Pain is the main symptom of most ailments in the human body. Painful sensations appear as a result of irritation of nerve receptors in the localization of pathology. For example, aching pain in the legs may be a sign of the development of pathology in the joints, arteries and veins, muscle and bone tissues.
Many patients describe the nature of pain differently . It can change from overexertion, emotional stress and even simple movement. The sensations are always described in different ways, but the most characteristic epithets are: dull, aching, pulling, bursting, etc. In addition, the duration of the uncomfortable state also affects: long-lasting, second-long, attacks.
The main cause of pain in the legs is irritation of nerve receptors , in part pinching of the sciatic nerve formed in the lower part of the spinal ridge. Compression of the roots leads to painful discomfort, even prolonged numbness, called lumbago.
Depending on the side of the pain, there are:
The causes of pain of various types may lie in the injuries received, including the consequences of already healed ones:
In addition, the reasons may lie in chronic diseases affecting cartilage and bone tissue:
And also in various diseases that are both temporary and chronic:
Injuries to bone and muscle tissue are usually characterized by a sharp and aching type of pain , localized directly at the site of injury. For example, with gonarthrosis, pain will occur in the kneecap, spreading around. Injuries can additionally manifest themselves in hematomas, swelling and deformation, for example, with dislocations and complex fractures. An old injury can cause aching pain that occurs even at rest.
Such injuries are treated by a surgeon. The main method of diagnosis is X-ray examination, in difficult cases - MRI and ultrasound. Therapeutic therapy consists of applying a tight bandage or plaster, as well as ensuring complete rest of the injured limb.
Vascular pathologies are usually associated with impaired blood flow in the lower extremities . Such conditions are characterized by constant aching pain, usually localized below the knee. A sign of a disease associated with the blood flow is constant heaviness in the legs, a burning sensation appears, as if the legs are baking. Night cramps and severe swelling are not uncommon.
Such diseases are treated by specialized specialists - phlebologist and angiologist. Diagnosis of vascular pathology is carried out in several stages:
Treatment is carried out by using tonic ointments, medications and wearing compression garments.
Neuropathy is the appearance of problems with the peripheral nervous system in the lower extremities, the causes of which lie in serious diseases of the body. The characteristic symptoms of sensitive neuropathy are severe, aching pains that literally twist and shoot. The pain syndrome is located at the location of the damaged nerve, in other words, pain can occur in any part of the leg where, for example, the nerve is pinched. Other signs of neuropathy: muscle spasms and convulsions, gradual muscle atrophy caused by weakness, decreased reflexes. In extreme cases, swelling appears and gangrene develops.
Many doctors treat such pathologies, since it is necessary to exclude the root causes of leg neuropathy. However, the main doctor remains a neurologist who conducts all the necessary studies. Diagnosed using:
Degenerative and inflammatory diseases of the joints, characterized mainly by dull, aching pain . Since these ailments affect the joints, the pain syndrome is localized there. Other symptoms manifest themselves indirectly, usually there is some stiffness in movements, swelling occurs, and with arthritis, the skin around the joint is significantly warmer than everything else.
An orthopedic traumatologist treats such diseases. Main areas of diagnostics: functional examination, clinical studies, MRI. The decision to perform an operation is made on the basis of the data collected during diagnosis.
Systemic connective tissue diseases are a group of diseases characterized by inflammation of organs and systems. It is characterized by dull pain localized in areas where inflammation develops. Treatment is carried out by a rheumatologist, who, if necessary, consults a neurologist. Diagnosed using:
The disease is characterized by increased fragility of bone tissue . A typical symptom of the disease is leg cramps and intermittent dull pain that occurs at different times of the day. Often, constant fatigue and allergies to various previously neutral products become a sign. Several doctors comprehensively treat the disease: an endocrinologist, a rheumatologist, an orthopedist and, if necessary, a traumatologist. Osteoporosis is diagnosed using the following methods:
Osteoporosis cannot be fully cured, but its progress can be slowed down.
Inflammatory processes in muscle and bone tissues are characterized by constant aching pain. Symptoms may be the following: swelling, redness and impaired function at the location of the pathology. Treatment is prescribed by a rheumatologist or neurologist. Inflammatory processes in muscles and bones are diagnosed using electromyography, and clinical studies indirectly help make a diagnosis.
Aching pain syndrome occurs in the lower spine , from where it spreads to the legs. Moreover, if the syndrome occurs on the left, then pain will appear in the left leg, if on the right, then in the right. Lumboischialgia is a complication of osteochondrosis. The diagnosis is made by interviewing and examining the patient; MRI and ultrasound of the joints are performed for confirmation.
Chronic pain syndrome, practically untreatable . In addition to pain, this pathology is characterized by constant fatigue and drowsiness. Diagnosed by interviewing the patient. For treatment, medications are used, physical therapy and physiotherapy are prescribed.
