Leg pain – causes, diagnosis, treatment methods

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“Pain in the leg” is a rather imprecise concept, as it does not say exactly which part of the lower limb this pain applies to: foot, calf, thigh or joints connecting them. Determining the location of the pain allows you to narrow down the range of possible causes. The cause of leg pain can be various injuries in the form of joint dislocation, broken bones or sprains.

Leg pain – characteristics

Leg pain can have various causes and symptoms. Sometimes they are sudden and strong, sometimes they are increasing. Usually the cause is leg fatigue and injuries, such as fractures, torn tendons. This ailment is a broad concept because it is not known which part of the limb it affects exactly: the calf, foot or thigh. In some people, leg pain may indicate a more serious medical condition. Therefore, the symptoms, especially the long-lasting ones, should not be underestimated.

Read also: Fatigue and leg pain

Leg pain – causes

Pain in the leg can cause numerous injuries: sprains and dislocations of joints, bone fractures, muscle contusions. While it is usually not difficult for the injured person to associate the pain with a fracture of the thigh bone or the lower leg bones, fractures of the small bones of the feet, called marching fractures, are sometimes difficult to diagnose.

Leg pain is very often a symptom of cardiovascular diseases. Atherosclerosis of arterial vessels causes their narrowing and progressive impairment of blood supply in the lower limb, primarily affecting the toes. In addition to pain in the calves during exercise, the patient may notice pale and cooling of the ischemic area, loss of hair in this area, and in advanced conditions also blackening of the tissues indicating necrosis. If the pain occurs suddenly, it is intense, accompanied by numbness and tingling, and the leg quickly turns pale and cold, it is imperative to get to the hospital as soon as possible. Symptoms indicate acute lower limb ischemia, and delay in starting treatment may lead to amputation.

Circulatory disorders related to the venous system, resulting in venous insufficiency and the formation of varicose veins, are also manifested by pain in the legs, especially in the calves. In addition, there are swelling, a feeling of heaviness in the legs, changes in the color of the skin, and sometimes difficult to heal ulcers around the ankles.

You can support the venous circulation in the legs by using ŻYLACZKA – herbal tea which is a composition of herbs that have a beneficial effect on the circulatory system and reduce the feeling of heavy legs. For tired and heavy legs, you can also use LiotoMax Gel or LiotoMax DUO Gel for aching and tired legs, which you can conveniently order at Medonet Market.

The doctor explains: What causes leg pain at night?

Leg pain and varicose veins

Ailments developing in the veins of the lower extremities can cause unbearable pain in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis, which is characterized by the formation of a blood clot, is associated with varicose veins. The risk of varicose veins is increased by the following factors:

1. genetic disposition,
2. cigarette addiction,
3. age over 40,
4. constipation
5. overweight / obesity,
6. pregnancy,
7. being immobilized for a long time,
8. long-term paresis of the lower limb,
9. mechanical injuries of the limbs,
10. nature of work: standing or sitting,
11. taking hormonal (oral) contraception.

People with varicose veins complain of pain in the calf when walking or passive dorsiflexion of the foot. Pain may also appear at night; the limb may be swollen and insulated, additionally, when compressing it, it causes a stabbing or rushing pain.

Support your legs and use Light Legs – Panaseus dietary supplement that improves circulation, reduces swelling and reduces the feeling of heaviness.

Leg pain and sciatica

Sciatica is characterized by pressure on the nerve roots in the lumbar spine. This ailment occurs most often as a result of the displacement of the nucleus pulposus or the presence of degenerative changes in the spine. Pressure in the loins leads to the development of inflammation in this area, accompanied by pain during physical activity or sudden body movement.

The pain in sciatica from the lumbar region radiates to the buttock and further to the back of the thigh, lower leg and foot. It is rushing and causes problems with proper movement. Sometimes patients complain of a tingling sensation or numbness, especially on the lateral surface of the foot or lower leg.

Also check: Fibromyalgia – spur or ball

Pain in the legs in osteoarthritis

The pain associated with osteoarthritis is located primarily in the joint. At the beginning of the disease, it appears only when moving, while as it develops, it also affects rest and at night.

Degeneration also causes limited mobility in the joint, deformation of the joints, wasting of some surrounding muscles, and pain when touched. The pain can be anywhere in the thigh, but is usually the groin, front of the thigh, and knee area. It causes difficulties in descending the stairs and the characteristic creaking when bending and straightening the leg at the knee joint.

