leg pain

Leg pain is pain in a specific area of ​​the leg or throughout the leg. It may be accompanied by numbness, stabbing pain, or radiating pain. It may be the result of certain diseases, injuries, or activities that use the legs too much, such as walking for a long time or exercising. A diagnosis from a doctor will help identify the cause of leg pain for proper treatment and prevention.

Leg pain

Leg pain often has different symptoms and locations. It may feel like a stabbing or burning pain in the thigh, shin, or calf. Leg pain can be intermittent or continuous and may improve on its own with rest or may be accompanied by other symptoms such as numbness, cramps  , aching or throbbing.

Leg pain can be a sign of various diseases, so patients should see a doctor if they have the following symptoms to receive treatment and prevent the development of possible symptoms.

• The leg pain is getting worse.
• Leg pain during or after activities such as walking
• Swollen legs or varicose veins
• Thigh pain while sitting for long periods
• Your legs start to become pale, bruised, swollen, or unusually cold.
• Having trouble breathing
• There are signs of infection, such as a fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius, or the painful area becoming red and painful when pressed.

Warning signs that patients should see a doctor immediately include:

• Can’t walk
• Severe pain or soreness in the thigh, accompanied by swelling and redness
• There was a cracking sound in the leg during the accident.
• There is a severe wound, such as a cut from a sharp object that exposes tendons or bones.

Causes of leg pain

Injuries, overuse of the legs, broken bones, torn muscles or tendons are the main causes of leg pain. However, because the legs have many structures and tissues, leg pain can also occur from other causes, which can be divided into the following groups:

Muscle, bone and joint group

• Bleeding: Injuries can cause bleeding within tissues and joints, causing swelling and pain.
• Cramps are hard lumps under the skin and may be accompanied by swelling and redness. They often occur suddenly and are caused by dehydration, muscle tension or weakness from prolonged or strenuous activity, the use of certain medications, such as diuretics or statins, or low levels of certain components in the blood, such as potassium, calcium, magnesium, or sodium.
• Joint pain can be caused by injury or underlying medical conditions, such as arthritis and gout.
• Muscle pain is often caused by overuse of muscles, such as walking or standing for long periods of time, strenuous exercise, or muscle pain from infections in the body, etc.
• Shin splints are pain and swelling in the shins caused by overuse, such as jumping, running, or dancing. If left untreated or continued, these activities can lead to fractures.
• A sprain or strainis caused by over-stretching a muscle, which causes the tissue, tendons, or muscles to tear, resulting in swelling, inflammation, and pain.
• Broken Bones Broken bones cause the nerve endings in the periosteum to become inflamed and damaged, which causes the muscles around the broken bone to tighten, resulting in more pain.
• Tendonitis is an inflammation of a tendon that affects nearby joints, most commonly the Achilles tendon or heel bone.
• Hypertension is an emergency that requires surgery to relieve pressure within the muscle. The increased pressure prevents blood from circulating, causing numbness, pain, and the inability to move the foot or ankle.
• Leg pain in children is common between the ages of 3-5 and 8-12. The causes may be due to bone growth that is longer than muscles, muscle use or excessive daytime activities. There is often tightness in the calf muscles, knee joints or thighs for 30 minutes to 2 hours, and it usually occurs in the evening or before bedtime. Sometimes, symptoms may occur after sleeping, causing children to wake up in the middle of the night. However, after a short massage, the symptoms will gradually improve and children can go back to sleep. In the morning, they will be able to walk and run normally. Leg pain in children usually disappears on its own as the child grows older.

Infectious Disease Group

• Dermatitis is caused by swelling under the skin or infection by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacteria, which can cause leg pain.
• Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone, usually caused by bacteria or other germs.
• Shinglesis caused by a virus in the nervous system, which can cause severe pain due to inflammation of the spinal nerves.
• Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the dermis and connective tissues that may spread to muscle tissue.

