The main symptom of lumbar spinal stenosis is pain in the lower back and legs. Normally, between the dural sac (the container of the spinal cord and the spinal roots emerging from it) and the spinal canal there is loose fatty tissue. The presence of this space allows for some narrowing of the spinal canal when performing various movements without compression of the nervous structures. For example, when climbing stairs, hyperextension of the spine causes a narrowing of the spinal canal. At the same time, physical activity increases the need for oxygen in the nerve roots. In a patient with lumbar spinal stenosis, ischemia occurs in the spinal roots (lack of oxygen and nutrients) and the person begins to experience pain in the lower extremities, a limping gait appears, the so-called. neurogenic intermittent claudication. Because of the pain, the patient has to stop, sometimes squat down (when bending, the clearance of the lumbar spine increases), blood circulation is gradually restored and the person can continue moving. Neurogenic intermittent claudication is different from normal radicular pain. If radicular pain is characterized by a shooting character, then neurogenic intermittent claudication is manifested by a feeling of tension in the hamstring or calf muscles, heaviness, fatigue or even weakness in the legs, when the patient must squat to avoid falling.
Mesanism of development of spinal canal stenosis in osteochondrosis. As mentioned above, the most common cause of spinal canal stenosis is instability. With instability of the spinal motion segment, “back and forth” movements in the horizontal plane, uncharacteristic of the vertebrae, appear. To prevent these movements as a compensatory reaction, the facet joints begin to “grow” to increase the area of support and thus reduce movements in the horizontal plane. In this case, hypertrophied (enlarged) facet joints narrow the spinal canal, etc. spinal canal stenosis develops.
Diagnostics. The diagnosis of spinal canal stenosis is established based on questioning the patient about his complaints and the development of the disease (history), assessment of neurological symptoms (determination of areas of decreased sensitivity, decreased severity of tendon reflexes, decreased strength in individual muscles), X-ray and MRI data. The gold standard among methods for visualizing intervertebral disc herniation is Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). It is this method that most adequately reflects the condition of the spinal cord and spine, and is also capable of accurately diagnosing the degree and cause of stenosis. It should be noted that the quality of the image of your spine on a tomogram depends on such an indicator of the device as the magnetic field strength. Currently, to get good images, this figure should be 1.5 Tesla. Devices with lower magnetic field strengths, as well as computed tomography (CT) data, provide an unclear picture and make it difficult for the neurosurgeon to choose a treatment method.
Don't put off your consultation until tomorrow, seek help today!
To decide on the choice of treatment method, you must make an appointment with neurosurgeon Oleg Vladimirovich Durov by phone: +7 (499) 390-35-72.
Those wishing to undergo an internship in spinal neurosurgery under the guidance of Oleg Vladimirovich Durov for 6-24 months can call the administrator at +7 (499) 390-35-72. Preference is given to young doctors who have completed residency in neurosurgery with Russian citizenship.
Why does your leg hurt when walking: starting from the hip, a nagging pain radiates along the entire length of the leg and your toes go numb? Inflammation of the nerve root in the lumbar spine can cause pain in the legs due to osteochondrosis, when this root is physically compressed or experiences oxygen starvation.
It is known that the lumbar region is “responsible” for the lower part of the body, that is, it innervates the urinary and genital organs, as well as the legs. Therefore, osteochondrosis can radiate to the leg and cause pain in the legs. A feeling of numbness, weakness, as if osteochondrosis is pulling the leg, a feeling of discomfort in the lower extremities is characteristic of degenerative changes in the lumbar spine.
Let's trace the entire chain of causes that cause pain in the legs with osteochondrosis and evaluate the degree of their danger. With increased physical impact (stress), the nerve fiber or nearby vessels that supply it with nutrients and oxygen are compressed. Why does the nerve become deformed?
These causes cause inflammation of the nerve root and pain, which can radiate to the leg, cause problems with urination, etc. In this case, the lower back may or may not hurt. This fact sometimes confuses the patient - there is no radiculitis, but there is a nagging pain in the leg. Leg pain itself is not dangerous; it is just a symptom of lumbar osteochondrosis. which can proceed in different ways.
When leaving the spine, the sensory and motor roots go together. Therefore, when a person feels pain, it can be assumed that both of them are damaged. Impaired blood circulation in the nerve fiber is dangerous because it causes oxygen starvation of both the nerve itself and the tissues. As a result, we have drying out of muscle mass and weakness in the legs due to osteochondrosis. The feeling that your legs are being taken away has become like someone else’s - a very serious symptom that requires medical attention.
