The great commander Suvorov recommended his soldiers to keep their feet warm. His advice is worth listening to in our time. It is noteworthy that chilled limbs do not allow the whole body to warm up. Well, general hypothermia is fraught with dangerous consequences, ranging from a common cold to chronic infections.
The main factor causing freezing feet is wearing inappropriate shoes in the winter season. Boots or boots must be made of genuine leather or suede and have a fur lining or a membrane heat-saving system. In addition, they must be the right size, since in warm but tight boots the blood vessels are pinched, blood microcirculation is disrupted, and the feet get cold.
Other reasons include poorly developed muscles and poor circulation in the feet due to chronic diseases. There is practically no fat layer on the feet, which also contributes to their freezing. In addition, the legs cannot withstand the test of nylon tights in frosty weather.
Cold feet not only cause severe discomfort. There are many biologically active points on the feet, which are responsible for almost all body systems. Therefore, hypothermia can lead to the development of the following diseases:
Choose shoes one size larger than usual so you can wear warm socks. In addition, in this case there will be free space filled with air between the foot and the shoe. It is this air cushion that ensures complete heat retention. It has been noticed that metal elements increase the risk of freezing, so it is better to avoid shoes with such decor. Do not forget also that it is better to choose socks and tights from natural fabrics (cotton or wool).
For the winter, purchase warm insoles, just keep in mind that they need to be dried after wearing. At work, wear a change of shoes, and if the room is hot, your feet will not sweat before going outside. In addition, you can carry a spare pair of cotton or wool socks with you. We do not recommend taking a smoke break on the street; this disrupts blood microcirculation throughout the body, including the feet, which will instantly chill.
When your feet are cold and have lost sensitivity, you need to quickly go into any warm room - a store, an entrance. To warm up, you can jump, stomp on the spot, or swing your legs with a large amplitude (30-40 times). These simple exercises will help improve blood circulation.
When you get home, take off your shoes and cold socks. Rub your feet with your hands, make intense massage movements that will help disperse the blood. Afterwards, you can take a foot bath or take a shower if you feel general hypothermia. In the first case, do not immediately draw hot water; the temperature should be increased gradually, starting from 28-30 °C. Next, you need to thoroughly dry your feet with a towel and put on warm socks.
To prevent the development of a cold, you should drink any warming drink (tea, milk, cocoa). We do not recommend warming up with coffee or alcohol, because this has a bad effect on the condition of blood vessels. Add ginger, honey or cinnamon to your tea; these products have a warming effect and improve immunity.
In conclusion, I would like to note once again that hypothermia of the feet is a serious problem that threatens consequences. And if you want to protect yourself from colds, do not neglect these simple and effective tips.
As a rule, hypothermia occurs as a result of a person being in the cold for a long time. Damp autumn weather is extremely dangerous in this regard. If one part of the body is exposed to hypothermia, frostbite occurs, but if the whole body is cooled, freezing occurs. A person becomes hypothermic in high humidity, strong wind, and sometimes even at above-zero temperatures. This condition can be provoked by vitamin deficiency, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, fasting, overwork, wearing wet clothes, excessive sweating, and blood loss.
Symptoms of hypothermia include the following conditions:
The body can become hypothermic as a result of:
Most often, this condition occurs in people who are physically exhausted, tired or lack physical activity. In addition, previous injuries and increased humidity can contribute to general hypothermia. Even swimming in a cold body of water in summer can cause significant hypothermia. Depending on how long the stay in cold water was, the severity of the resulting hypothermia varies. With general hypothermia of the body, a malfunction of all its organs and systems occurs and a drop in body temperature to a critical minimum is observed.
It is not difficult to verify the occurrence of such a condition by characteristic external signs. Against the background of an external surge of strength and excitement, the skin turns blue, after which the pulse increases, shortness of breath occurs, and severe chills occur. If no measures are taken, the symptoms will progress and loss of consciousness is possible in such a situation. The symptoms of general hypothermia should not be ignored, due to the fact that its consequences can be very unpleasant, even fatal.
As a rule, it accompanies constant exposure to low temperatures. This could be regular swimming in an ice hole or some other underwater diving. Constantly repeated exposure to low temperatures causes a general cooling of the body. This does not apply to the temperature of the skin, but to the temperature of internal tissues, organs and muscles. In order for the temperature to return to its previous levels, a time period of several days is required.
