ankle, for about 15 minutes.In addition, it is recommended to consult the orthopedist as it may be necessary to take anti-inflammatory medications or undergo a physical examination.Therapy.
When leg pain worsens with spine movement, it can be caused by spinal injuries.Spinal canal stenosis can cause moderate or severe pain with a feeling of heaviness or cramps in the lower back, buttocks, thighs, and legs.In this case, the pain is relieved only by sitting or tilting the trunk forward, the feeling of numbness may be present. Spondylolisthesis is also a possible cause of back pain that radiates to the legs, in which case the pain is a feeling of heaviness in the lumbar spine, the person walks in pain but relieves it at rest The hernias of disc also cause back pain that radiates to the legs, the pain is acute, intense and can radiate to the buttocks , back of the leg, side of the leg and ankle and sole of the foot.
What to do: Placing a hot compress at the pain site may relieve symptoms, but your doctor may recommend taking anti-inflammatory medications and recommend physiotherapy.
When leg pain is caused by changes in the sciatic nerve, the person may experience pain in the back, buttocks and back of the thigh, and there may also be tingling or weakness in the legs.The pain can be unbearable, in the form of a puncture or shock that suddenly settles into the lower back and radiates to the legs, touching the buttocks, the back of the thigh, the side of the leg, the ankle and the foot.
If you think the pain is caused by the sciatic nerve, answer the following questions:
What to do: Place a hot compress at the pain site, leaving it to act for 20 minutes, as well as avoiding stress, lifting heavy objects and, in some cases, it may be necessary to undergo physiotherapy.See some examples of exercises you can do at home to combat sciatica in the video below:
Leg pain caused by poor circulation mainly affects the elderly and can occur at any time of the day, but is aggravated after spending time sitting or standing in the same position. Your feet and ankles may swell and turn purple, indicating difficulty getting back.blood to the heart.
A slightly more serious situation is the onset of thrombosis, which occurs when a small clot can disrupt part of the circulation of the legs, in this case, the pain is most often found in the calf and it is difficult to move the feet.This can occur after surgery or when contraceptives are used without medical advice.
What to do: lying on your back with your legs raised for 30 minutes can help, but your doctor may recommend using medications to improve circulation, as well as using elastic compression stockings.If thrombosis is suspected, you should go to the hospital quickly.
Leg pain in children or adolescents can be caused by rapid bone growth, which can occur around 3 to 10 years of age, and does not constitute a serious change.The location of the pain is closer to the knee but can affect the entire leg.reaching the ankle, and it is common for the child to complain at night before falling asleep or after more intense physical activity.Learn about your child’s growing pain.
What to do: Putting ice pebbles in a sock and placing it in the sore area, leaving it to act for 10 to 15 minutes, can help relieve pain. Parents can also receive a massage with a moisturizer or almond oil and let the child Rest It is not necessary to stop physical activity, simply decrease its intensity or its weekly frequency.
Other less common causes include hemochromatosis, gout, Paget’s disease, osteomalacea, or tumors.When leg pain is more related to fatigue and lack of energy, your doctor may suspect fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, or myofacial pain, for example.Therefore, to find out exactly what causes leg pain, you may need a medical or physical evaluation.
Leg pain during pregnancy is a very common and normal symptom, especially at the beginning of pregnancy, as there is a sharp increase in the production of estrogen and progesterone, which cause the dilation of the veins of the legs, increasing the volume of blood in the woman’s legs.The baby’s growth in the uterus, as well as the weight gain of the pregnant woman, results in compression of the sciatic nerve and lower vena cava, causing swelling and pain in the legs.
To alleviate this discomfort, the woman may lie on her back with her knees bent, do a spine stretching exercise, and rest her raised legs.
Your doctor may observe symptoms and examine the individual, looking at the curvature of the spine, bone limbs, may perform pain provocation tests, as well as palpation of the abdomen to assess for pain in the abdomen or pelvis.Blood tests, synovial fluid tests may be helpful in suspecting synovitis or arthritis, and imaging tests such as x-rays or MRIs may be prescribed if changes in the spine are suspected. Based on the results, diagnosis can be reached and the treatment is indicated most appropriate for each case.
It is advisable to see your doctor when your leg pain is very severe or when there are other symptoms, it is also important to see your doctor:
During the appointment, it is worth mentioning the intensity of the pain, when it appeared and what was done to try to relieve it, your doctor may order tests to indicate appropriate treatment, which may sometimes include medication or physical therapy.