The characteristic pain in the legs with osteochondrosis takes on a nagging character, accompanied by sensations of numbness, tingling, the pain is not in the leg itself, but only radiates to the leg, lower leg or foot.
You must be sure that there is no leg injury, no diseases such as arthritis, in which the joint becomes inflamed and the pain is expressed locally.
If lifting is unsuccessful, subluxation of the vertebrae may occur, which can be realigned by a chiropractor.
Intervertebral hernia is a serious symptom that can only be detected using an MRI method. It is better not to resort to home treatment, but to consult a doctor. In addition to medications, the doctor often prescribes stretching exercises for the lumbar and gluteal muscles.
Less dangerous is disc protrusion - a hernial protrusion, which is treated with rest in the acute period and exercises during the period of disc recovery.
If you are sure that you have a cold in your lower back, then this may also be the cause of exacerbation of osteochondrosis and pain in the legs. Use warming ointment on the lumbar and sacrum area, not on the legs.
If the day before you had to physically work and stress the lumbar region, then it is quite possible that a pinched nerve and swelling of the tissues around it occurred. In this case, medications that relieve swelling (anti-inflammatory) will help.
Often, pain in the legs with osteochondrosis is caused by swelling of the tissue around the site of injury. If we are not talking about a hernia or displacement of a vertebra, which in addition to the legs will undoubtedly cause pain in the spine itself, then you can try home remedies.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, for example Diclofenac, will help eliminate swelling. The main way to get rid of pain is to find a comfortable position for the body and lower limbs. Complete rest for several days plus taking anti-inflammatory medications will relieve swelling of the tissues, and with it the pain.
It must be remembered that by using painkillers, you begin to consider yourself recovering. But physical activity CANNOT be resumed during this period.
Relax your back muscles: limit the time you spend upright, lie down more. It is useful to lie on your back and raise your legs at an angle of 90 degrees, after placing pillows under your knees. Do this daily, even after the acute period has passed, for prevention.
Pain in the leg can have a variety of shades and can be either mild, which is tolerated by the patient and goes away over time, or debilitating so much that it interferes with sleeping, walking, or participating in simple everyday activities. The pain can take many forms—some patients describe the pain as burning, throbbing, or a burning sensation. It may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as a feeling like needles are being stuck in a certain area and/or accompanied by numbness and weakness in the limbs.
Leg pain can occur due to problems with the lower extremities, but quite often such radiating pain can be caused by problems with the lumbar spine, where the sciatic nerve originates. This pain along the passage of the sciatic nerve is called sciatica.
Among the possible causes of pain in the lower extremities, one should not exclude the possibility of a pinched sciatic nerve, especially if the pain is concentrated in the hip and/or ankle or foot.
Symptoms and clinical picture of leg pain
Leg pain associated with damage to the lumbar spine does not always have the same symptoms in all patients. Leg pain caused by spinal osteochondrosis can present with additional symptoms and vary widely.
Some of the most common manifestations of leg pain and associated symptoms are:
Probably, absolutely every person living in the present time, at least once, has felt the manifestation of the symptom of weak legs and severe dizziness. There can be many reasons for this. The purpose of this article is to highlight the most common causes of the symptoms of wobbly legs and dizziness, to which almost all people are susceptible.
Symptoms can occur due to many different factors, for example, due to improperly selected shoes, prolonged walking, or standing in one place. In middle age, there may be even more reasons, and, as a rule, they are much more serious. Wobbly legs and dizziness can occur due to muscle atrophy or impaired blood supply to the legs.
There can be many reasons for this. Symptoms are very individual, and after the occurrence of such ailments, it is recommended to immediately visit a doctor.
The main causes of weakness in the legs and dizziness:
The main point is to identify the reason why a person feels such ailments, and then eliminate it. If a person has weakness in his legs and arms, and at the same time, then he should carefully listen to his spine. With such symptoms, 90% of people end up with diseased spines.
Severe muscle weakness, leading to the fact that it becomes difficult for a person to perform usual activities, often just walking, may be the first sign of the manifestation of the disease “ Myasthenia gravis ”.