See also: Joint pain – causes, symptoms

Leg pain and gout

Gout, or arthritis, is a chronic ailment that is associated with a disturbed metabolism. Urates (crystals) accumulate in the patient’s joints, which are sharp, which injure the surrounding tissues and thus lead to the development of inflammation. Gout can be completely asymptomatic for many years, only after some time there is a sudden, intense pain in the joint with swelling and redness. Arthritis is located in the knee, shoulder or hands joints. However, it most commonly affects the toes.

In the treatment of gout, diuretics and uric acid-lowering drugs are used. The diet prescribed by your doctor is also important.

The expert replies: What are the causes of toe pain?

Leg pain and water and electrolyte disturbances

Taking laxatives, dehydrating agents and following a slimming diet may lead to disturbances in the water and electrolyte balance. They are manifested by annoying cramps that usually wake you up at night. Straightening your leg at the knee or lifting it up and bending the ankle and pulling the foot towards you can help relieve pain. For people who are predisposed to contractions, taking a hot bath before going to bed or massaging a warming ointment into the skin works well. In addition, it is worth drinking 1,5-2l of fluids a day and taking more potassium and magnesium.

If your legs not only hurt, but also feel swollen, you can reach for the CBD gel for tired legs available at Medonet Market at an attractive price.

Pain in the leg and atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis, or chronic ischemia of the lower extremities, is caused by the accumulation of arteries in the wall that supply blood to the lower extremities – atherosclerotic plaques. This causes less blood to flow in, and therefore less oxygen. Predisposition to this type of disease occurs in people:

1. overweight or obese,
2. suffering from hypertension,
3. smokers,
4. suffering from diabetes,
5. having high cholesterol.

Patients with atherosclerosis complain of extreme fatigue in the limbs, a greater feeling of cold and sometimes a tingling sensation. As the disease progresses, there is pain in the walking leg, which disappears after a short rest. The pale skin on the feet, visible after lifting the limb, may also be characteristic. The disease is characterized by pain in the legs, even at rest. Over time, ulcerations and necrosis develop, which indicate a highly advanced stage of the disease.

The ischemic limb shows bruising of the skin, hair loss and muscle wasting.

Leg pain and restless leg syndrome

Sometimes leg pain occurs in the evening just before falling asleep. Pain can also be accompanied by numbness and tingling of the legs, which makes them move, which in turn alleviates unpleasant sensations. In this case, we are most likely dealing with the so-called restless leg syndrome (RLS). Due to Restless Legs Syndrome, the patient has difficulty falling asleep. Currently, it is not known exactly what factors cause this disease.

Also read: Bone pain – learn about the most common causes of bone pain

Leg pain and lack of magnesium

Leg pain may be caused by calf cramps, which may indicate a mineral deficiency. This deficiency, in turn, usually results from consuming excessive amounts of caffeine and alcohol, which flush out magnesium and potassium from our body, which causes tension in the muscle fibers.

In this case, it is best to eliminate the aforementioned stimulants from your diet, while providing the body with magnesium and potassium. Good sources of these elements are: buckwheat, potatoes, avocados, bananas, white beans, dried apricots and figs, and chickpeas.

Enough with endometriosis

Many women with endometriosis experience painful, heavy periods and pain in the pelvic area. Occasionally, worsening endometriosis can affect the nerves surrounding the pelvis, which can in turn cause pain in the legs, hips and buttocks.

Experts have only recently begun to recognize how common leg pain can be in women with endometriosis. A 2016 study found that as many as 50 percent of women with endometriosis may experience some form of pain in their legs. A woman with endometriosis may experience pain in the lower body if the condition affects the nerves in and around the pelvis. Diagnosing endometriosis-related leg pain can be difficult because many other conditions that are better understood and easier to diagnose can also cause leg pain.

During regular periods, the uterine lining sheds and leaves the woman’s body through the vagina. It happens in response to changing hormone levels. As endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus, the cells continue to shed but cannot leave the body causing painful symptoms. In some cases, endometrial tissue grows in multiple nerves that travel through the pelvis, hip, and around them. These nerves provide feeling in the leg. Abnormal growths can put pressure on the nerves in your pelvis. This can cause pain and numbness in the hips, buttocks and legs.

