Pain in the leg
Pain in the leg can indicate a variety of problems. Often, overstrain can lead to signs of wear and tear (arthrosis) in the joints (foot, knee, hip). These problems are particularly common among athletes who have been under the same strain for years.
Acute pain is often caused by injuries during training or in competition situations. Even then, the joints are affected in many cases, but injuries to ligaments or muscles are just as common. But sports and stress are not the only causes of pain in the leg area.
A sudden onset of pain can be triggered by deep vein thrombosis, for example. It often affects people who rarely or not at all move on foot. Compared to other population groups, these people are particularly prone to the formation of blood clots in the veins (vessels leading to the heart) on their legs.
These clots can clog the veins, causing pain and swelling of the affected leg. Such a thrombosis should be treated as soon as possible, because as soon as the blood clot comes loose from the site, it becomes dangerous. The clot is transported from the leg vein back to the heart, from where it can be transported to the lungs next.
There it may block a large blood vessel (pulmonary embolism), which can lead to acute shortness of breath and is life-threatening. Acute pain is often caused by injuries during training or in competition situations. Even then, the joints are affected in many cases, but injuries to ligaments or muscles are just as common.
But sports and stress are not the only causes of pain in the leg area. A sudden onset of pain can be triggered by deep vein thrombosis, for example. It often affects people who rarely or not at all move on foot.
Compared to other population groups, these people are particularly prone to the formation of blood clots in the veins (vessels leading to the heart) on their legs. These clots can clog the veins, causing pain and swelling of the affected leg. Such a thrombosis should be treated as soon as possible, because as soon as the blood clot comes loose from the site, it becomes dangerous. The clot is transported from the leg vein back to the heart, from where it can be transported to the lungs next. There it may block a large blood vessel (pulmonary embolism), which can lead to acute shortness of breath and is life-threatening.