Chronic hypothermia is a phenomenon characteristic of many dives that last for long periods of time. This is because multi-day dives leave one vulnerable to hazards such as hypothermia and decompression sickness. First of all, divers are susceptible to these misfortunes; due to their occupation, they are forced to make regular dives to depths, accompanied by a long stay in cold water. It is characteristic that each repeated deep dive reduces the diver’s body’s resistance to hypothermia.
Chronic hypothermia is accompanied by apathy, rapid fatigue, slowed thinking and reaction.
With severe hypothermia, the body cools below 31 degrees. The pulse slows down to 36 beats per minute or lower, and there is a possibility of loss of consciousness. Often this condition is accompanied by vomiting and convulsions. Breathing slows down significantly - no more than 4-5 times per minute. There is an acute lack of oxygen in the brain. Severe hypothermia can cause very severe frostbite; in such a situation, immediate medical attention is necessary, otherwise rigor and death may occur.
In this case, it is extremely important to quickly and correctly provide assistance to the victim in order to avoid harm to him.
Hypothermia in water is observed in various maritime accidents and is the main cause of death on the high seas. It also has another name - “cold injury”.
The following situations are especially important for a medical professional:
When a sinking ship is abandoned, sometimes it is not possible to use the means of command rescue. A certain number of crew members are forced to remain on the water with personal rescue equipment until help arrives.
When hypothermia in water, in contrast to exposure to cold on land, there is a faster loss of heat by the human body, since the thermal conductivity of water is 20 times higher than that of air, and its heat capacity is 4 times higher. The speed at which a person becomes hypothermic in water is directly dependent on the temperature of the water, the personal rescue equipment used, and the person’s clothing. The most severe conditions of hypothermia can be obtained at water temperatures of 0-10 degrees.
As a result of hypothermia, a reflex of the endings of the trigeminal nerve may occur, which results in impaired coordination of movements and disruptions in the respiratory system. Acute cold shock causes loss of consciousness, often leading to drowning and death. Even if a state of shock does not occur, sooner or later a loss of consciousness occurs and the person dies - it all depends on the temperature of the water.
Hypothermia in water is divided into two stages:
In case of hypothermia, first of all, you should stop exposing the person to cold. After that:
In case of hypothermia, the victim is strictly prohibited from:
After first aid has been provided, the victim should be immediately taken to a medical facility. Hypothermia is fraught with consequences that only a doctor can foresee and eliminate.
Treatment for hypothermia is carried out in several stages:
Having previously warmed the person, you need to inject glucose, mesaton, and corglycone into his veins. If there are severe cases, it is necessary to install a dropper using a sodium chloride solution. You can administer a solution of promedol, cordiamin subcutaneously, intramuscularly pipolfen, diphenhydramine. To avoid infection, antibacterial drugs and sulfonamides should be used.
As a result of prolonged exposure to cold or water, hypothermia may occur. It is fraught with colds, bronchitis, sinusitis, and sore throat. Inflammation of the urinary system may occur, problems with the nervous system, frostbite, and cessation of cardiac activity may occur. There are three stages of decreased body temperature due to hypothermia:
In the latter case, a person often dies from cardiac arrest and due to hypothermia.
In order to reliably protect the body from hypothermia, you should not stay outdoors for a long time in cold weather, especially if the air humidity is high. It is necessary to provide housing in a timely manner for people who do not have it, and to provide assistance to people who have lost consciousness on the street in winter. We must not forget about alcohol, the intake of which increases the risk of hypothermia in cold weather. As a vasodilator, it increases blood flow to the extremities and skin, thereby creating the illusion of heat gain when in fact heat is being lost.
A very important factor in preventing hypothermia is the correct choice of clothing and equipment. Materials based on synthetics and wool in this regard are preferable to cotton ones, since they are superior to them in terms of providing thermal insulation, both in dry and wet conditions.
Acute or chronic hypothermia of the extremities is a pressing problem not only in the cold season. Contrary to popular belief, hypothermia of the legs, and even more often of the hands, is possible due to exposure to occupational factors, living and working conditions, weather conditions, etc. In this case, it is not the temperature values themselves that play an important role, but the duration of exposure to the body tissues. So, even staying at a temperature of 15-20? C for a long time without proper clothing, you can get hypothermia.