Almost all documented cases of leg pain associated with endometriosis include abnormal growths of the sciatic nerve or one of its branches. The sciatic nerve is considered to be the largest and longest nerve in the human body. It begins in the lower back, runs through the pelvis and limb down to the foot, branching into several smaller nerves along the way. Pressure on this nerve can cause pain in the lower body.

Over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can relieve nerve pain. Prescription birth control pills that ease the symptoms of endometriosis can also help with nerve pain. Your doctor may also recommend laparoscopic surgery. During it, a patient under anesthesia is made a small incision near the navel. The doctor inserts a special device with a lamp and a camera at the end through this opening. This device helps your doctor detect and remove endometrial tissue. This can take pressure off your nerves and relieve pain in your legs. It is important to find a surgeon in advance who has treated the nerve pains caused by endometriosis. Alternative treatments such as acupuncture can also be tried.

Pain in the legs and other causes

It should be said that leg pain can also result from many other factors, such as long-term and repeated stress on the musculoskeletal system without adequate rest. This type of pain usually occurs after strenuous physical activity.

Sometimes leg pain may be due to viral infectionsfor example after influenza or an infection in the body. Pain can also be a symptom of arthritis (such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis or reactive arthritis). If the leg pain is accompanied by redness and burning sensation in these parts of the body, it may be a sign that it has happened cellulitis due to e.g. insect stings or bites. Leg pain may also be associated with inflammation of the myositis (it happens in immunocompromised people, e.g. in the case of diabetes, although it can also happen in healthy and young people).

It should also be added that leg pain does not have to be related to diseases of these parts of the body, and it may be the effect of pain radiation (also to the thighs or crotch). This happens in the case of, for example, inguinal and femoral hernia, renal colic, diseases of the urinary tract or reproductive organs. Pain in the legs is felt in people with aortic dissection.

Leg pain is also sometimes caused by blood stagnation and too little albumin (proteins), which happens in people with heart, liver and kidney failure. Leg pain may also be associated with rheumatic diseases such as, for example, fibromyalgia or polymyalgia. Although it happens very rarely, it should be mentioned that leg pain may result from bone cancer, e.g. osteosarcoma (especially if pain occurs at night and during exercise).

In the case of lower limb pain, we can also deal with the so-called growing pain. It is symmetrical, affecting both legs, with a characteristic throbbing and pulling sensation around the thighs and lower legs, as well as in the knee and ankle areas. This type of pain usually begins between the ages of 4 and 6, occurs at night or in the evening, and wakes the baby from sleep.

Interestingly, leg pains can also be psychological and may result, for example, from a difficult situation at home, at school, at work and wherever a person lives under constant stress and tension.

Ways to relieve leg pain

Here are some ways to relieve leg pain.

1. Introduce more fiber into your diet. It is worth remembering that constipation or intestinal problems affect the circulatory system and thus cause a feeling of heaviness in the legs and their pain. Thus, eating high-fiber foods regulates digestive processes. This ingredient can be found, for example, in fruits, grains and vegetables.

2. Take care of rest. If your job involves sitting or standing for a long time, rest with your legs up when you come home. This will improve circulation in tired legs. You can also invest in special anti-varicose mattresses.

3. Hydrate your body. Fresh juices, mineral water and soups – have a cleansing effect on our body and remove unnecessary toxins and fats. This prevents leg pain.

4. Wear comfortable shoes. This is especially true of women wearing high heels and people wearing closed shoes. As is well known, poorly chosen footwear can cause severe pain in the feet, so the best solution is to wear an optimal heel, not higher than two centimeters. In such shoes, the weight of the body is evenly distributed. However, if ladies do not love high heels, the FootWave brand meets their needs and offers Orthopedic insoles for FootWave LADY HIGH HEEL heels and Orthopedic insoles for heel shoes and FootWave LADY VERSA wedges, which are specially contoured and thin to invisibly improve comfort of walking in high-heeled shoes. Also men who often have to wear official footwear, which is not comfortable, can save themselves with orthopedic insoles for men’s FootWave VERSA MAN shoes.

5. Wear comfortable clothes. This may come as a surprise to many people, but yes – too tight pants, leggings or tights will also cause leg pain. Why is this happening? Well, tight clothing hinders proper blood flow. This paragraph is especially relevant for menopausal women, who are prone to hot flashes and excessive sweating.