Myasthenia gravis is a disease that can cause a person to feel muscle fatigue and energy depletion. The disease does not have a specific course. Some people may feel constantly weak and dizzy, while others may feel quite normal. Myasthenia gravis is a versatile disease, its manifestations can be the following: weakness of the legs and arms, dizziness, voluntary closing of the eyes, inability to breathe and swallow.
If movement is difficult, for example in the legs, you should consult a neurologist. Myasthenia gravis is not expressed in a specific course; it has an intermittent nature of manifestation.
Experts say that myasthenia gravis is “getting younger.” And this diagnosis is increasingly found in young people under 20 years of age. The statistics are confirmed by poor ecology, stress levels, and weak immunity. Myasthenia gravis can occur both in young people and in middle-aged people, and so on in ascending order.
In fact, congenital myasthenia is a fairly favorable situation. Most often, this occurs due to the fact that the mother who gave birth suffered from myasthenia at an early age or during pregnancy. Antibodies present in the mother have crossed the placenta, and these antibodies can cause weakness in the newborn during the first months. With correct and timely diagnosis of the disease, in 95% of cases the child can be cured of the disease, and the subsequent years of life pass without such problems.
Clinical symptoms that the patient may suffer from may be:
Treatment for myasthenia gravis includes:
Treatment of myasthenia gravis can be conservative and surgical
Symptoms of myasthenia gravis can be completely different. For example, they can manifest themselves with the following symptoms:
The listed symptoms cannot kill a person, they can only ruin his life.
How can you get rid of panic attacks and constant feelings of frustration? Panic attacks and disorders are usually treated with medications. In extremely severe cases, psychotherapy may be needed.
The symptoms described in the article should never be ignored . To detect them and quickly treat them, it is recommended to immediately consult your doctor! Be careful, listen to your body and watch your health!
Spinal pathologies in general, and osteochondrosis in particular, are often accompanied by a variety of unpleasant symptoms. This includes weakness. Typically, a feeling of severe weakness occurs due to pain in different parts of the spine or stiffness of movement in the affected area. But in some cases, patients complain of chronic fatigue and heaviness in the limbs. As a rule, such symptoms signal an inflammatory process occurring in the body. But, of course, the final cause of weakness in the arms, legs, or anywhere else should be determined by an experienced doctor after a complete examination of the patient has been carried out.
It's no secret that osteochondrosis is accompanied by displacement or partial destruction of cartilage tissue between the discs and the appearance of protrusive hernias. As a result, all blood vessels and arteries can be pinched at any time. If this happens, the blood circulation process is disrupted, severe oxygen starvation begins, which provokes symptoms of weakness in the arms, legs, general fatigue, etc.
In other words, general weakness in osteochondrosis is the main indicator that the disease has reached a critical stage and immediate treatment is required.
In addition, the lack of strength itself is a marker that gives a hint as to which specific part of the spine is affected.
If we talk about cervical or shoulder osteochondrosis, weakness is felt in the arms. This is due to the fact that pathological changes occur inside the shoulder and neck joints. As a result, even the simplest movements begin to be difficult for the patient. Thus, the patient finds it difficult to pick up this or that thing or make a fist. With a certain body position, general weakness may decrease or increase. With the described symptoms, doctors recommend avoiding increased physical activity and include exercise therapy in therapy.
If the patient feels weakness in the legs or back muscles, this means that osteochondrosis has affected the lumbar or thoracic region. Most often, weakness is felt in the morning, when the patient wakes up after sleep. But it can also manifest itself during the day. Especially if the patient exposed himself to physical stress on his legs.
It should be noted that weakening of the body with osteochondrosis is almost impossible to avoid. And therefore, at the first manifestations of weakness in the limbs, doctors rush to prescribe treatment. But for the patient to feel completely healthy, it will take quite a lot of time. Unfortunately, cervical, thoracic and lumbar osteochondrosis are among the diseases from which it is not so easy to recover.
In order to obtain the most complete picture regarding the patient’s health status, before prescribing therapy, the doctor conducts thorough studies, which include x-rays, ultrasound examination of blood vessels, CT and MRI scans, and clinical and biochemical blood tests.
Only after receiving the results of the examinations, it becomes finally clear what kind of osteochondrosis we are talking about, thoracic, cervical or lumbar, which is the root cause of weakness and, taking into account the specific course of osteochondrosis, procedures and medications appropriate to the diagnosis are prescribed.
With cervical or lumbar osteochondrosis, weakness in the legs and arms is usually accompanied by a lack of microelements and vitamins in the body. In this case, neurologists prescribe their patients a diet that includes foods containing large amounts of calcium.