A deficiency of important elements for the body leads to a decrease in natural defenses, which provokes pain in the lower extremities. A sign of deficiency is increased fatigue, constant drowsiness. Diagnosed by clinical tests, vitamins and medications are prescribed for treatment to compensate for the deficiency.
The growth of the tumor causes compression of the nerve roots , causing a dull aching pain. Accompanying symptoms: constant pain, fatigue, reduced immunity. Treatment is carried out by an oncologist; diagnostics are performed using ultrasound and clinical studies. Therapy depends entirely on tumor growth. In the early stages, surgery is performed and the tumor is removed.
Muscle spasm is an involuntary contraction of muscles with a flash of sharp pain. In the future, the pain syndrome persists, but becomes aching. Common cause: overwork, as well as many chronic diseases. As a rule, diagnosis and observation by a doctor are not required. All treatment consists of massage of the damaged area; no drug intervention is required.
It is not uncommon for patients whose legs hurt and ache to not know what to do or what treatment to apply. Any persistent pain in the lower leg or foot is a reason to visit a doctor . Only a specialist can determine why your legs hurt and ache and prescribe appropriate therapy.
Pain is the most important and most common symptom of various diseases. It is a signal of trouble in the body. Therefore, even mild aching pain should not be heroically endured. Painful sensations always arise from irritation of nerve endings (receptors) at the site of pathological changes. On the legs they are located in the articular capsules of all joints, in arteries and veins, in muscle and bone tissue.
Impulses travel along nerve fibers to the brain and cause activation of defenses: heartbeat, constriction of the pupils, increased blood pressure.
At the same time, the functioning of such internal organs as the thyroid and pancreas, and the endocrine system changes. This is why long-term pain in the legs can cause other diseases.
Patients describe their sensations in different ways. They change during fatigue, emotional experiences, and are felt much more strongly at night, when a person is maximally disconnected from external stimuli and focused on his body.
With high physical activity, the legs work sufficiently during the working day, the muscles and joints are under constant tension. In people with sedentary professions, the venous system suffers. The outflow of blood through the vessels is significantly hampered.
Patients characterize pain sensations as dull, sharp, shooting, aching, drilling, pulling, bursting, as well as other epithets.
Duration: long-term pain or instant, paroxysmal pain. They can increase in intensity, become painful, and then decrease.
There are no standard definitions of the nature of pain, although this is important for diagnosis. Based on the totality of all the signs, aching pain can be defined as prolonged, not intense, dull, possibly bursting in nature. Localization on the legs helps in identifying the specific cause and disease.
It is important for the doctor to find out what causes the pain, what time of day it occurs, and whether it depends on movement. Examination of the patient and the necessary examination clarify and complement the diagnosis. Let's consider the symptoms of the most common diseases accompanied by pain in the lower extremities.
The most common cause of fatigue and pain after walking is flat feet. It can be independently identified by the imprint of the foot (too small a notch in the middle under the arch of the foot). Women who try to wear high heels are especially affected.
To eliminate pain, special inserts (orthopedic insoles) in shoes are needed. Evening masses and warm baths help relieve tension in the calf muscles.
An orthopedic surgeon will be able to select the correct size of insoles.
Varicose veins or varicose veins most often affect the legs of people in “standing and sedentary” professions (teachers, salespeople, drivers, office workers). A disruption of the mechanism for the outflow of venous blood from the extremities leads to aching pain and swelling below the knee by the end of the working day. Patients report that “their legs tingle in the evening.”
Upon examination, thin networks of venous vessels under the skin from the thigh to the knee are revealed in the initial stages. In a more severe stage, deep, painful, protruding venous cords appear on the lower leg, in the popliteal fossa.
Redness of the skin, thickening and swelling in the ankle area indicate thrombophlebitis, when varicose veins are associated with infected vessel thrombosis.
In the initial stages it helps:
In a neglected condition, only surgery to sclerosis or remove the vein will help. Treatment will be prescribed by a phlebologist or vascular surgeon.
The diseases are associated with blockage of the arterial vessels that supply blood to the legs. The resulting state of oxygen deficiency causes pain in the muscles below the knee and in the foot.
The peculiarity of this pathology is the dependence of intensity on walking, the manifestation of “intermittent claudication” from a sharp painful spasm and convulsions.
At rest the pain becomes aching. The patient simultaneously feels paresthesia (“pins and needles”, tingling), increased sweating and chilliness of the feet. The pain keeps me awake at night.
Upon examination, the foot of the affected limb looks paler than the healthy one, pulsation in the arteries is less visible, and impaired sensitivity in the fingers is possible.
For treatment you need:
You can make a mustard bath at home. It is necessary to monitor foot hygiene.
