An overview of leg pain

Pain in the legs can be intermittent or constant, it can develop gradually or suddenly, and it can affect the whole leg or a localized area, such as your knee, ankle, shin, etc. Leg pain can take numerous forms, including sharp pain, a dull ache, a stabbing pain, aching, or a tingling sensation. Some types of leg pain are annoying; however, the severe type of leg pain can be debilitating by affecting your ability to bear weight or walk.

Below is some information about the causes of leg pain, its types, and more.

What are the causes of leg pain?

• The causes of leg pain vary from person to person.
• Often, leg pain occurs due to overuse, injuries, or wear and tear of the joints or the bones or in muscles, tendons, ligaments, or other soft tissues.
• Certain types of leg pain can be because of problems in the lower spine.
• It can also be caused by varicose veins, blood clots, or poor circulation.
• Some of the common causes of leg pain are Achilles tendinitis or Achilles tendon rupture, a broken leg, chronic exertional compartment syndrome, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), gout (arthritis related to excess uric acid), hamstring injury, herniated disk, muscle cramp, osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints), psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, sciatica, septic arthritis, etc.

What are the types of leg pain?

The different causes of leg pain can have symptoms that are similar to one another. Getting a correct and timely diagnosis increases the likelihood of receiving leg pain treatment if it is needed. Therefore, identifying the symptoms can help you find an appropriate diagnosis. Some of the types of leg pain are:

• Peripheral arterial disease (PAD)- The peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can lead to leg pain because of poor circulation of blood. It can be fatal if not treated. The blood supply to the muscles in the legs can become restricted because of intermittent claudication, and the resulting lack of nutrients and oxygen can cause the leg pain. Claudication includes a cramp-like pain in the muscle while exercising or at exertion, pain while climbing stairs or while walking, and pain in the buttocks, calves, feet, and thighs. These cramps occur while walking but often they ease on resting.
• Sprains – Strains and sprains caused to the legs are often caused by injuries to the body or increased physical activity. These injuries, however, are common and can range from minor to severe leg pain, but are easily treatable.
• Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – This is a condition where a blood clot is formed in the deep veins of the leg and it constricts blood flow. The symptoms include swellings and a painful, hot sensation on one side of the leg. This pain may be felt while standing up or while walking. This a serious medical condition and needs immediate medical attention.
• Shin splints – Intense exertion while performing sports can cause different types of injuries. Shin splints cause severe and localized tenderness in the muscles. Sometimes, the bone pain is felt around the shin bone.
• Stenosis – Spinal stenosis is a medical condition where the spinal column starts contracting and becomes narrower. This causes a strain on the spinal cord and can cause severe pain in the leg as well as in the rest of the body. Leg pain treatment for stenosis can be hard as this a slow and gradual process.

Can leg pain be treated at home?

• Often, leg pain can be easily treated at home, as the treatments are simple and are not as rigorous as other medical treatment plans, such as surgery or injection of steroids.
• It must be noted that not all types of leg pain can be treated at home, some forms of leg pain may require medical intervention for effective leg pain treatment. For example, if your leg pain is due to a condition like sciatica or DVT, there are simple exercises and actions you can take at home to help relieve leg pain. However, if the condition progressively gets worse, you will definitely have to seek professional medical help.
• Speak to your medical practitioner to get a fair idea of the gravity of your leg pain condition before settling on any treatment type.

What are some simple home leg pain treatment options?

You may be able to ease or even get rid of leg pain depending upon the cause for the same. Some common methods one can try at home are:

• Practice low-impact exercises and stretches
• Follow a balanced and an anti-inflammatory diet
• Stay hydrated
• Opt for leg pain supplement if some nutrients are absent in the body
• For acute leg pain take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs