This article will speak about the different causes of leg pain and how doctors or physiotherapists evaluate them, and how to treat them.
Leg pain is a common problem that may occur periodically or continuously. Leg pain is usually related to bone problems and blood vessels and nerves. This problem can be painful and very annoying when doing daily activities. This pain usually comes in different forms, including throbbing, burning sensation, severe pain, etc.
Causes of Leg Pain
The cause of leg pain can range from cramps and injuries to medical conditions such as neuropathy.
The main causes of This Problems are:
Cramps
Cramps cause sudden pain with severe muscle contraction. Shrunken muscles create distinct bulges and stiffness that are sensitive to touch. Fatigue and dehydration can lead to muscle cramps; Home remedies effectively relieve muscle cramps.
Injuries
Common injuries include muscle strain and swelling caused by over-stretching or tearing muscle tissue during physical activity. Tendonitis is also common and occurs when the tendons in your leg become swollen and difficult to move. Stress fractures of the leg bone can also cause leg pain.Atherosclerosis
The arteries become hardened due to cholesterol deposition in this condition. These clogged arteries disrupt blood flow to the legs, resulting in severe pain, especially in the legs.
Osteoarthritis
In osteoarthritis, swollen joints impede movement, resulting in pain and swelling in the foot and the affected joint area.
Blood Clots
Blood clots caused by medications or damage to blood vessels can cause pain and swell in the legs. Varicose veins are as common as blood clots and are weak due to blood circulation.
Neuropathy
This is also one of the causes of persistent leg pain and requires a visit to the doctor. Neuropathic pain is associated with pain and injury; because the nerves in that organ are not working properly. The pain felt in this condition is fatal and burning pain and is usually accompanied by numbness of the affected area.
Spondylolisthesis (Slip of the Vertebrae)
This is another cause of this problem. This condition occurs when one vertebra in the spine comes forward and slips on the other vertebra, causing nerve entrapment and causing pain in the legs. The treatment is to see a physiotherapist and rest.
Protrusion of the Cervical Disc Causes Severe Leg Pain
the cause of the pain that extends to the sciatic nerve in the thighs and the legs by the pressure of the protruding disc on the weakest part of the disc. Other nerves may be involved. Symptoms vary depending on where the disc protrusion occurred.
Cardiovascular Diseases:
The heart is responsible for supplying blood to the body, and any disturbance in it can cause severe pain. It can be one of the early signs of heart disease, heart attack, or even stroke.
The Most Common Symptoms of Foot Pain
When your foot hurts, it usually has the following symptoms:
Feeling irritated. Pain from the lower back to the legs. This pain can be very severe in many cases, causing discomfort and resulting from a nerve root problem in the lower back called sciatica.
Feeling of Tingling in the Legs
It feels like your feet are asleep, Like when you sit in a bad position for a while and do not feel your blood flow due to the cessation of blood flow. This condition upsets the person because it interferes with the foot’s movement.
Persistent pain. This one is a pain in the buttocks and can lead to leg pain. Persistent pain is usually nerve pain and gets better with a little walking or gentle movement.
Weakness or heaviness. In this case, normal walking becomes difficult because the foot’s movements aren’t in pair due to being overweight or underweight.
How Is Foot Pain or Leg Pain Diagnosed?
Doctors will determine the cause of your leg pain by examining your medical history. The doctor will examine your gait and your legs, ankles, and soles of your feet. A thorough examination includes moving the ankles and feet and examining the sensitivity of the bones. Standing on a sore foot or jumping on it can help diagnose leg pain or a stress fracture.
Your doctor will order an x-ray to determine if the cause is not a stress fracture; however, in two-thirds of plain X-ray imaging cases, stress fractures are not detected. Therefore, your doctor may order magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or bone scan. These help the doctor see if the leg pain has turned into a stress fracture; because these tests detect the problem faster than X-rays.
Who Gets Leg Pain the Most?
Although anyone can get foot pain, some people are more at risk. Groups at higher risk are:
- Runners, especially those who run on uneven surfaces or suddenly have a tight schedule, might get injured.
- Athletes who do strenuous exercise that puts pressure on the legs might get muscle pain in the leg area.
- Dancers.
- People whose soles are flat or too dim or the soles of the feet are stiff. In this condition, the muscles and bones cannot withstand the pressure of heavy activity.
- Military people and people who march or walk a lot might get their feet swollen and cause a leg injury.
- People who do not wear proper shoes when exercising.
- Long walks.
- People with vitamin D deficiency, eating disorders, or abnormal menstruation.
- People with osteopenia or osteoporosis who have weak bones.
What Are the Treatments for Leg Pain?
You need to give your muscles and bones time to heal to reduce the symptoms. Leg pain requires a combination of the following to improve:
Rest:
Avoid exercise, running, and other activities for a while to help your muscles and bones heal. You may need to rest for several weeks or more.
Ice:
Apply ice compress on the leg three to four times a day for 10 to 20 minutes for several days. Ice helps reduce leg pain and swelling.
Analgesics:
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce leg pain and swell without a prescription.
Supplements:
Vitamin D3 supplements (25 to 50 micrograms daily) can be helpful. Talk to your doctor about supplements.
A gentle increase in activity intensity:
Slowly start moving when you start moving again. Gradually increase your activity to reduce the risk of leg pain or displacement of the leg splints.
Proper shoes and shoe accessories:
For those with flat feet, orthotics can effectively relieve leg pain. Orthotics support the foot’s arch and reduce pressure on the muscles and bones of the calf.
Physiotherapy: Physiotherapy treatment can be useful for leg pain and especially helping to run.