Foot massage relieves pain due to vascular obliteration
Diseases of the joints of an inflammatory and metabolic-dystrophic nature (arthritis and arthrosis) occur in almost 80% of the adult population. Transient pain occurs during an acute infectious disease (influenza, acute respiratory viral infection) with high fever. They may “linger” for a short time during the recovery period. No special treatment is required, except for general strengthening vitamin and mineral complexes.
Chronic diseases such as tuberculosis and psoriasis lead to severe inflammation of the hip and knee joints. Therefore, the pain spreads to the entire area above the knee. Treatment requires special medications and joint immobilization.
After injury, arthritis can occur immediately or after some time. A chronic infection of the body is activated. The joint swells, hurts constantly, “aches” day and night, any movements increase the pain. When the synovial bursa becomes inflamed, a significant amount of fluid accumulates.
In treatment they use:
In severe cases, a joint puncture is performed, fluid is pumped out, and anti-inflammatory drugs are administered internally.
In the subacute period, the entire complex of rehabilitation (physical therapy, massage, physiotherapy) is necessary to prevent the development of contractures and immobility of the articular surfaces.
When playing sports, it is very important to choose good and comfortable shoes; they save you from unnecessary injuries.
Arthrosis occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus and in people with increased weight. They cause movement restrictions, injure the joint capsule and contribute to aseptic inflammation. These patients are characterized by polyneuritis with intense pain and numbness in certain areas. Dry skin with flaking is noteworthy.
In the treatment of arthrosis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs based on Nimesulide and physiotherapy are used for pain relief. In severe cases, surgery is required to replace the joint with a prosthesis.
Osteoporosis is a disease of calcium deficiency in the bones, often affecting the terminal articular surfaces of the femur and tibia. Therefore, symptomatic aching pain manifests itself in these large joints.
The cells of bone tissue in the head of the femur become large, their walls become thinner (right)
Calcium deficiency occurs in postmenopausal women and in people who drink a lot of coffee.
The only way to “regain” lost calcium is to take vitamin D with calcium through electrophoresis procedures. The problem of absorption from food products (milk, cottage cheese, sesame halva, sardines, parsley, rose hips) is being studied. Some scientists are very doubtful about the advisability of the diet.
Muscle pain or myositis occurs when the legs are physically overloaded or the ligaments are sprained during sports training.
You can help with timely massage and cold in the first day. Any warming rubbing followed by application of a compress can be carried out from the second day. It’s better not to put any strain on your leg. The aching pain will gradually disappear.
Painful sensations in the legs disrupt a person’s motor activity and thereby contribute to the occurrence of heart pathology. People with such symptoms should consult a doctor to find out the cause and get the necessary treatment.
Many diseases can cause leg pain. The causes of the symptom often originate in the lower back, where nerves originate from the spine to support the functioning of the muscles in the leg, ankle, and foot.
Low back disorders that are common causes of nagging leg pain and associated neurological symptoms such as numbness include:
As we age, the intervertebral discs lose water and flexibility, degenerate and allow slight movements that can cause pain from the disc to radiate into the leg. Although the main symptom of lumbar degenerative disc disease is usually lower back pain, aching leg pain is also a common symptom.
When lumbar degenerative disc disease is accompanied by leg pain, it is called "radiating pain." The brain cannot always distinguish exactly where the source of pain is and therefore feels pain more vaguely in several areas. Such pain is usually aching, painful and poorly localized.
Leg pain from degenerative disc disease can also occur if a nerve root is compressed. This happens because as the disc degenerates, it shrinks and moves, resulting in not enough room for the nerve roots.
Symptoms of varicose veins and more can be:
If you have these symptoms, you need to know that this is stage l of varicose veins. How our readers solve foot problems.
A herniated disc tends to put pressure on the weakest spot on the disc, the area that happens to be just under the nerve root. This causes pain, which can radiate all the way from the sciatic nerve throughout the patient’s leg.
Symptoms of a lumbar disc herniation tend to vary depending on where the disc herniation occurs. There are a variety of non-surgical methods available that can treat leg pain and pain for most types of herniated discs. For severe pain or disability, microdiscectomy (or microdecompression) surgery to remove part of the disc may relieve pressure on the nerve, allowing inflammation to subside as the pinched nerve heals.
Spinal stenosis in the lower back occurs when spinal nerve roots are compressed or suffocated, usually by enlarged facet joints located at the back of the spine. Spinal stenosis usually, but not always, occurs in older patients because the joints become enlarged due to spinal degeneration, which tends to occur with age.
The narrowing can be confirmed with an MRI scan. Symptoms of spinal stenosis are often called sciatica:
Leg pain due to spinal stenosis usually develops gradually over time (mirroring the cumulative process of narrowing that occurs in the spine as the facet joints enlarge). Symptoms of spinal stenosis tend to improve when the patient bends forward, a position that opens the back of the spine, relieving pressure on the spinal nerve roots.