By far, the most common cause of hypothermia (i.e. hypothermia) of the extremities is staying outside during cold weather in insufficiently warm clothing. However, there are many other factors that can lead to similar consequences. It is important to understand: what they have in common is that the ambient temperature should be +25? C or lower:
A number of pathologies can also contribute to the more rapid development of hypothermia of the extremities:
There is a group of people that are more susceptible to hypothermia in their hands and feet. The following factors contribute to this:
Consequently, people with a high level of immunity, no chronic diseases and who regularly exercise are least susceptible to hypothermia of the arms and legs. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle significantly reduces the risk of freezing, even in harsh weather conditions.
It should be understood that hypothermia and frostbite are not identical concepts. Frostbite, as a rule, develops due to local exposure to negative temperatures, whereas with hypothermia this factor is not necessary. This determines the peculiarities of the clinical picture of hypothermia of the extremities.
In the initial stages of hypothermia, narrowing of small blood vessels occurs, which manifests itself in the form of paleness of the fingers, hands, and feet. You may develop slight numbness, a crawling sensation, or tingling in the arms and legs. Afterwards, a reflex expansion of the capillaries occurs. If you do not warm up during this period of time, then hypothermia of the legs or arms can lead to persistent impairment of sensitivity and motor activity of the limbs.
Hypothermia of the legs and arms is often accompanied by a drop in overall body temperature. In this case, a person experiences the following symptoms:
In severe cases, there may be impaired consciousness and loss of consciousness, cardiac arrest, cyanosis of the skin, and impaired mobility of the limbs. Such symptoms occur with general hypothermia.
When the hands and feet become hypothermic, the surface of their skin becomes cold and covered with goosebumps, and with a high degree of frostbite, necrosis of the skin is observed.
Frostbite of the extremities should be distinguished from hypothermia of the hands and feet. While hypothermia means a drop in tissue temperature, frostbite is a disruption of tissue structure as a result of cold exposure.
Most often, frostbite occurs on the fingers and toes, because... they are supplied with blood worse and come into more contact with frosty air.
Signs of frostbite of the extremities depend on the degree: from the first - mild to the fourth - severe. Until the frostbitten area is warmed up, it is not always possible to distinguish one degree from another.
I degree - occurs with short-term exposure to cold air, is characterized by a feeling of burning, numbness, tingling and pallor of the skin, which turns red after warming, there is slight peeling;
II degree - with longer exposure to cold after warming, transparent blisters form on the surface of the skin, disappearing after 1-2 weeks, itching and burning are present;
III degree - blisters that appear during warming are filled with bloody fluid, have a blue-red base, their presence is accompanied by severe itching and pain, after 2-3 weeks they heal and leave marks in the form of scars;
IV degree - prolonged exposure to cold is accompanied by necrosis of the skin and bone tissue, the color of the damaged area is bluish, when warmed, severe swelling forms, sensitivity of the frostbitten area may be absent.
With a single hypothermia of the legs, the consequences can affect the internal organs. Inflammation of the genitourinary system and pelvic organs most often develops. These include: pyelonephritis, cystitis, urethritis, and less commonly, proctitis.
The consequences of hypothermia of the legs are especially dangerous for women, since the appearance of oophoritis (inflammation of the ovaries), salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes), adnexitis (inflammation of the appendages) can threaten reproductive function, including infertility.
In the stronger half of humanity, the kidneys and bladder often suffer due to cold feet, and as a result, the genital area (prostatitis, epididymitis, orchitis occur). Cystitis develops in men much less frequently than in women, due to the anatomical structure, but its occurrence may precede prostatitis.
Inflammation of the genitourinary system can lead to the occurrence of pyelonephritis (inflammatory process in the kidneys). The kidneys often suffer as a result of long-term cold feet - this is the most severe consequence of hypothermia.
Chronic types of hypothermia that do not threaten frostbite lead to completely different consequences. Such conditions are typical for people whose work involves prolonged exposure to water or outdoors. Chronic exposure to temperatures up to 20 degrees Celsius can cause:
People with low immunity and an organism weakened by other diseases are most susceptible to hypothermia of the extremities. In this case, acute respiratory infections such as flu and colds most often develop. Sometimes they are mild and are manifested only by a runny nose and a slightly elevated temperature.
