Leg pain can have a wide variety of causes – from harmless ones like sore muscles to conditions that can end in death. Diagnosis and treatment of leg pain depend on the cause of the leg pain.
What is leg pain?
Leg pain, by common definition, is distinct from foot pain or hip pain. In other words, they affect what lies between the foot and the hip. Leg pain can consequently occur in the upper or lower leg. It can affect the muscles, as well as the tendons, connective tissue, blood vessels or bone. The knee joint in particular is a sensitive part of the leg. If damage or injury occurs here, the entire leg is usually affected. Damage to the tendons and joints can lead to leg pain. At the top of the leg, it is the hip joint, and at the bottom, the ankle, that can cause similar things. Radiating or localized leg pain must first be investigated in its causes.
Causes
Numerous circumstances can be considered as causes of leg pain. Muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves, joints, and blood vessels can cause leg pain via blunt or bleeding injuries. Joint pain in particular can result in radiating pain. Whether one notices these at rest or with movement varies. In addition, fractures and circulation problems can contribute to leg pain. Leg pain can be sharp, pulsating and hot, localized or radiating. Leg pain often involves impaired mobility of the leg. One may also suffer from sensory disturbances, swelling or lumps. Fractures, strains, joint problems, muscle soreness and circulatory problems lead to frequent pain. It becomes dangerous when a blood clot leads to leg pain. This is where a fatal embolism can occur. The doctor must be consulted immediately in the event of such leg pain. Herniated discs, tendonitis, wear and tear, osteoporosis, tumors or rheumatism, varicose veins or joint inflammation also cause leg pain.
Diseases with this symptom
- Thrombosis
- Herniated disc
- Arthritis
- Varicose veins
- Circulatory disorders
- Rheumatism
- Heel spur
- Obesity
- Burning Feet Syndrome
- Diabetes mellitus
- Polyneuropathy
- Smoker’s leg
- Tendonitis
- Osteoporosis
- Restless Legs Syndrome
Diagnosis and course
Diagnosis and course vary significantly depending on the identified cause of leg pain. From one day to several months may be the treatment and convalescence period. In some cases, leg pain is due to a tumor or thrombus and can be fatal if left untreated. For diagnostic purposes, first see your family doctor unless you already suspect a specific cause of the pain. Also, already known wear and tear, bone diseases or joint damage may have led to the acute or chronic leg pain. For diagnostic purposes or further treatment, the doctor may refer one to a specialist. X-rays, blood tests, neurological and ultrasound examinations, angiograms, mirror examinations or joint punctures may then be used. Diagnosing leg pain can still occasionally be difficult.
Complications
The complications of leg pain can be many and varied. Regardless of the intensity or nature of its occurrence, the causes of leg pain should be investigated. Leg pain may subside and then return weeks or months later. The intensity of the pain may be the same or it may change, becoming stronger or weaker. If the pain does not subside over a long period of time, we are talking about a chronic pain condition. In specialist circles, this is referred to as an independent clinical picture. Another course is characterized by sensory disturbances in the form of tingling and numbness. Muscle weakness or paralysis of the foot or toes can also occur. This indicates that the leg veins are involved due to a specific disease. It is not uncommon for vein failure, phlebitis, thrombosis or ulceration to occur.In phlebitis, the inflamed inner wall of the vein can be the cause of a blood clot that can lead to vascular occlusion. A distinction is made between thrombophlebitis and varicophlebitis or varicothrombosis. Particularly in women, phlebothrombosis may also occur. Severe complications include flaccid paralysis and sensory disturbances in both legs, as well as numbness in the anal area and the inner thighs (breech anesthesia). Also, disruption of bladder, bowel, and sexual function. Other complications could include:
- A corona phlebectatica of spider veins on the ankle.
- A “white atrophy” (damage to the small skin vessels in the ankle area).
- A Ulcus cruris varicosum (leg ulcer) or – venosum (open leg).
- A lipodermatofibrosis due to chronic venous failure.
- A variceal hemorrhage (injury to the varicose vein)
In the worst case, chronic venous insufficiency (post-thrombotic syndrome) can occur. This is a chronic venous failure.
When should you go to the doctor?