Spondylolisthesis occurs when a vertebra slips forward over the next lower vertebra, compromising the spine's natural structure as well as its stability and flexibility.
The resulting instability can cause a nerve to become pinched or inflamed, causing achy legs. Many patients find pain relief through a combination of physical therapy and rest during episodes of acute pain, although significant instability and persistent pain can be treated with surgery. Targeted injections may also be helpful sometimes to help relieve inflammation around an inflamed nerve root.
Not all leg pain comes from lower back problems. The constant aching pain is usually felt in the buttock area, so it is not technically leg pain, but may be accompanied by some form of pain felt in the legs. There may also be pain that sometimes radiates past the buttock into the leg. This type of pain is usually described as "nerve pain" compared to throbbing pain. It is usually present on only one side and is commonly called sciatica or lumbar radiculopathy. It can often be relieved by stretching, walking, or other movement. Although the pain is usually on one side, it can occur on both sides.
If leg pain gets worse when sitting, standing, or walking, it may indicate a problem with a specific part of the anatomy in the lower back. Finding more comfortable positions can usually relieve the pain. For example, bending or leaning forward slightly may relieve pain from spinal stenosis, while twisting may increase pain in the groin, hip, and leg.
Thrombophlebitis can cause aching pain in the legs. This is inflammation or swelling of the vein due to a blood clot. A person's risk of thrombophlebitis increases if they are hospitalized for surgery or for a serious illness, have a blood clotting disorder, or sit for long periods of time without moving their legs.
Common signs and symptoms associated with thrombophlebitis include:
The two main types of thrombophlebitis are deep vein thrombosis and superficial thrombophlebitis. Deep venous thrombosis affects larger veins that lie further from the skin. Superficial thrombophlebitis affects the veins that lie closer to the surface of the skin.
Degenerative joint disease is one of the reasons why legs hurt. Degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis, is a painful disease that targets the hips, knees, and other joints throughout the body.
This condition occurs in joints that experience repeated overuse from performing a specific task, playing certain sports, or bearing too much body weight. Muscle imbalances or variations in muscle tone from one side of the body to the other can place stress on the joints and cause uneven wear on the joints. Over time, articular cartilage wears down and bone spurs or osteophytes can develop around it.
Common signs and symptoms associated with degenerative joint disease include:
Peripheral artery disease may be the reason why your legs hurt a lot. The disease is common, characterized by narrowed arteries. Narrowed arteries impair circulation or blood flow to the extremities, including the legs.
Peripheral artery disease can be a sign of widespread atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of fatty and fibrous substances in the lumen or inner walls of the arteries. Common signs and symptoms associated with peripheral artery disease include painful cramps in the thigh or calf muscles after walking, leg numbness and weakness, coldness in the affected leg, discoloration of the legs, and weak pulses in the legs.
Peripheral artery disease can be treated by quitting smoking, exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet.
Thus, it is worth identifying the causes of leg pain so that you know which doctor to contact for treatment.
Home care depends on the cause of your leg pain.
For sprains and strains, the initial recommendation is: rest, ice, compression and elevation. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used to control pain.
Injuries in the joint and calf areas usually heal with the body's collagen fibers forming to create scar tissue in the area of muscle damage. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may take several days to several weeks to fully heal. Once the initial recovery phase begins, it is important that the muscle regains its length. Often, stretching and massage exercises are used to restore the hamstring muscles to their full length to allow full range of motion of the knee and leg.
Crutches may be used in the first few days after the injury to support the leg. Elastic wraps can be applied to the thigh, starting at the knee and moving up toward the hip joint to provide compression.
People with sciatic pain should consider a short period of bed rest (usually less than 24 hours) followed by activity. Patients tend to return to normal activities more quickly if the amount of bed rest is minimized. Ice and heat can be helpful, as can acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Chiropractic care or physical therapy may help.
Most conditions that cause leg pain occur slowly, and home care must be individualized for each patient.
Aching pain in the hip can appear completely suddenly and cause a lot of inconvenience. The causes are varied, ranging from fractures to inflammatory processes.
It is almost impossible to make a diagnosis on your own, so if you have unpleasant painful sensations in the hip area, we strongly advise you to seek help from a specialist.
Let's consider the possible causes of pain in the hips.
The hip is a large structure in the musculoskeletal system in the human body. It bears a significant load when moving. During active physical activity, the hips take on most of the load received by a person.
The thigh consists of connective tissue, muscle mass, tendons and the femur. Also in this area there are a number of nerves - femoral, femoral-genital. Often, the appearance of painful sensations is caused by injury to soft tissues, such as muscles.