Therapy for weakness is usually prescribed in a comprehensive manner. Usually it means:
Exercise therapy for osteochondrosis of the cervical or any other region usually aims to improve blood circulation, increase muscle tone and restore the mechanics of movements in general. The set of exercises should be selected by an appropriate specialist. Only in this case can you count on the fact that the pain, weakness and fatigue in the legs that accompany osteochondrosis will go away.
Often, patients with cervical osteochondrosis are prescribed manual therapy. This method is especially highly effective for severe pain and weakness in the legs. Manual therapy for neck disease significantly improves blood flow, restores sensitivity in the lower extremities and eliminates muscle spasms. The most important thing when using this method of getting rid of fatigue in cervical osteochondrosis and osteochondrosis of other areas is to be able to find an experienced chiropractor.
Drug therapy is usually complex. Medicines of various types of action are usually prescribed:
Like any other disease, cervical osteochondrosis should not be left to chance. It is also strongly recommended not to self-medicate. The best option would be to contact an experienced and qualified specialist at the earliest stages and trust him. His recommendations and your lifestyle are the key to success.
Inflammatory processes in the body can develop very rapidly.
One of the symptoms of this kind of disease is pain in the lower back and body temperature above 37 degrees. In this case, additional manifestations may appear - headache, nausea, vomiting, chills, weakness.
In some cases, discomfort in the legs or stool disturbances occur - for example, diarrhea or constipation. If such manifestations appear, you should definitely consult a doctor - perhaps the reason lies in the presence of serious diseases.
Diseases that cause back pain and increased body temperature include the following:
If such symptoms appear, you should definitely consult a doctor. The flu can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia and lung abscess. They are the ones who provoke lower back pain when coughing.
With this disease, a dull, aching pain of varying degrees of intensity usually occurs, which increases with sneezing and coughing. However, urinary disorders do not always appear, so they are not considered a key symptom.
If you do not consult a doctor in time, pyelonephritis will become chronic. Also, with inflammation of the kidneys, a purulent process can begin - in this case, a very high body temperature is observed.
When muscles are damaged, the pain varies - sharp, aching, dull. In most cases, it appears when lifting heavy objects, moving unsuccessfully, or being in a draft. In some situations, pain increases after stress.
The presence of other manifestations of lower back pain and a fever of more than 37-38 degrees may indicate the development of various diseases.
If a woman experiences abdominal pain, the cause may be cystitis. With this disease, there is bloody discharge in the urine. In addition, there is discomfort when urinating. In advanced cases, a woman experiences acute pain and chills. Also, pain in the abdomen and diarrhea may indicate disturbances in the functioning of the digestive system.
The appearance of such symptoms in men may indicate a disorder in the digestive or genitourinary system. Also, acute pain in the lower back and abdomen accompanied by an increase in temperature may indicate the development of prostatitis.
If you not only have lower back pain, but also feel nauseous, there is a risk of stomach or duodenal pathologies. Such symptoms may indicate peptic ulcers and other ailments. Quite often, bowel problems are also observed - for example, diarrhea. In addition, nausea and pain may indicate the development of appendicitis. In this case, nausea most often ends with vomiting.
If pain in the back is of high intensity, and the temperature cannot be reduced even after using antipyretics, this may indicate the development of a tumor formation in the spine. The same symptoms can occur with inflammation of the pancreas or pinched vertebral discs.
If the disease is associated with damage to muscle tissue, the victim must be provided with complete rest. After you stop putting pressure on your back, the pain will decrease. Such an attack can be observed for 30 minutes or several hours. In any case, after the exacerbation has stopped, you should visit a doctor who will help prevent inflammation.
To avoid problems with the spine, a specialist may prescribe the following treatment methods:
Our readers recommend
To prevent and treat JOINT DISEASES, our regular reader uses the increasingly popular NON-SURGERY treatment method recommended by leading German and Israeli orthopedists. After carefully reviewing it, we decided to offer it to your attention.
If a person has a high fever, weakness, chills, headache, discomfort in the back and legs, most likely the cause is a viral disease. In such a situation, you should definitely get medical advice.
To prevent the development of dangerous complications, you need to take painkillers and antiviral drugs. In some cases, the use of antibacterial agents is indicated - they are required in the event of a bacterial infection.