6. Take care of physical activity. Daily walks or exercise to improve circulation in the legs, such as cycling / swimming, are recommended.

7. Take care of the right amount of estrogen. This applies to women who are deficient in this hormone during the menopause, and thus have leg pain.

8. Before going to bed, give your legs an alternating cold and warm shower.

9. In summer, when it is hot and our legs are particularly prone to pain and swelling – a good way is to soak them in cool water.

10. From time to time, go for a relaxing massage in a specialist office.

11. Take care of the correct posture. If we spend a lot of time in one position, it’s important to remember to keep our posture straight. If we have problems with slouching, we should practice tiptoeing, bending and squatting every day.

The locomotor system will also be supported by dietary supplements and herbs available at Relief for legs – a herbal set from Herbapol in Krakow.

Leg pain – diagnosis

If leg pain is severe or interferes with your daily life, it’s important to see your doctor for a diagnosis and start treatment. The doctor will then ask about your symptoms and perform a physical examination.

Your doctor may also order imaging and other tests:

1. X-ray (X-ray) examination – creates images of dense structures such as bones. X-rays are used when there is concern that a bone has broken. In addition, healthcare professionals may take X-rays as a screening test to detect fluid or calcification in a joint.
2. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – the study uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of areas of the body. They are often needed when detailed pictures of the soft tissues and ligaments around the joints of the legs are needed.
3. The ankle brachial index (ABI) – Doctors can evaluate the arterial blood flow in the legs using the ankle brachial index, which measures blood flow at rest and during exercise. This test compares your blood pressure in your arms to your blood pressure in your legs.
4. Ultrasound – The test uses sound waves to create images of structures in our body and can be useful for diagnosing conditions that affect soft tissues, such as Achilles tendinitis.
5. Computed tomography (CT) scan – This study combines multiple X-ray images to create a very detailed cross-section of structures. It is cheaper and often faster than an MRI. Unlike magnetic resonance imaging, CT scans use small amounts of radiation.
6. Phlebography – This test involves injecting a dye into a vein in your leg and using X-ray imaging to detect blood clots.
7. Electromyography (EMG) – The test involves inserting a needle electrode into the muscles to measure their electrical activity, which can help detect damage to the nerves that lead to the muscles.
8. Electroneurography (ENG) – This study may be considered to assess nerve function and measure the ability of specific nerves to transmit electrical impulses. This is helpful in deciding whether the nerve pain is caused by the brain or the spinal cord, or is the result of damage to a peripheral nerve.
9. Arteriography – If your doctor needs more information about the arteries, an arteriography may be performed to look directly at the arterial flow into the legs. This is achieved by injecting contrast dye directly into your arteries and watching it flow through the arteries in your legs using X-rays. Arteriography can also be done using CT or MRI scans.
10. Blood tests – including white blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and a C-reactive protein (CRP) test can help assess infection or inflammation. These non-specific tests can provide further clues to the doctor. Be aware that your white blood cell count may be increased as a result of an infection, unless you have a weak immune system, at which point the result may be falsely normal. As with all tests, if ESR and CRP are elevated, healthcare professionals must interpret the results in light of the specific disease under consideration. If gout is taken into account, health professionals may perform a blood test to measure uric acid; however, in an acute attack, uric acid levels can be high, low, or normal. The result is helpful if the level is high and can confirm a gout flare if supported by history and physical examination.

Leg Pain – Alternative and Complementary Therapies

If your leg pain is caused by arthritis or a related condition of the joints, turmeric supplementation may help. Some studies show that turmeric supplementation may be similarly effective to some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Certain dietary supplements may be beneficial in treating leg cramps or neuropathy. However, you should talk to your doctor in advance about the risks and possible benefits of taking any supplements.

Other alternative therapies that can help with leg pain include:

1. acupuncture;
2. massage;
3. hypnosis.

Prevention of leg pain

Most of all, man is not able to protect himself, but there are some rules you should follow to prevent leg pain.