Aching pain in the hip does not allow you to live peacefully, play active sports, and sometimes just move around. For initial self-diagnosis, it is necessary to look at pain sensations, their frequency, intensity, and the reaction of the musculoskeletal system in the presence of load. The pain can come and go, be strong or weak, tingling and cutting.
The most common cause of pain and discomfort in the hip area is mechanical damage. They can be blows, bruises, sprains. At the same time, outwardly the skin remains intact and looks unharmed, although hemorrhages appear underneath it.
This mechanical damage is accompanied by rupture of small connecting fibers. This type of injury occurs as a result of:
- increased physical activity that the body could not cope with;
- during sudden activity without additional warm-up;
- when lifting heavy objects.
Most often, people with poorly developed thigh muscles and a general undeveloped muscular system are susceptible to these injuries. Elderly people, children and adults leading a sedentary lifestyle are at risk.
1. Acute pain in the hip to knee area. When you try to move or move, there is severe discomfort; your legs hurt even with a minimal level of physical activity.
2. The affected area is in the area of the hip joint, gradually the pain moves to the lower leg, sometimes radiating to the lower back.
3. Swelling appears in the area of injury; the area may become swollen.
Such mechanical damage is detected during palpation during a medical examination. The patient needs to do simple physical exercises, the doctor observes the reaction and makes a diagnosis. To confirm the diagnosis, an x-ray is prescribed to see the deformation of the hip joints.
Treatment involves applying a tight bandage to the patient to fix the limb and limit mobility. Further treatment depends on the nature of the injury - for mild injuries, a course of painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs is prescribed, the patient must remain in bed.
If the damage is severe, surgery will be required to repair the torn ligaments.
When soft tissues are damaged, pain appears in the thigh, radiating to the leg. This occurs as a result of falls, injury or blows. Such damage is accompanied by the formation of bruises (hematomas), usually they have a bright purple hue. This is due to the rupture of blood vessels under the skin.
The pain is aching, throbbing. When moving, there may be no pain, but when pressure is applied, discomfort appears, and with increased loads, the inner thighs ache.
Locally, the damage is located in the area of injury. Most often this is the inner thigh.
Tissue bruises can be identified when examined by a doctor after taking an x-ray to check for a fracture. If the bones are intact, then a soft tissue bruise is diagnosed.
No special treatment is required for this injury. Usually, cell restoration occurs independently without the help of the patient, but in the presence of an extensive hematoma, the help of a surgeon may be needed - the hemorrhage under the skin puts pressure on neighboring nerve endings, causing severe pain. Then, during surgery, the bruised area is opened and the blood is cleaned out.
Fractures are one of the most serious causes of hip pain. Such mechanical damage occurs after: unsuccessful falls; with incorrect distribution of the load on the hip joints; blows. The most common fracture in the hip area is a neck injury.
At risk are older people whose bone strength decreases with age and develops osteoporosis (a disease that reduces bone sensitivity). In this case, a fracture can occur even with minimal load or a slight fall.
The pain can be described as sharp, moving from the hip to the groin area.
Pain may be local or spread from the back of the thigh to the lower back.
When a fracture occurs, movement is impossible and the general mobility of the limb is limited. It is not possible to even stand or sit without aching pain and discomfort in the hip joint area. “Stuck heel” syndrome occurs when the victim is unable to lift his leg up, even while lying on his back. There may be tingling in the legs from the thigh to the foot or mid-calf.
An injury can be diagnosed using an X-ray or MRI of the joints. The problem can also be identified by palpation if you apply slight pressure on the heel. In this case, the patient will feel an unpleasant tingling sensation.
Treatment for this type of fracture is difficult, especially for older people. Plaster is not applied due to the impossibility of fixing the position; surgical intervention is required, which involves fixing the joint with special medical screws. In difficult situations, joint prosthetics is performed with local or complete replacement.
Another cause of pain on the outer or inner side of the thigh is inflammation of the soft tissues.
Trochanteritis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the tendons. Inflammation can occur due to hypothermia, increased stress, or in the presence of injury, for example, if the right thigh was bruised.
1. The leg in the hip area hurts when walking or during exercise (sports, climbing stairs, carrying heavy objects, long walks).
2. Locally, trochanteritis is located in the area from the knee to the thigh; a common lesion is the outer lateral part of the limb.
The problem can be identified by undergoing a medical examination, visiting an x-ray and donating blood for analysis.
You can get rid of the inflammatory process in the tendons with the help of injections of glucocorticosteroids; the minimum course of injections lasts 2 weeks. At the same time, physical exercise with minimal stress is also recommended, and sometimes massage is prescribed with the use of anti-inflammatory drugs.
Myositis is a disease in which the body's cells are perceived as foreign and are attacked in order to eliminate them. Myositis occurs mainly due to severe hypothermia or infectious processes.
