Introduction
Management of leg pain depends on the severity and cause. When visiting a doctor due to pain in your leg, he or she will take a medical history of the onset and duration of pain, history of trauma, and any history of other chronic conditions. The doctor then requests for laboratory tests like full hemogram and imaging, depending on the presentation.
The worst effect of pain in the leg is the reduction of mobility, thus preventing you from carrying out normal daily activities. Recurrent leg pain can be caused by trauma or underlying medical conditions. There is the treatment for this type of leg pain at Jersey City orthopedics.
What Causes Leg Pain?
• Trauma or injury to the bones in the leg like the tibia or at the knee
• Deep vein thrombosis which mostly affects one leg and is associated with warmth and swelling and can be life-threatening
• Infection of the bone like osteomyelitis which is associated with fever
• Sciatica which is a condition that results from compression of the sciatic nerve which runs from the back to the leg and is associated with tingling and numbness
• Muscle strains in the leg or knee
• Referred pain from the knee or foot like in arthritis of the knee joint
• Tumors of the bone or soft tissues in the leg cause nerve compression resulting in leg pain
• Fractures of the bones in the leg
• Peripheral artery diseases may result in ischemia causing pain in the leg
• Varicose veins in the leg may cause leg pain
• Intermittent claudication, which is mainly seen in athletes, presents with pain that is relieved by resting the leg
• Sitting for prolonged periods may cause nerve compression and pain in the leg
• Rupture of the Achilles tendon or infection of this tendon can cause pain in the leg
• Open wounds or surgical scars
• Being overweight
• Pregnancy may compress the nerves at the back
which also supply the leg leading to pain
You should consult a doctor for pain that does not go away with pain medications, severe pain, pain due to trauma, pain associated with swelling, numbness, fever, or that which makes it hard for you to walk or do normal daily activities.
How Can You Treat Leg Pain at Home?
• Wear properly fitting shoes that support your arches and improve your posture
• Avoid sitting for prolonged periods and take regular breaks in between
• Eat a healthy diet
• Use of compression stockings which help to improve blood supply
• Elevate your leg using a pillow to facilitate blood drainage
• Do mild exercises to help release endorphins to help you feel better
• Stay well hydrated because dehydration causes cramps
• Weight reduction helps to reduce the symptoms
• Leg massage with hot and cold compresses
Conclusion
Leg pain can be mild to severe and is associated with various causes, some of which can have life-threatening complications, thus it is important to consult your doctor early enough to avoid these complications.
Amna khan