Leg Pain - Treatment, Causes & Symptoms

Leg Pain Complications

Depending on the cause of the leg pain, various complications can arise. The most serious of these are:

• Shortness of breath
• Difficulty breathing
• Rapid breathing
• Clammy skin
• Chest pain
• Fainting
• Irregular heartbeat
• Rapid heartbeat
• Lightheadedness

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should seek out immediate medical attention.

How Can Leg Pain Be Treated?

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often prescribed to help reduce pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. In some cases, steroidal injections may be used to relieve pain. Physical exercise has also proven to be helpful in reducing leg pain associated with arthritis and scoliosis.

Leg pain arising due to Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) can be managed by taking measures to prevent the disease from progressing by implementing appropriate lifestyle measures. These measures include:

• Physical activity: Regular physical exercise can be very helpful in managing the condition. For this reason, many doctors recommend supervised exercise therapy for PAD patients.
• Diet control: Reducing the amount of fatty foods in your diet can help reduce cholesterol deposits within your arteries.
• Not smoking: As tobacco smoke is a key risk factor for PAD, quitting smoking can greatly improve the condition and its symptoms, including leg pain.

Leg pain caused by cramps or overuse can be treated in the following ways:

• Resting your leg
• Applying ice for 15 minutes to help reduce pain
• Massaging or stretching your leg slowly
• Elevating your leg
• Ensuring that you stay hydrated can help reduce leg cramping

When Should I See a Doctor for Leg Pain?

Although most common types of leg pain can be treated by home remedies like resting, icing and elevating, it is important to know when the condition warrants professional attention. You should see a doctor if:

• Your leg becomes overly swollen or even hard to the touch
• You notice a discoloration in your leg
• Home remedies fail to improve the pain
• You are taking medications that cause leg pain
• You experience a loss of sensation in your leg
• Your leg becomes pale or abnormally cool
• Your pain deteriorates

Leg Pain During Pregnancy

Leg and joint pain are quite common during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. The cause for this pain is a combination of increased weight, biomechanics, and a change in your body’s shape. Another type of leg pain that becomes more frequent during pregnancy is cramping of the leg, especially when asleep. Although the exact reason for the increase in frequency of these leg cramps during pregnancy is unknown, it may have something to do with changes in blood circulation around the body as the leg’s blood vessels and nerves undergo stress during this time. Another reason may be increased body weight that exerts more pressure on your legs. Some doctors have suggested that low levels of calcium during pregnancy is another cause for these cramps.

Sciatic leg pain is also common in women during pregnancy.

What Are Some Home Remedies for Leg Pain During Pregnancy?

There are several remedies available to relieve pregnancy-related leg pain and cramps. These include the following:

• Simple stretching exercises: A few women experience muscle pain in their calves when pregnant. Doing exercises that involve stretching your calves can therefore be helpful in relieving this pain by causing these muscles to relax. Focusing on calf stretches also helps reduce the occurrence of cramps when asleep.
• Exercises with a foam roller: Using a foam roller is extremely helpful in relieving sciatic lower back and leg pain. By engaging muscles like your hamstrings, calves and glutes, a foam roller helps relax them and decrease pain.
• Ensure hydration: Drinking enough water to make sure your muscles stay hydrated is important in preventing cramping of the calf.
• Refrain from crossing your legs when sitting as this reduces the chances of hindrance in blood flow to your leg.
• When experiencing a leg cramp, putting a warm towel, or heating pack on the area can help soothe the pain.

For more information on understanding the cause and treating your leg pain, get in touch with us.