1. Pain in the thigh, gradually radiating down the leg to the middle of the shin.
2. General weakness of the body, severe fatigue, and fatigue appear.
3. Local discomfort manifests itself in the affected area; sometimes a nagging pain may occur in the lower back and limbs.
Myositis can be detected during examination and with the help of a blood test, sometimes a tissue biopsy is used.
Comprehensive treatment is prescribed to achieve the greatest effectiveness. It is important for the patient to ensure bed rest and reduce the amount of stress to a minimum. Vitamins and mineral complexes are also prescribed, and a non-strict diet is recommended to add nutrients to the diet.
The nature of the inflammation also determines the prescription of medications - antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs with a non-steroidal base are usually prescribed. If necessary, acupressure therapeutic massage is recommended, for example, in case of damage to the left thigh, the effect is carried out exclusively on this area.
Coxarthrosis is a pathology that occurs when joints and bones are damaged in the hip area.
First of all, a cutting pain appears in the groin, from the hip to the knee. It can hurt one joint or several at once. If your right leg hurts from the hip to the foot, then unpleasant sensations can also occur in the lower back on the right side.
Painful sensations do not allow normal movement or movement of a limb. In this case, there may be damage in one leg, but the movement of the other is also difficult. Externally, one limb looks longer than the other. When moving, a characteristic crunching sound is heard in the joints.
Diagnosis of coxarthrosis occurs using x-rays. In the photographs, the specialist will be able to see changes in the hip area.
At an early stage, the pathology can be treated with medication - anti-inflammatory drugs, injections into joints, and rubbing with warming ointments based on herbal components are prescribed.
In case of serious complications, surgical intervention is required - prosthetics of a part of the joint with its full or partial replacement.
This type of pathology is similar in symptoms to coxarthrosis, but is characterized by increased pain sensitivity. The disease occurs due to a violation of the blood supply, the process develops quickly, pain appears even at night with a decrease in activity. Men aged 25 to 50 years are at risk; this pathology is observed less frequently in women.
Necrosis can be detected using modern diagnostic methods, using MRI and X-rays of joints and bones. The specialist also examines the limbs to confirm the diagnosis.
Therapeutic treatment is prescribed aimed at restoring nutrition to the femur. Medications are also prescribed - on a non-steroidal and steroidal basis, drugs with a high calcium content to strengthen bones, medications that accelerate the restoration of damaged tissues. Surgery is usually not required.
Hips can hurt not only in the presence of pathology, but also during pregnancy. During gestation, the main load on the body falls in the pelvic area, which is why discomfort occurs in the hips.
1. Pain occurs when you are very tired at the end of the working day. It’s easy to cope with the problem – just allow the body to restore its strength; a relaxing massage or a long sleep are perfect. The legs may hurt from the hip to the knee and below, depending on the type of load.
2. Unpleasant sensations appear in the morning, when the body is just waking up. Usually pain occurs from the hip to the knee, less often discomfort is felt locally in the inner thigh. Increasing activity, for example, morning exercises or walking, will help get rid of unpleasant sensations.
3. Painful sensations appear at night before bedtime or during sleep. The pain may spread from the hip to the knee and feet. You can also get rid of it with gymnastic exercises or short-term acupressure, for example, if your left leg hurts from hip to foot, then it can be massaged using warming ointments.
1. Hormonal changes in the body. The action of hormones relaxes the muscular system to reduce possible injuries during childbirth. Many pregnant women complain that the pain in their left leg or right leg is aching and intrusive.
2. Heavy load on the limbs. Regular long walks or physical activity can initiate discomfort in the hip area. At the same time, the limbs do not ache regularly; with a low-active lifestyle, this problem is not observed.
3. Load on the pelvis associated with the growth of the uterus. As the child develops, the uterus also enlarges, and the intense development of the fetus puts pressure on the hip area.
4. Lack of vitamins. These include a lack of calcium in the body. During pregnancy, several times more useful microelements are required, and their lack can lead to fatigue, irritability, poor health, and aching pain from the boot to the hips.
5. Old injuries. Old injuries that worsen during pregnancy can also affect a woman’s health. For example, long-standing fractures or severe bruises. Even if they occurred several years ago, pain may appear in the left or right leg (depending on the location of the injury).
Many people experience periodic knee pain. At the same time, they experience aching and sometimes severe painful sensations. Often discomfort appears after sports training or at night when a person is resting.
It is worth noting that leg pain can occur not only in older people, but in young people and even children.
The condition of the body that causes pain may be interrelated or a consequence of a specific disease. There are several types of diseases that provoke pain in the right or left knee. Thus, the causes of pain in the knee joint may lie in the structural features of the joint, in degenerative or inflammatory pathologies.
This group of diseases includes gonarthrosis, which in 50% of cases is the culprit of discomfort in the knee joint. This disease progresses slowly (many years). At the initial stage of development, a person experiences unpleasant sensations when there is any load on the joint (climbing stairs, squats).
