People do not understand when they are healthy, but in fact, our legs are of vital importance to us. It keeps us afloat, allows us to go where we want, and more. Then, a leg pain begins and sometimes even standing becomes impossible, let alone walking. Leg pain is a common ailment that people of all ages experience from time to time due to many different causes.
Most of the time we experience leg pain for a very simple reason and it goes silent as it comes. But sometimes this pain can become chronic. Such a situation can be a sign of many different diseases as well as affecting our quality of life. So it would be best not to call it a simple pain and pass it off. Let’s take a closer look at what causes leg pain, how it goes, and look for an answer to what it might be a symptom of.
Let’s understand the situation first; What is leg pain?
The area of our body starting from the groin to the ankle is called the leg, and a pain experienced in this area is called leg pain. We can define it as a state of pain, aches and pain caused by overuse of the joints, muscles, tendons, nerves and other soft tissues in the leg or as a result of a different type of injury.
There are three main types of leg pain:
- Neuropathy or neurologic pain caused by nerve damage.
- Musculoskeletal pain in muscles, ligaments, and fractures or cramps.
- Vein pain in varicose and similar conditions.
What causes leg pain? Here are some of the most common causes:
- Achilles tendinitis
- cramping
- compartment syndrome
- Sprain
- nerve pain
- Nerve entrapment
- muscle pull
- restless legs syndrome
- blood clots
- Diabetes
- arteriosclerosis
- Pregnancy
- herniated disc
- Sciatica
- fractures
- stress fractures
- Intense exercise
- peripheral neuropathy
- Gout
- Electrolyte imbalance
- bone tumor
- Slipped disc in the back
Here are some of the most common conditions and diseases that cause leg pain in general. Of course, these are general causes, the pain sensation caused by each of them will be different. Therefore, even when experiencing a small pain, you do not need to immediately think of bad things.
There are treatment methods that you can apply yourself; What is good for leg pain?
- Apply cold compresses four times a day in 15-minute sessions.
- Massage with St. John’s Wort and similar oils.
- Take baths that are not too hot.
- You can use over-the-counter pain relievers or painkillers that your doctor has given you for this purpose.
- Consume fiber foods.
- For turmeric tea.
- Make your sleep pattern healthy.
- For apple cider vinegar water.
- Include lemon in your diet.
- For lots of water.
- If the cold is not good, apply a warm compress.
In cases where you experience leg pain, even if it does not offer a complete cure, at least this is the way to reduce your pain. Since most leg pain is caused by veins and muscles, regulating your blood flow will often be good for leg pain as well. In other words, healthy veins can actually be the solution to leg pain.
How is leg pain treated? Only your doctor can say this:
There are certain causes of leg pain and methods that will be good for you if you apply them at home depending on these reasons, but this also works to a certain extent. If your leg pain has become chronic, you should definitely see a specialist doctor. In addition to the examination, your doctor will reveal the cause of your leg pain by performing different tests such as x-ray, MRI, tomography, blood analysis.
How it is treated depends entirely on the cause of the leg pain. In the case of a tear or fracture, surgical operation may sometimes be required. Most of the time, medications such as anti-inflammatory, muscle relaxants, pain relievers are sufficient. In some cases, you may need physical therapy. Sometimes it’s good to just get some rest. So do not worry, but do not let go of the precaution.
Some people are more prone to leg pain:
- those who sit for a long time
- Seniors over 65
- Smokers
- diabetes patients
- Those who have suffered injuries
- Those who have recently had surgery
- pregnant women
- Those who use excessive alcohol
- Those with blood clotting problems
People on this list are generally at higher risk of experiencing leg pain, although there are exceptions. As it is understood, people outside of natural situations are at such risk because they live an unhealthy life. With a simple reasoning, we can say that leg pain will occur less in people who live in a healthy way.
You may need to use special methods for sports-induced leg pain:
- Do not use your leg for a few days depending on the intensity of the pain.
- Apply a cold compress to the painful area.
- Keep your sore leg in a higher position than your heart, that is, extend it up.
- Take a break from anti-inflammatory drugs.
- If the pain is in one area, compress it using tape or a bandage.
- Move the painful area without putting too much weight on it.
- Keep the blood flow high with light exercises without putting a load on the painful leg.
Leg pain caused by sports, if we do not count different situations, generally occurs as a result of a momentary overuse in the muscle, cartilage and joint areas. Most of the time, it is pain that can go away on its own in a few days, but you can still minimize your pain by using special methods.
Take precautions in advance to never have leg pain:
Of course, it is possible to experience leg pain due to an injury or a completely different disease, but as we have repeated several times, the main cause of leg pain is an unhealthy body and an unhealthy lifestyle that causes it. By changing them, it is possible that you will never suffer from leg pain.
Do not stand still for a long time, do not stay inactive for a long time, eat mainly vegetables, exercise regularly, drink plenty of water, quit smoking, limit alcohol use, make sure you take all the necessary vitamins and minerals, manage your stress; see if you have leg pain again.
When should you go to the doctor?
- If there is an abnormal swelling in the leg
- If the leg seems deformed
- If the leg is abnormally hot or cold
- If your leg feels numb and weak
- If your leg is abnormally red
- If you have swelling in both legs
- If the pain is getting worse
In these cases, you should go to the nearest health institution and be examined without even bothering yourself. Because some situations may really require urgent intervention and this can be done by a specialist physician, not you. It is extremely important not to worry but still take precautions.
We answered questions such as what causes leg pain, which can occur due to many different reasons, how it passes, and what is the symptom. What we describe is for informational purposes only. Remember that as with all health issues, you should get the most accurate and specific information about leg pain from a specialist physician.
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