No less dangerous is the occurrence of joint diseases. The inflammation of bone tissue that occurs during frostbite can become a chronic form of the disease, which is almost impossible to get rid of. In addition, frequent or severe single hypothermia of the legs impairs the functioning of their blood vessels, which may result in the development of varicose veins and thrombophlebitis.
During the First World War, so-called trench sickness was described. It manifested itself in the development of significant degrees of frostbite in soldiers at air temperatures of 5-15 degrees Celsius. The cause of the disease was constant moisture in the trenches and significant amounts of rainfall in certain regions of Europe. 24-hour exposure to conditions of high humidity caused leg injuries similar to frostbite in soldiers.
Unlike hypothermia of the lower extremities, the consequences of hypothermia of the hands almost never affect the condition of the internal organs and are local in nature. These also include Raynaud's disease, polyneuropathy, hyperkeratosis and all kinds of arthritis. However, the hands are the main working tool of a person, and even a minor disorder in their functioning can cause significant consequences.
Severe hypothermia of the hands can cause inflammation of the joints, manifested by pain when moving them.
Low temperature, especially with frequent and prolonged exposure, can lead to the development of inflammatory processes in the joints of both the upper and lower extremities. The small joints of the hands and feet are most affected. On the one hand, they have an extremely weak blood supply, on the other hand, they are more susceptible to hypothermia than others.
Single or multiple arthritis are the most common consequences of hypothermia of the joints. They manifest themselves as pain, stiffness of movement, local increase in temperature, and sometimes redness. The development of arthritis due to hypothermia of the knee (gonitis) and other large joints (ankle, elbow, wrist) over time can develop into deforming arthrosis, which significantly reduces the quality of life due to severe pain and a progressive decrease in motor function.
Discomfort in the joints that occurs after hypothermia should alert you - such a symptom requires immediate treatment with further medical supervision. Timely medical intervention will prevent degenerative processes in the joints of the arms and legs. If this is not done, the following diseases may occur:
These diseases are most often chronic. This form of the disease is most likely to develop when joints are not treated or treated incorrectly.
First aid for frostbite and hypothermia of the extremities is extremely similar, despite the differences in the mechanisms of development of these two conditions. During it, not only warming is carried out, but also blood microcirculation is improved, which is even more important. This is due to the fact that only by achieving normalization of blood flow in the extremities can one maximally contribute to the normalization of biochemical and physiological processes in tissues.
In case of severe frostbite, first aid should be provided by specialists, who are called before the start of all manipulations.
When your hands freeze, you need to make active movements with your fingers - they are the ones that freeze first. This warm-up will improve blood flow and prevent severe frostbite. Hands warm up well if you hide them in your armpits - this method helps even outside, in severe frost.
First aid for hypothermia of the upper extremities is similar to that for hypothermia of the legs:
First aid for frostbite of the extremities is identical for the legs and arms. But there are also differences. First, let's describe the general points:
And now about the nuances. If you are out in the cold and feel frostbite on your hands or frostbite on your fingers, but you cannot get into the warmth, stick your palms under your armpits to warm up your extremities. You can also swing your arms in a circular motion, starting from the shoulder, and the blood will flow to your hands. This is first aid for frostbite of the hand, which is practiced only if there is no general hypothermia of the body. If it has already come, you can’t help yourself: blood will rush to the extremities instead of warming the internal organs.
To prevent frostbite on your hands, use mittens or gloves made of windproof, waterproof fabric on the outside and with fur on the inside.
Help for hypothermia of the lower extremities is aimed at gradually warming them up. At the same time, you should not immediately put your feet in hot water or start rubbing them - this can only aggravate the situation and lead to additional damage.
Signs of frostbite in the lower extremities are easy to miss. The first one is tingling and numbness. This means that the first stage has already begun and something needs to be done.
Frostbite on the feet requires the same first aid as frostbite on the hands. The difference is that if it is not possible to go to a warm place, you need to wave your legs. Just not with circular movements, but with amplitude forward strokes. The contraindication is the same: if there is hypothermia of the whole body, then swinging is prohibited. That is, first aid for frostbite of the feet should not harm the entire body. It is better to sacrifice a limb than a life.
Frostbite of the toes occurs more often, frostbite of the feet occurs less often. To prevent this, you need to wear spacious shoes that, after putting on woolen socks, leave enough room to move your toes. Movement will ensure blood flow. In addition, the air layer additionally warms the feet.