When a person is resting, there is no pain. The pathology is accompanied by a decrease in joint mobility, crunching, and a feeling of squeezing. With age, hyaline cartilage wears out, and the distance between the bones decreases, causing bone osteophytes to form and compression of blood vessels and nerves.
Meniscal cysts and meniscopathies are another factor that answers the question of why knees hurt. Mostly, discomfort occurs in only one joint. Pathologies of the menisci appear as a result of chronic injury or old damage to the knee.
During an exacerbation, the pain is sharp and severe, it is pulsating in nature. With meniscal cysts and meniscopathy, deformation of bone tissue does not occur, however, the formations can cause inflammation of the synovial bursae or contribute to the development of gonarthrosis.
In addition, factors in the occurrence of knee pain may include the presence of arthritis, an inflammatory lesion of the joints. This pathology is quite rare and often develops at a young age.
As a rule, various types of arthritis (reactive, psoriatic, juvenile) are the initial stage, provoking the appearance of polyarthritis of several joints. A specific feature of this type of pathology is redness, swelling and an increase in the intensity of pain at night and when the weather changes.
Poor blood circulation in the knee is another reason that answers the question of why pain appears in the joint. This phenomenon is often observed in adolescents. But, when puberty ends, the intensity of pain decreases.
Basically, such discomfort is not felt throughout the entire joint area; it is concentrated in a certain area. In this case, the pain increases after physical activity or hypothermia and disappears if you massage the knees.
Tendinitis and periarthritis are factors that cause pain in the knee joint. Unpleasant sensations may appear when climbing stairs or due to carrying heavy objects. Often, sharp or aching pain is localized under the knee or on its back side.
If tendon inflammation is not treated, then joint stiffness occurs. When touched, the patient feels an unpleasant painful sensation.
In addition, sharp pain in the knee may indicate synovitis. This disease is characterized by the presence of inflammation in the synovium. Often the pathology is a consequence of gonarthrosis, bursitis or arthritis. There is aseptic and purulent synovitis, in which the knee swells and turns red, and its motor capabilities are reduced.
Bursitis is another condition that can cause knee pain. Its symptom is severe pain in the joints of the legs. The disease is characterized by an inflammatory process that occurs in one or more joint capsules.
Chondropathy of the patella can also provoke discomfort in the lower extremities. This pathology is characterized by the occurrence of degenerative processes in the cartilage of the patella due to its necrosis.
The patellas become inflamed in the presence of chronic injuries or old damage. The pain intensifies with every movement of the knee, while characteristic clicks are heard in the joint, and support on it becomes almost impossible.
Chondromatosis is another reason that explains why acute joint pain occurs. With this disease, a mass of cartilaginous nodules forms in the shell of the joint capsule. The pathology limits the motor capabilities of the joint, which leads to immobilization and severe discomfort arising from pinched tissue.
In addition, pain in the knee joint occurs with osteochondritis of the patella. Thus, hyaline cartilage peels off from the surface of the joint. At first, the intensity of the pain is insignificant. As the disease progresses, inflammation appears and pain intensifies. At the same time, complete separation of the cartilage tissue occurs, which blocks the joint.
Benign and malignant bone tumors are another cause of leg discomfort. With pathology, a growth of formation occurs, which compresses the soft tissues.
In addition, painful sensations can be a consequence of diseases of other organs, in which pain radiates to the knee joint. Such diseases include:
Moreover, systemic diseases of the body may be factors that answer the question of why joint pain appears. Such pathologies include bone tuberculosis. This disease is infectious in nature; it can develop in an extrapulmonary form and affect bone tissue, resulting in necrosis of the joint, which causes severe pain.
Osteoporosis is also classified as a systemic disorder. With this disease, the bones become very fragile. Characteristic features of the disease are the susceptibility of bones to fractures, the presence of aching and nagging pain and the appearance of cramps in the leg.
Osteomyelitis is a bacterial disease that causes debilitating pain in the bones, muscles and joints that worsens with movement. In addition, hyperthermia of the skin in the periarticular area and fever appear.
Other systemic pathologies that cause discomfort in the knee include lupus erythematosus, gout, and polyarthritis.
At the same time, certain infectious diseases can also provoke painful sensations in the knees. They develop if diseases are treated with antibiotics (Lyme disease, Reiter's syndrome).
Do your legs hurt from the foot to the knee? This alarming symptom can cause a lot of inconvenience to a person, but the main danger is the development of more serious consequences that can have an extremely negative impact on the functioning of the entire musculoskeletal system.
In order to stop the spread of the disease in time and reduce pain, you should not delay going to the doctor. Only a physician can conduct a professional diagnosis, determine the cause of leg pain, and prescribe the most effective treatment.