If a person suspects pyelonephritis, they should immediately consult a doctor. Pain in the lower back and legs, headache, chills, fever should not be ignored, otherwise there is a risk of developing a chronic process.
An effective remedy exists. Doctors recommend Read more >> !
Any person, at least sometimes, feels weak in the legs. There can be many reasons causing such weakness.
The purpose of our article is to identify the most common of them, as well as find out ways to combat this unpleasant phenomenon.
There are many known causes of weakness in the legs. In young people and middle-aged people, the causes may be improperly selected shoes, prolonged walking or standing, and weakness of the body after suffering from colds and strict diets.
In old age, there may be more reasons for weakness, and they are much more serious. This includes muscle atrophy and impaired blood supply to the lower extremities.
Why are my legs weak? The main reasons can be listed, but each case is individual, so any factor must be rechecked with a doctor. The following are the most common causes of weakness in the legs:
There are many reasons for weakness in the legs, but it is important to identify exactly one reason in each specific case. After all, to eliminate weakness it is necessary to eliminate the immediate cause of this condition.
Simultaneous weakness in the legs and arms most often indicates problems in the spinal column. However, even here it is impossible to answer unambiguously. This symptom sometimes accompanies disorders of the brain and central nervous system. And sometimes weakness in the limbs is a banal sign of muscle weakness during a protein-free diet or fasting. Weakness in the arms and legs can accompany many diseases, so this symptom should be discussed separately.
Weakness in the legs and dizziness often occur in adolescence due to changes in the hormonal system in the body. At this time, along with changes in hormonal levels, there is increased growth and development of the child, transformation of his autonomic nervous system. In this regard, weakness, dizziness, and even fainting are possible. You just need to “wait out” this period, devoting enough time to rest and proper nutrition.
In adults, weakness in the legs and dizziness are most often associated with the following reasons:
Carefully evaluate the reasons that are most typical for you. If you experience frequent feelings of weakness and dizziness, be sure to consult a doctor.
Sometimes, most often in extreme heat, you may feel a feeling of wobbly legs and weakness in the legs and throughout the body. But this condition happens not only in summer, but often in winter and even spring. These symptoms are common to all people, regardless of gender and age. Why does weakness and “wooliness” appear in the legs?
Some categories of people are at risk:
Often weak legs and weakness occur due to banal overwork, lack of sleep, and insufficient nutrition. More serious reasons include pre-infarction and pre-stroke conditions: in this situation, weakness in the legs and weakness are usually combined with pain in the heart, dizziness or pain in the head, and numbness in the fingers. This condition requires immediate consultation with a doctor.
Pain in the legs can appear in different areas: in the feet, legs, fingers, knees. Weakness and pain in the legs may be accompanied by swelling, cramps, burning sensations, tingling and numbness, pallor and even blue discoloration of the skin of the lower extremities. Of course, only an experienced doctor will be able to establish the correct diagnosis and suggest treatment. We will consider the main possible reasons for this condition:
How can you determine on your own what disease may be associated with weakness and pain in the legs? There are the following signs to look out for:
And yet, for a more reliable answer to this question, you should undergo a series of studies in a medical institution.
Weakness in the leg muscles most often occurs when the synapses, the areas where nerves and muscles connect, are damaged. Disturbances in these connections may be the root cause of muscle weakness. Acetylcholine, a special substance that in some cases can be perceived by the body as foreign, is responsible for the stability of synapses: that’s when a connection disorder occurs. The nerve impulse does not reach the muscle, which makes it weak (although muscle tissue atrophy does not occur).
Severe weakness in the legs can act as a separate disease, or be a sign of other pathologies. For example, very often weakness in the leg muscles occurs in the following cases:
Severe weakness in the legs can appear with asthenia, psycho-emotional stress, and anxiety.
Sometimes a combination of symptoms such as weakness and tremors in the legs may indicate a state of hypoglycemia - reduced absorption of glucose in the body. It has been proven that a lack of glucose in tissues leads to hypoxia (oxygen starvation), with a further increasing disorder of carbohydrate and protein metabolism.
Different areas of the brain can be affected sequentially, which explains the appearance of different symptoms as the hypoglycemic state increases.
Brain tissue and muscle tissue are powered by carbohydrates. If little glucose enters the tissue, then the cells stop accepting oxygen, even if its level in the blood is sufficient. For this reason, the signs of hypoglycemia are similar to the signs of oxygen deficiency.