Skier Mikhail Kubarev (his toes were frostbitten, but stubbornly walked to the finish line, ignoring the symptoms):
“The longer I train, the more I find myself in situations where I’m cold. Then I warm up, the global vessels function well. But small vessels die. As a skier, my hands and feet are already compromised: they freeze easily, because there have already been cases of deep cooling. At the same time, the legs give worse signals than the hands that are frozen. Then my leg became swollen. I wasn't sick. He moved his fingers. I didn’t understand that it was so dangerous. And so I reached the finish line. He sought medical help a day later. As a result, they cut off a little more of the phalanx on the first finger and the phalanx on the second.”
Let's talk separately about frostbite on the knees. It is almost impossible to freeze just this place separately, because... Large vessels pass through there and the blood supply is good. Frostbite on the knees occurs with severe general hypothermia, if frostbite from the feet has already reached the middle of the leg. As a rule, this condition is incompatible with life.
In some cases, the consequences of frostbite appear after warming up above the affected area: the leg becomes black up to the knee, and necrosis occurs. This is a consequence of tissue damage. This condition is combined with inhuman pain in the legs or, conversely, with a complete loss of sensitivity. It can only be treated by amputation. It is amazing how many people in this condition do not seek help from a doctor. This leads to only one thing: the affected area increases - and more amputations have to be done. One of these cases ended with the removal of the entire leg, although initially the process barely reached the knee.
Without timely contact with a doctor with such a problem, the patient dies.
There is no specific medical or, especially, surgical treatment for hypothermia. The main treatment is carried out at the initial stage by the victim himself or others and consists of providing first aid. Afterwards, only symptomatic therapy is possible, which will consist of the following:
Long-term consequences of hypothermia in the form of complications such as Raynaud's disease, polyneuropathy, etc. are treated individually. Taking B vitamins has a positive effect, protecting peripheral nerves and nerve endings from various types of damage.
In severe cases of hypothermia and frostbite of the extremities, treatment in a hospital is necessary. For this purpose, the patient is placed in the intensive care unit to monitor vital processes. Additionally, intravenous infusions of medications supporting the condition are used, as well as local products to restore the skin of the hands and feet.
We have already talked about first aid. Let us recall the basic rules again:
Further treatment for frostbite on the legs and arms is as follows.
After first aid, painkillers, vasodilators and anti-inflammatory drugs (aspirin, ketanof, analgin, baralgin, etc.), as well as antispasmodics (ordinary no-spa) are prescribed.
In case of frostbite against the background of general hypothermia of the body, a list of procedures is carried out aimed at warming the whole body and restoring functions.
Ointments for frostbite are used to heal tissue. They improve trophism (cell nutrition) and relieve pain. These are the following ointments: “Bepanten”, “Rescuer”, “Iruksol”, “D-panthenol” and others.
Attention! Ointments should not be used during the rewarming or primary care phase.
To prevent sepsis, a course of antibiotics is prescribed, and antihistamines are prescribed to relieve swelling and itching.
When blisters form, they are opened under sterile conditions using a special method. Doing this yourself is prohibited. After opening, a sterile bandage is applied.
Physiotherapy procedures are carried out as prescribed by the doctor: UHF, ultrasound, infrared therapy, etc.
Indications for surgery after frostbite are:
Surgery does not always involve amputation. These include gentle operations: necrectomy (removal of the focus of necrosis), fasciotomy (incision to reduce swelling and pain), transplantation of skin flaps to close the defect.
Amputation due to frostbite is indicated when necrosis develops, when the limb can no longer be restored. Necrosis occurs as a result of cessation of blood supply to tissues under the influence of cold. Amputation is not prescribed immediately, but several days after the start of therapy, when it is already possible to adequately assess the condition of the limb.
It is easier to prevent any pathology than to treat it, and hypothermia is no exception to this rule. To avoid it, you must:
You need to watch your children especially carefully during the cold season. Their body's thermoregulation is not yet sufficiently developed, so they need to be warm more often to avoid freezing. It is important not to let your child stand in one place for a long time - it is best to play active games in winter, this will improve blood flow throughout the body and prevent freezing of the hands and feet.
You can read more about hypothermia in children in a separate article on the website temperaturka.com.