Most often, the legs from the foot to the knee begin to ache in the evening and at night. Pain in the legs is an alarming symptom that may indicate that a pathology of the musculoskeletal system is developing in the patient’s body. To begin effective treatment, you first need to find out why the pain in your legs occurs. Provoking factors most often include:
With varicose veins, the patient’s feet and legs hurt and swell
As you can see, leg disease can have a lot of causes, so a doctor must make a very accurate diagnosis. If an aching joint keeps you from sleeping, do not delay going to the doctor. Only a timely solution to the problem will avoid complications.
Any of the above diseases is accompanied by pain in the lower extremities. Sometimes the unpleasant sensations become simply unbearable. Due to the fact that the legs from the feet to the knees most often hurt at night, the patient may additionally develop disturbances in the psycho-emotional state. They are accompanied by the following symptoms:
If a person, due to severe aching pain in the legs, does not sleep well, has no appetite and is in no mood, he should immediately consult a doctor. The symptoms listed above may be signs of more than just an osteoarticular disease, so the patient will need highly accurate, modern diagnostics.
The cause of pain in the legs from the knee to the foot can be a simple injury to the lower extremities. Most often, active people - athletes, teenagers, children - get bruises and fractures. In addition, increased trauma is observed in older people, whose bones become very weak and fragile.
When a foot or leg injury occurs, sharp pain occurs
If you accidentally bruise your foot or lower leg, the skin may become abraded, and when you press on the damaged area, you will feel severe and sharp pain. In this case, you need to contact a traumatologist who will examine the patient, examine an X-ray of the leg and, if necessary, apply a plaster or splint. For fractures of the lower extremities, you need to spend as much time as possible at rest, so the bones will heal faster and the pain will gradually disappear.
Does aching and throbbing pain in your legs from knee to foot bother you regularly? This symptom may indicate the development of vascular diseases. Blood clots and atherosclerotic plaques clog blood vessels, causing painful spasms. This disease can affect both older and younger people. Pain occurs at any time of the day or night.
Blockage of a vein or artery can happen very quickly. With this pathology, the patient’s lower limb may suddenly turn red or, conversely, turn pale. Increased blood pulsation appears in the affected area. Varicose veins are accompanied by aching pain and heaviness in the legs, which decreases slightly when the patient assumes a horizontal position.
In the evening, you may notice that the veins under the skin are dilated, and the lower leg and foot are swollen. Any vascular pathology can be extremely dangerous not only for your health, but also for your life. If you observe symptoms of acute thrombophlebitis or suffer from varicose veins, immediately consult a doctor who will prescribe effective treatment.
Painful sensations in the legs below the knees can occur due to damage to the nerve endings. This pathology often develops against the background of diabetes mellitus or alcohol poisoning. Neuropathy is accompanied by the following symptoms:
Such manifestations of nervous system disease are quite dangerous. To avoid the development of complications, you need to start immediate treatment.
For the course of treatment to be as effective as possible, the physician must first make an accurate diagnosis. For this, various techniques are used, the use of which depends on the primary symptoms. A set of measures may consist of the following procedures:
Based on the results of such studies, the doctor can accurately determine the cause of the development of the pathology and prescribe the most effective treatment.
Therapeutic massage will quickly restore the health of the lower extremities
Aching pain in the legs from the foot to the knee should be treated in the most effective way, depending on the cause of the unpleasant symptom.
Timely treatment procedures and medication will help stop the progression of the disease and avoid complications. Complex treatment of leg pain may consist of several methods, namely:
If the disease is very serious and poses a threat to the patient’s life, surgical intervention (removal of blood clots, etc.) may be necessary.
With the help of medications you can quickly get rid of leg pain. Depending on the type of disease, the doctor may prescribe:
If the cause of pain in the leg from the knee to the foot is thrombophlephitis, it is necessary to take anticoagulant drugs. For pathologies of systemic tissue, doctors prescribe hormones or cytostatics, and for diabetes mellitus, insulin or tablets that lower blood sugar levels.
A course of physiotherapy is very effective for many diseases accompanied by pain in the lower extremities. Special treatment procedures can have a beneficial effect on the entire body - improve blood circulation, relieve pain and inflammation, and activate the process of tissue regeneration. Physiotherapy may also have contraindications, so such treatment should be carried out only as prescribed by a doctor. Most often, to eliminate painful symptoms in the legs, they use:
If a patient has pathologies of the osteoarticular system, he must undergo a course of physical therapy. Special physical exercises will help quickly restore the performance of the lower extremities after injury and will be an excellent prevention of arthritis.
To prevent the development of diseases accompanied by leg pain, try to lead an active lifestyle and take regular walks. It is also recommended to pay attention to nutrition, quit smoking and other bad habits. Do not self-medicate under any circumstances, as this can only aggravate the problem and cause serious complications.