A reduced amount of glucose in the blood leads to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system, which increases the level of adrenaline and norepinephrine in the bloodstream. Weakness and trembling in the legs are some of the signs of vegetative symptoms, which can be supplemented by other signs: increased sweating, rapid heartbeat, etc.
By the way, such vegetative signs can also be the result of more harmless reasons (unlike hypoglycemia): it can be the result of stress, sudden fear, strong excitement or anxiety.
Now let's look at the possible causes of such a combined symptom as weakness in the legs and temperature. In this case, the first thing that comes to mind is a cold. Maybe, but not necessarily: you may not observe signs of a cold.
Basically, the reasons may be the following:
If weakness in the legs and fever do not go away within 2-3 days, or the temperature is very high, you should definitely consult a doctor.
Increasing weakness in the left leg (sometimes in the right), which is accompanied by a sensitivity disorder, is often provoked by pathology in the spinal cord, spinal roots, pelvic nervous system or peripheral nervous innervation.
In these cases, over time, weakness occurs and numbness appears in the other limb. There may be no pain.
However, perhaps most often, weakness in one leg (left or right) can be one of the signs of an impending stroke - an acute cerebrovascular accident that is usually associated with a disruption or blockage of a vessel in the brain. Weakness in the leg in this case is sudden, can spread to the upper limb on the same side, and is accompanied by severe pain in the head, dizziness and tinnitus. A patient with such signs should be urgently hospitalized in a medical facility to provide emergency medical measures and immediate treatment.
Weakness in the right leg can occur for the same reasons as in the left. In any case, when such a symptom occurs, one should observe: when weakness appears, whether it increases or decreases, what symptoms accompany this condition. Depending on the answers to these questions, a preliminary diagnosis can be determined:
If weakness does not go away or increases, then a qualified examination by a specialist is simply necessary: this can protect you from various negative consequences in the future.
Nausea is one of the most unpleasant sensations that you sometimes experience. This symptom can be caused by many factors, especially if nausea is accompanied by weakness and “wobbly” legs. This condition can be associated with food intake, or vice versa, with hunger. Sometimes the situation worsens with the addition of dizziness, sweating, and vomiting. What can be suspected in this case?
Also, nausea and weakness in the legs can accompany fluctuations in blood pressure. For example, with low blood pressure (hypotension), such a reaction is often observed, especially if the pressure drops sharply. A similar situation is also inherent in a sharp increase in blood pressure: nausea and weakness are accompanied by headache, redness of the face, tinnitus and other similar symptoms.
Weakness in the legs when walking is a very common complaint of patients when visiting an orthopedist or neurologist. Rapid leg fatigue, pain, lameness - the reasons may be associated with age-related changes in the muscular system, or with disorders in the nervous and musculoskeletal system.
The state of muscle wasting and weakness can be eliminated if rehabilitation measures are started in time. Dosed physical exercises and proper distribution of the load on muscle groups will stop the atrophic process.
This feeling of severe weakness in the legs is most often the result of various vascular diseases, both of the lower extremities and the spinal cord, which provokes a disruption of normal blood circulation in them. In most situations, these are disorders of spinal blood flow, less often - the phenomenon of hematomyelia (bleeding into the spinal cord).
All kinds of vascular diseases, their compression or narrowing impair blood flow in the extremities. Among the most common causes of sudden weakness in the legs are three series of factors:
To clarify the cause of severe weakness in the legs, it is recommended to undergo diagnostics: CT and MRI of the spinal column, angiography, etc.
In addition to hypotension (low blood pressure), headaches and weakness in the legs can occur due to poisoning with chemical compounds, in particular organophosphates. Substances such as chlorophos or karbofos are widely known not only in veterinary medicine and sanitary epidemiology, but also in everyday life.
Vapors of organophosphorus substances enter the body mainly through the respiratory tract or through the digestive organs; they can also be absorbed in smaller quantities through the skin and mucous membranes.
Symptoms of poisoning develop almost immediately: weakness in the legs, fatigue, headache, and attacks of nausea or drowsiness may occur. If help is not provided, the process may further affect cardiac activity (slow heart rate). Blood pressure decreases, hypersecretion develops (increased sweating, salivation, etc.), and a pressing feeling appears in the chest.
This condition requires emergency medical care and not only detoxification measures, but also the administration of drugs that support the basic vital functions of the body.