An effective prevention of frostbite on the feet in the Far North is to smear whale or seal fat: it perfectly insulates body heat from external factors. However, fat clogs the skin, as a result of which it cannot sweat, and therefore the so-called “trench foot” is formed, like that of soldiers in war. This disease develops as a result of prolonged exposure to cool temperatures and humidity. Therefore, fat can only be a short-term measure. Trench foot syndrome appears after about two weeks of “wearing” fat on the legs.
When your legs hurt, it can be very difficult to find the root cause. The fact is that pain in the legs is the main symptom of a number of diseases. Pain in the lower extremities is a painful sensation of varying intensity.
Pain in the legs can occur due to diseases not only of the limbs themselves. Very often, in people who have turned to a doctor for advice, the causes of pain are unexpectedly found in other systems and organs. Therefore, if any painful symptoms occur in the limbs, swelling, swelling, burning, redness of the skin and cramps, you should immediately undergo a comprehensive examination.
After all the results of the study are ready, the doctor will establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the most appropriate treatment, taking into account all the individual characteristics of the person and the nature of the disease. To understand why your legs hurt, you need to take into account many factors, frequency, intensity, location of pain and other associated symptoms.
If there is pain in the leg, the reasons may be hypertension, coronary heart disease. Legs can hurt with varicose veins, atherosclerosis of the arteries, endarteritis, thrombophlebitis, arthritis, arthrosis, diabetes, osteoporosis, heel spurs, erysipelas of the legs. Legs often hurt after suffering injuries or fractures.
Legs may hurt due to venous congestion. In this case, dull, severe pain occurs in the lower extremities. Sometimes it feels like the legs are tense and their weight is increased. In the absence of timely treatment, varicose veins may develop. Symptoms of pain are severe; a person may feel numbness and tingling. The main symptoms appear mainly in the evening. Painful symptoms in the legs can occur when exposed to heat in a sauna, bathhouse, or after taking a hot bath. Women may suffer from discomfort in their legs during menstruation.
The legs hurt constantly due to thrombophlebitis (vascular disease), while a burning and pulsating feeling appears in the limb. Symptoms can be observed for a long time, and they are characterized by regularity and constancy. The pain is felt most at the bottom of the limb - in the calf muscles. The intensity of pain depends on the location of the blood clot, as well as the number of damaged veins.
If there is a lack of any microelements in the body, pain in the legs may occur. There may be various reasons for this. Sometimes there is a lack of calcium. In this case, a person experiences cramps in the calf muscles, which most often occur in the morning and at night. Often, due to these attacks, a person cannot sleep normally. The attacks can last 2-3 minutes, after which they go away on their own. When you massage the affected area, the cramps go away. This symptom is often observed in pregnant women.
Legs hurt due to diseases of the peripheral nerves. This disease causes attacks of pain along the nerve fibers. During the periods between attacks there may be no pain. Attacks usually last from 20-30 seconds to 4-5 minutes.
Wandering pain in the leg can occur with obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities. With this condition, the left leg may be colder than the right leg, or vice versa. In this case, the patient should definitely contact a vascular surgeon.
If the leg is red and painful, this may indicate phlebitis - inflammation of the vein. This disease is often accompanied by swelling and a feeling of heat in the legs. Reasons for the development of phlebitis: complications after a blood transfusion, taking certain medications, infections.
To prevent pain in the lower extremities, you need to limit your intake of fatty foods, take control of your own weight, and avoid prolonged sitting and standing.
It is necessary to treat diseases that affect the legs in a timely manner, and constantly conduct massage sessions. Shoes should be loose, comfortable, and on a low platform. To strengthen the walls of blood vessels, you need to take vitamin C, take a contrast shower every morning or pour cold water on your feet.
To prevent your legs from hurting, you need to monitor the condition of your spine. After all, problems with this important organ immediately affect the legs. If you have to sit or walk for a long time at work, try to at least change your body position regularly. In between work, you need to do physical exercises for your legs and back.
To eliminate painful symptoms, you first need to determine why your legs hurt. Based on the characteristics and nature of the disease, the doctor prescribes the necessary treatment. For example, for phlebitis, hot and cold compresses and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. If the causes of pain in the legs are fatigue or increased physical activity, then treatment can be carried out independently, without consulting a doctor.