Vascular and neurological disorders group

• Blood clot A blood clot can cause a blood vessel to narrow or become blocked, causing tissues to become deprived of oxygen and symptoms such as inflammation, pain, and swelling.
• Claudication is a painful limp caused by a blockage in a blood vessel, which causes the patient to experience the following symptoms while walking or exercising.
• Chronic illnesses such as cancer or chronic alcoholism can affect nerve pain, leading to leg muscle weakness.
• Low back pain is often caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve, which causes pain in the hip area radiating down the leg, or by a herniated disc, muscle tension, arthritis, or other injuries.
• Peripheral artery disease is caused by the accumulation of fat in the blood vessels, which prevents blood from circulating normally. Patients feel pain due to lack of oxygen in the muscles, especially when the body needs oxygen to perform activities such as walking, which may cause limping and pain .
• Diabetic patients are more likely to develop infected wounds due to immune deficiency. Ulcers usually occur on the feet due to lack of blood supply and may spread to the legs.
• Neuropathy is often caused by inflammation of the peripheral nerves, such as in Meralgia Paresthetica, which occurs in the thighs due to compression of the nerves.

Diagnosis of leg pain

The doctor may ask the patient about their symptoms and begin a physical examination of the patient, possibly using the following procedures:

• Blood tests are usually based on the doctor’s discretion and the underlying medical conditions each patient has. They may include a white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and a complete inflammation test (CRP), which can help identify infections. If the patient has gout, the doctor may also measure uric acid levels.
• Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) is used to measure blood flow in the arteries of the legs during rest and exercise, and then compare it to blood flow in the arms.
• X-rays: Your doctor may use an X-ray if you have a fracture to check for synovial fluid and calcium deposits around the joint.
• A computed tomography (CT) scan may be used to examine blood vessels or to assess the appearance and fractures of joints and bones, for example.
• Ultrasound to help diagnose deep vein thrombosis
• Magnetic resonanceimaging (MRI) scans  may be used by doctors to examine bones, joints, tissues such as tendons and muscles, or to examine blood vessels and look for broken bones.
• Your doctor may further check the blood flow in the blood vessels in your legs by injecting a dye into the blood vessels and using X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to look at the flow.
• Nerve function to assess whether neuropathic pain is caused by brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerve damage.
• Muscle pressure testing: Your doctor will check the muscle pressure in the legs and/or thighs of patients who are suspected of having muscle pressure. If the patient does have this condition, your doctor may need to make an emergency incision in the infected area to relieve the pressure and restore blood flow and neurological function.
• Joint aspiration: The doctor will use a needle to puncture the joint if there is infection or inflammation and draw out synovial fluid for further analysis.

Treatment of leg pain

Self-treatment Patients can use the following methods to relieve pain, cramps or minor injuries.

• Rest your legs and place them on pillows or in a position higher than your body.
• Apply ice to the painful or sprained area four times a day for 15 minutes.
• Take pain relievers such as paracetamol and aspirin.
• Wear a leg compression garment to help prevent swelling, reduce blood clots, and improve circulation in the legs.
• Taking a warm bath can help relax your muscles.
• If the patient has pain in the lower leg, stretch or straighten the toes. Or if the patient has pain in the upper leg, bend down and touch the toes for 5-10 seconds to stretch.
• People who have sprained or strained muscles should avoid using their legs, apply ice to relieve pressure, and keep their legs higher than their torso, or take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
• In case of a fracture, the first thing to do is stop the bleeding and the patient should not be moved or moved in the area where the fracture is suspected. Apply ice to the area and check for any chance of the patient going into shock before contacting a doctor immediately.

Medical treatment

Treatment often depends on the symptoms or underlying diseases of the patient, along with the doctor’s diagnosis, to help reduce pain and control causes that may cause leg pain that may occur in the future. Minor injuries may not require any treatment, but patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease may need lifelong treatment to prevent complications from occurring.

Preventing leg pain

• You should stretch both before and after exercising, and you should exercise 5 days a week for 30 minutes each time.
• Control your weight and eat foods high in potassium, such as bananas and chicken.
• Quit smoking and limit your alcohol consumption. Women should drink no more than 1 bottle per day and men should drink no more than 2 bottles per day.
• Use a cane to support yourself if you cannot stand or walk normally.
• Get up and walk around every 2-3 hours if you are traveling for long periods on buses, planes or trains to prevent deep vein thrombosis.
• Always have your blood pressure and cholesterol levels checked and controlled.
• People with chronic diseases should take their medications continuously to reduce the incidence of complications.
• People with sciatic nerve pain should not be bedridden for longer than 24 hours, as patients with this condition can return to their normal activities with reduced bed rest.
• Consult your doctor for more information on how to prevent possible leg pain.
• Avoid activities that cause leg pain, such as standing, walking, or wearing high heels for long periods of time.