Numbness and weakness in the legs, a feeling of “coldness” in the feet are common signs of vascular diseases of the legs: atherosclerosis, post-embolic occlusions, obliterating endarteritis, diabetic angiopathy. In some cases, peripheral nerve damage may be the cause.
Obliterating vascular diseases of the legs are accompanied by narrowing of blood vessels until the walls close. This leads to disruption of blood and lymph flow. The first signs of such diseases are a feeling of coldness in the feet, pain, weakness of one or both affected limbs (first during exercise, then at rest).
Numbness and weakness in the legs initially appears only from time to time, and only then as a result of prolonged walking or other physical activity on the limbs. As the disease progresses, such symptoms become more common; even after 200 m of travel, a person is forced to stop and rest.
In diabetes mellitus, numbness and weakness are associated with vascular damage: over time, the walls of the vessels become brittle, mesh hemorrhages and intermittent claudication appear.
In some cases, the cause of numbness may be angiotrophoneurosis - a vegetative-vascular neurosis that develops as a result of prolonged spasm of small arteries. The legs first become numb in the toes, then tingling and burning begins, the skin turns pale. This condition may occur first in periods, then more often: in this case, the attacks become longer.
If simultaneous weakness appears in the legs and lower back, or in one leg and lower back, then in most cases an impending attack of radiculitis (lumbago) is suspected. Especially if your feet or toes feel numb and your lower back is aching. However, this is not the only cause of weakness in the legs and lower back. Possible factors include:
With these diseases, compression of the nerve endings may occur. At the same time, in the presence of an inflammatory process, the function of nearby tissues and organs is disrupted, trophism and normal metabolic reactions worsen. As a result, muscle tone increases in the area of innervation of the affected nerves, which leads first to weakness and then pain in the lower back and limbs.
Constant weakness in the legs can be a consequence of the following pathologies:
Constant weakness can be caused by many pathologies, so it is very important to undergo a qualified examination and identify the true cause of this condition.
Weakness in the legs in the morning - why does this happen? It would seem that the body rested overnight and recovered. And my legs seemed like they weren’t resting. What could be the reason?
Muscle weakness in the legs may be a sign of endocrine disorders. It appears as a result of a dysfunction of the endocrine glands, as a result of which the ionic balance of the interstitial fluid is disrupted. This condition is often observed with insufficient functioning of the adrenal glands, with excessive function of the thyroid and parathyroid glands. Diabetes mellitus can cause polyneuropathy, which can subsequently also lead to weakness in the legs in the morning.
Often, leg weakness occurs due to insufficient blood circulation. This condition can be observed with thrombosis of the blood vessels of the legs, with endarteritis, atherosclerosis. In addition to weakness, characteristic symptoms are “coldness” of the legs, cyanosis, and the appearance of persistent ulcers on the legs.
Hypotension (low pressure in the arteries) can also impair blood flow to the lower extremities. Often such symptoms are provoked by strong psycho-emotional stress, worries, and stress experienced the day before.
Symptoms of weakness in the legs occur primarily in those muscles that bear most of the load. So, the first signs of weakness may be:
As the disease progresses, a person may develop lameness and pain in the legs (especially when climbing stairs, standing for long periods of time, or walking long distances).
If such symptoms appear, you should not panic: after all, weakness in the legs is not always caused by some serious illness. You just need to see a doctor as soon as possible to prevent unpleasant consequences.
Next, we will look at the most common symptoms that appear simultaneously with weakness in the legs: knowing about the combination of such symptoms, it is easier to assume any painful condition and begin treatment in a timely manner.
VSD - vegetative-vascular dystonia - is characterized by frequent fatigue, headaches, intolerance to heat and stuffy rooms, increased sweating and other disorders, including weakness in the legs with VSD. What causes this disease? First of all, disorders of the functionality of the autonomic nervous system.
What is the autonomic nervous system? This is part of the nervous system, which acts as a regulator of the performance of all internal organs. The autonomic system is not controlled by our consciousness: it monitors stable body temperature, blood pressure, stabilizes digestive and urinary processes, ensures the normal functioning of the heart, endocrine glands, immunity, etc., including vascular tone.
With autonomic dysfunction, various pathological phenomena may occur, including, among other things, psychoneurological disorders: weakness in the limbs, decreased performance, unmotivated fatigue, irritability, migraines, weather dependence, sleep disorders.
Weakness in the legs with VSD can be hereditary or associated with certain disorders in the body:
Vegetative-vascular dystonia is treatable, and over time the weakness in the legs goes away.