Using ice is a good method to reduce pain and swelling in the legs. Place a few pieces of crushed ice in a bag and massage it into the painful areas in a circular motion. The ice pack can be replaced with a bag of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a thin towel. When ice is applied to the painful area, temporary numbness occurs in the nerve endings, after which the pain subsides and swelling decreases. Use ice for no more than 10 minutes at a time, otherwise the skin and nerves on the limbs may be damaged.
Chestnut tincture will help eliminate pain. To prepare it, take 100 g of chestnut fruit, chop it well and pour in 1 liter of vodka. Infuse the mixture for a month in a dark place. The resulting tincture is used to wipe sore feet every day. Among other things, if there are no contraindications, you can take 40 drops of tincture, mixed half and half with water, for 2 weeks.
When legs are overtired, mint and linden blossom baths are very helpful. To relieve fatigue, prepare the following composition: brew 3-4 tbsp in 1 liter of boiling water. l. mint and linden blossom. Let it brew for 30 minutes, and then pour it into a bowl of warm water. You need to hold your feet for at least 20 minutes.
If you feel severe pain in the lower limbs and heaviness, then baths made from infusions of nettle, coltsfoot and plantain will help. To prepare the bath, mix all the herb and 4 tbsp. l. Pour 3 liters of boiling water into this mixture, let it brew and filter. It is useful if your legs are heavy when taking a horizontal position, placing them above body level.
Leg pain is familiar to everyone. After a long walk or a promenade in high heels, many of us wince from painful sensations in our feet or calves.
But for some, the mentioned symptom persists quite persistently and, at the same time, regardless of the load received. Why do people's legs hurt? What to do if this attack becomes permanent? How to get rid of it and prevent relapse? We will talk about all this later in the article.
So your legs hurt. What to do, how to overcome the disease? Let’s make a reservation right away: there is no panacea; you need to have a clear understanding of the causes of unpleasant symptoms. After all, they can be triggered by many factors - problems with the spine or joints, disorders in the vascular system or diseases of the leg muscles.
But most often the described symptom is caused by circulatory problems, namely a violation of venous outflow and, as a consequence, an increase in pressure in the vessels. Venous congestion can cause irritation of nerve endings and pain. This pain is usually characterized as “dull”, making the legs heavy, “leaden” (especially in the evening), and most often it is a sign of developing varicose veins.
Another cause of discomfort is the presence of atherosclerosis. This pathology causes hardening of the walls of blood vessels, and this is what most often explains the occurrence of pain in the calf muscles. In this case, the compressive pain becomes especially noticeable while walking. By the way, one of the important signs of atherosclerosis is the constant feeling of cold feet, no matter how warm it is around.
If your feet hurt due to varicose veins, only a doctor can decide what to do. This disease is treated with drugs that improve blood flow in the vessels and regulate their tone (Ginkor-Forte, Detralex, Pentoxifylline, Trental, etc.), as well as anticoagulants - for example, heparin ointment.
If drug treatment does not help, surgical intervention is used - the affected veins are removed or solutions are injected that glue their walls together.
For atherosclerosis of the lower extremities, therapy is aimed at reducing pain and preventing blockage of blood vessels, which can cause ulcers and the development of gangrene on the legs. For this purpose, drugs that normalize cholesterol levels (Cholestyramine, Lovastatin) and nicotinic acid are prescribed. Sophora officinalis ointment is used as a local remedy.
But not only problems with blood vessels can cause your legs to hurt (what to do, this is a symptom of many diseases!). Thus, disturbances in the intervertebral discs can cause radiating (that is, radiating) pain in the lower extremities (by the way, the spine itself in such cases may not hurt). In addition, this symptom can appear many years after childhood back injuries or in people suffering from scoliosis.
The pain associated with joint pathology is of a special nature - it is strong, “twisting”. They are accompanied by swelling and redness in the affected area, and when the weather changes, there is usually an increase in discomfort. As a rule, the pain described is localized in the hip, knee or foot, and sometimes affects several joints at once.
So, in cases where the leg hurts above the knee (up to the hip), we can talk about arthrosis of the hip joint. And if discomfort in the knee leads to loss of mobility, then we have a picture of arthritis. By the way, one of its forms is gout. The pain with it is especially debilitating and protracted.
It should be noted that only a specialist can determine exactly what disease caused the constant pain in the legs. But in some situations the explanation is obvious.