When traveling long distances by car, train or plane, it is a good idea to get up and walk every few hours to reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

People who are prone to falls may find it helpful to use a walking stick or walking frame. Specialists also encourage the use of footwear with a sole with good adhesion. Remember that falls can lead to various injuries which, among other things, will cause pain in the legs. Falls can occur when the surface we walk on changes (for example, from a carpeted room to a bare-floor room), or if we slip on the carpet.

Maintaining an ideal weight will benefit our health, including the condition of our bones and joints (the risk of arthritis and obesity-related diseases will decrease).

Regular exercise and a healthy, balanced diet, including adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D, will keep bones strong and joints flexible. Screening for osteoporosis is recommended for women over 65 and younger women who are at increased risk of developing this disease. Daily exercise is very good for the health of our legs, but we must not forget to stretch the muscles properly before and after exercise to prevent leg pain caused by exercise. Eating potassium-rich foods like bananas and chicken is also helpful to prevent muscle and tendon injuries.

For people with chronic conditions, keeping track of their own health and reporting to check-ups is not only a lifelong commitment, but can also minimize the risk of complications. This is especially true for diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is also recommended to limit alcohol consumption and avoid smoking as it is a major risk factor for vascular disease.

It’s a good idea to consult your doctor about other ways to prevent your specific cause of leg pain.

Leg pain – exercise

If leg pain is frequent, continuous, and interferes with most of your daily activities, see your doctor immediately. Having ruled out serious causes of this condition, you can start exercising to relieve pain in the legs (see the tips below beforehand). These leg pain exercises will help stretch your leg muscles, which will improve blood flow and relax the muscles as well as increasing their strength. All of these together will gradually help ease the pain in your legs.

1. Bend forward in a sitting position

This leg pain exercise helps stretch the hamstring muscles (back of the thigh) and to some extent also the lower back muscles. The extension of the hamstring provides strength to the muscles in the legs.

At the very beginning, sit on the floor with your back straight, arms lowered, abdominal muscles engaged, and legs stretched out in front of you.

Then lean forward, reaching with your palms to the toes. For ease of use, you can imagine reaching with your chin to the toes in front of you. During this time, keep your knees straight and tight. We breathe deeply and stay in this position for 10–30 seconds.

2. Calf stretching

This exercise, in addition to reducing pain in the lower leg, can also help strengthen the calf muscles.

At the beginning, we stand in front of the wall and spread our hands shoulder-width apart against the wall, at the height of the chest. Then we place the left foot behind the right, gently bending the right leg forward while keeping the left knee in line with the heel in contact with the floor at all times.

Now, with your back straight, lean against the wall, pushing your hips forward. When we feel a slight stretch, let us hold this position for 20 seconds. We repeat the exercise in the same way with the other leg.

3. Move-over squats

This exercise will help us increase the strength of the leg muscles as well as improve our balance and stability.

At first, we stand up straight with our feet shoulder-width apart. The arms can hang freely or we can join our hands together at the level of the chest. Then we make a lunge, one leg back, heel up. We shift the weight of the body to the front leg and lower ourselves (the torso is straight all the time). We bend our legs so that they form an angle of 90 degrees. The knee of the rear leg must be just above the ground.

Hold this position for 3 seconds and return to the starting position, do 10 repetitions on the same leg and repeat the same with the other leg.

4. Ankle exercise

This exercise helps to stretch the calf muscles as the ankle moves, which helps to drain blood and improve venous drainage. This exercise also strengthens the calf and ankle muscles.

First, we sit on the floor with our legs stretched forward. We can also do this while sitting in a chair in the office or anywhere else. Then we try to move our feet as far away from us as possible. Then we try to make an analogous move only towards us. We repeat the exercise 10 times. We do it regularly 2-3 times a day.

In addition to all of the above, simple exercises such as brisk walking for 20-30 minutes each day can also be helpful. It is also worth taking advantage of activities such as swimming, cycling, dancing, yoga, etc., which will help us strengthen the muscles of the legs.

Leg pain – interesting fact

People who have had a limb amputated may feel as if the limb is still there and feel pain. In this case, we are talking about the so-called phantom pain. This is because the brain reacts to amputation and tries to “redeploy” the body’s nervous system to accommodate the missing body part. Pain occurs soon after surgery and may be intermittent or continuous. Often people feel pain in the farthest part of a missing limb, so in a leg it is a foot or toes. Affected people describe pain in a variety of ways, ranging from a stinging sensation to pressure or burning sensation.

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