Leg pain can have various causes and is often harmless. However, patients should go to the doctor if the pain in the leg is long-lasting, very severe or associated with other complaints. A serious condition may be present if the leg pain occurs together with swelling of the joints in the leg. This is especially the case if the joints are heated. Since an inflammatory disease may be present here, the problem should be presented to the family doctor as soon as possible. If the pain in the leg occurs immediately after an accident or injury, this is also an indication to see a doctor. The first point of contact in this case is the family doctor, who will refer the patient to a specialist if necessary. If leg pain occurs with a feeling of heaviness, heat, swelling or hardening on a leg, this could be thrombosis. Since this is a life-threatening condition, a doctor should be consulted immediately in this case. If varicose veins are already visible or if a venous disease is known, an examination by a phlebologist should take place. The latter can also test the leg for circulatory disorders. If the problem is calf pain that occurs when walking and improves when standing still, it could be arteriosclerosis, which can lead to a heart attack if left untreated. Therefore, seeing a primary care physician first is strongly recommended.
Treatment and therapy
Treatment of leg pain depends on the cause. For sore muscles, magnesium, rest and time help; for rheumatism, heat and analgesic therapies help. Leg pain from fractures requires medical immobilization or surgery, injuries or joint damage often does as well. In other cases, however, rather moderate exercise therapy helps against the pain. One knows also so-called phantom pains, whose treatment is impossible. This is because the limb that causes leg pain has already been amputated. Circulatory disorders can be treated with exercise therapies and medications, but also with dietary changes. Sometimes surgery on joints of the leg is necessary. Vein-related pain can be treated with support stockings or sclerotherapy. If a leg is shorter, the shoe can be orthopedically adjusted. Painkillers or cortisone may be used adjunctively for various types of leg pain. Otherwise, physiotherapy, bath therapies, orthopedic walking aids, heat treatments, muscle training or sparing are the proven remedies for leg pain.
Outlook and prognosis
Leg pain does not necessarily lead to a medical complication and can occur during certain activities or when the legs are overloaded. In these cases, leg pain is relatively common and will also go away over time if the legs are allowed to rest. If the leg pain persists for a longer period of time and does not disappear on its own, a doctor should be consulted. In this case, the leg pain may be associated with another problem. Very often, leg pain also occurs in diabetes and is an indication of this disease. Therefore, in case of persistent pain, which occurs even without exercise, a doctor should always be consulted. If the leg pain is not treated, inflammation and cramps may develop in the muscles.This usually leads to even more pain, which must continue to be treated surgically. If the load is too high, the legs need to rest and the muscles need to relax. If the legs do not receive this rest, the leg pain will become equally severe and may progress to further complications. The exact course of the disease depends greatly on the physical condition of the affected person.
Prevention
The knee joint in particular is a sensitive part of the leg. If damage or injury occurs here, the entire leg is usually affected by the consequences. To prevent leg pain, there is often not much you can do. However, good shoes, healthy seating or moderate exercise will do a lot. You can do something about fractures and signs of wear and tear by getting plenty of exercise. Restrained postures are usually more harmful. People who are athletic usually suffer less damage in accidents and can put weight on their leg again more quickly after leg pain. He recovers faster after operations. For some paralyzed people, leg pain is a real blessing, because those who feel their legs can expect improvement.
This is what you can do yourself
With leg pain, it is necessary to see a doctor only in a few cases, usually this complaint disappears on its own and does not require extra treatment. Whoever has leg pain, should no longer load the corresponding leg strongly or better not at all. First and foremost, this includes refraining from sports. Thus, the leg can recover and fight the problem itself and the leg pain usually disappears after a few days or weeks. If the leg pain always occurs with a certain movement or a certain type of sport, a doctor should be consulted to take a closer look at this movement. Here it may be the case that the leg pain is a disease of the internal vessels, which must be treated differently. If the leg pain keeps recurring, it can be treated at home. Painkillers should not be taken here. Ideal is an ointment or a cream, which is applied to the affected area. This cream soothes the leg at the site, cools it and thereby relieves the pain. However, such a cream or ointment should not be used for too long a period of time. If the leg pain persists, the family doctor or an orthopedist should be consulted.