We are talking about a fairly common disease, which is more susceptible to women over the age of 40, called hallux valgus. This pathology is the growth of a cartilaginous growth at the base of the big toe, causing the latter to bend, and the shape of the foot itself changes, causing a lot of trouble to the patient.
Therefore, if you have a painful bone in your foot and redness or abrasion of the skin appears on it, then you should immediately begin treatment for the disease, since in an advanced stage it is very difficult to get rid of this problem.
At the late stage of development of hallux valgus, the patient suffers from debilitating pain in the big toe and soles of the feet, the joints become inflamed, and corns appear. It becomes very difficult to choose shoes due to crooked toes and greatly enlarged bones; in addition, this pathology adversely affects the condition of the spine, as well as the knee and hip joints.
Treatment of any joint pain, regardless of whether the pain is in the ankles, knees or hips, should only be carried out under the supervision of a specialist. Self-diagnosis, as you understand, carries the risk of incorrectly assessing the extent of the lesion and determining the cause that caused it.
Having established an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes therapeutic measures aimed at:
For this purpose, painkillers are prescribed (Ketanol, Ibuprofen), chondroprotectors designed to regenerate the cartilaginous structure of the joint (Chondroitin), as well as ointments that relieve inflammation (Fastum, Voltaren-gel, etc.). Infectious forms of arthritis require the use of antibiotics. And in some cases (for example, with severe hallux valgus or arthrosis), the patient is indicated for surgical intervention.
But often the problems do not manifest themselves as clearly as when a bone in the leg hurts. The patient may not suspect for a long time that pathological changes are occurring in his body. In particular, this applies to the well-known foot disease called flat feet - drooping of the longitudinal or transverse arch of the foot.
In medicine, there are 3 types of this pathology:
All these conditions develop gradually, leading to the patient’s foot shape changing (it becomes much wider, its arch flattening), the gait becomes heavy, the ankles and back ache, the legs often hurt at night, and swelling of the limbs that appears in the evening is also bothersome. and passing in the morning.
Another serious reason that can cause pain in the legs is inflammation (myositis) of the calf muscles. Its occurrence can be caused by an unusual load for the patient, trauma, hypothermia, infectious disease, as well as connective tissue pathologies.
With this type of myositis, the patient develops isolated redness on the skin of the lower extremities with a local increase in temperature, the legs hurt from the knee to the foot (especially in the calf area), muscle weakness appears, and the pain syndrome intensifies even with minor exertion.
A characteristic feature of the described disease are dense areas with individual nodular formations and cords that can be felt in the affected areas. However, an attempt at such palpation causes an increase in aching pain in the patient.
If your legs hurt from the knee to the foot, and you also discover other signs of pathology listed above, you should immediately consult a doctor.
The specialist, as a rule, prescribes bed rest in order to provide rest to sore muscles, and painkillers (Voltaren, Ketonal, etc.). Anti-inflammatory drugs with a warming effect (Dolex, Apizatron, Fanigan, etc.) are usually used as local therapy. If infection is present, antibiotics are prescribed.
As you can see, the list of reasons that can cause leg pain is quite impressive. Therefore, if you are suffering from the described symptom, go to the doctor. Start with a therapist, and if necessary, he will refer you to an orthopedist or neurologist.
Of course, you can carry out some therapeutic measures yourself, but keep in mind that they will not relieve you of the disease, but will only alleviate the condition for a while.
So, if your legs hurt or ache, then warm baths with the addition of Epsom salt are a good remedy. After them, by the way, you need to rinse your feet with cool water and lubricate them with moisturizer.
Contrast dousing of the feet also helps a lot. To do this, you should alternately hold them under running hot and cold water (for a minute for each dousing). Finish the procedure with cold water.
Fir oil is also a good remedy. It is rubbed into the areas of pain after taking a bath for 10-15 days.
If your knees hurt, your calves ache, or your feet hurt, it’s not difficult to understand what to do: you need to undergo an examination by a specialist and, following his recommendations, get rid of the disease that causes the pain.
After all, all its types are provoked by different reasons, accordingly, they need to be treated with different methods. You should not choose your own medications. This can only aggravate the disease or distort its symptoms, which subsequently prevents a correct diagnosis. Don’t risk your health, consult a doctor on time, and your legs will thank you with an easy walk! Be healthy!