Weakness in the legs with multiple sclerosis can occur suddenly or grow at a slow pace, and the patient does not suspect anything and does not see a doctor for a long time. However, weakness in the legs is one of the first signs of the disease, along with visual disturbances and poor coordination.
Weakness of the muscles of the lower extremities in multiple sclerosis most often occurs gradually. Patients with the initial stages of the disease only after some time notice that their legs have begun to get tired, even to the point of gait disturbances and lack of coordination of movements. The appearance of this symptom is explained by a disorder in the passage of nerve impulses along nerve fibers, including in the central nervous system.
The most common paraparesis in multiple sclerosis is caused by muscle spasms. A process affecting only one of the limbs is extremely rare. Typically, patients at the beginning of the disease feel only some fatigue, which gradually increases and turns into muscle weakness. Thermal phenomena can aggravate the situation: heat, colds with high body temperature, too much physical exercise, a hot shower or bath. By the way, this is an important distinguishing point: if the condition does not worsen when exposed to high temperatures, then the disease should be differentiated from vascular disorders.
Weakness in the legs after chemotherapy is often associated with the characteristics of the treatment of hematological and oncological patients. In this case, the degree of weakness may depend on the duration of the course of chemotherapy, the medications used, as well as other concomitant diseases of the patient. It should be noted that each person may have several factors simultaneously that provoke the appearance of weakness.
Weakness in the legs is especially pronounced in elderly patients, due to age-related changes in muscle tissue, a sedentary lifestyle, and concomitant chronic diseases.
Osteochondrosis is perhaps one of the most common spinal diseases in the world. This is a degenerative process affecting several vertebrae, destroying the structure of cartilage and connective tissue.
Pathological changes sooner or later affect nerve fibers and surrounding vessels, which narrow and spasm.
The disease develops over a long period of time and gradually. If the lower parts of the spinal column are affected, weakness in the legs first appears, gradually turning into pain, which intensifies at rest. What is the cause of weakness in the legs with osteochondrosis? With insufficient supply of oxygen and nutrients to the extremities, and with impaired excretion of metabolic products. Treatment of such weakness should be aimed at restoring normal blood supply in the lower extremities, as well as innervation in the affected part of the spine.
Why can you sometimes observe weakness in a child’s legs? Of course, this may be due to paraplegia, rickets, muscle hypertension, but most often the reasons are not so serious. Although under no circumstances should they be left without attention.
As a rule, weakness often occurs when a child is just learning to walk: in order to prevent weakness, all the baby’s movements must be controlled and directed. After all, the weight of a child is a big load on his still fragile legs. In addition, one should not discount the fact that the child may have a deficiency of cholecalciferol and ergocalciferol - vitamins that are very important for the growth and development of children.
Weakness in the legs of a child may be accompanied by symptoms of general weakness of the body. The reason for this may be liver disease, general intoxication, colds, etc. If weakness occurs against the background of head incontinence, the child’s reluctance to learn to walk, and the legs tucking in when trying to walk independently, musculoskeletal disorders can be suspected. With such a pathology, you should definitely see a doctor.
Unfortunately, weakness in the legs in older people is, in most cases, a completely natural phenomenon. Over time, age-related degenerative changes in muscle tissue occur, a person becomes physically less active, and leads an increasingly less active lifestyle. In addition, various pathologies are associated:
In older people, treatment of weakness in the legs should be aimed at symptomatic relief of the condition, increasing blood circulation in the extremities, strengthening blood vessels and the musculoskeletal system.
Most often, weakness in the legs during pregnancy is associated with significant changes in the body: now the expectant mother needs to adapt to changes, so the activity of some physiological processes is compensated by the slowdown of others.
Weakness in the legs in the early stages may be associated with anemia (hemoglobin deficiency), hypovitaminosis, toxicosis, sleep and appetite disorders.
Weakness in the second half of pregnancy is usually associated with a heavy load on the legs, a growing belly and uterus, and swelling of the lower body. In addition, during pregnancy, the load on the blood vessels increases, which is fraught with the appearance of spider veins and varicose veins. All these signs together predetermine the appearance of weakness in the lower extremities.
Often during pregnancy, low blood pressure is observed, which is associated with fatigue, anxiety, and lack of nutrients in the body. This also contributes to the development of leg weakness. However, following a daily routine and proper nutrition will help cope with such an unpleasant phenomenon.