A large number of people turn to doctors when they feel heaviness in their legs below the knees. This pathology can be individual or in combination with other symptoms - pain, swelling.
Tired legs syndrome develops under the influence of negative influences or due to natural changes in the body.
The list of reasons why heavy legs appear is long. Here are some of them:
In many diseases, a characteristic symptom may be heaviness in the legs, not only after a working day, but also when walking.
With varicose veins, a feeling of heaviness and discomfort is inevitable. This is due to age-related changes in the walls of blood vessels. In the initial stage, the disease passes without external signs, but it is then that “tired legs” syndrome develops.
With lymphodema, the movement of lymphatic fluid partially or completely stops, which leads to swelling and heaviness of the legs. Diseases such as:
Chronic arterial insufficiency causes vasoconstriction with subsequent poor circulation, which can also lead to “tired legs.” Arterial insufficiency can develop as a result of:
Due to disturbances in innervation, muscle fibers stop contracting at full strength, and this is manifested by heaviness in the legs, pain, and weakness.
Such manifestations are associated with:
When the bone structure is disturbed and joint problems occur, a number of abnormalities occur. One of the manifestations is swelling, a feeling of heaviness in the legs, and pain.
Such disorders are associated with the following diseases:
If there are disturbances in the functioning of the heart and kidneys, the legs begin to swell, and this is preceded by a feeling of heaviness below the knee.
Obvious signs include muscle spasms, pain in the ankle, the appearance of bruises under the skin, itching, swelling, cramps, lameness, tingling, numbness, and weakness.
Before prescribing treatment, the specialist will conduct a comprehensive diagnosis of the patient.
This study may include the following:
Based on the results obtained, the doctor will make a diagnosis and prescribe a treatment regimen.
Treatment for heavy legs will depend on the diagnosis. The specialist will prescribe comprehensive treatment using medications and physiotherapy.
Medicines will be prescribed appropriate to the type of disease. Women will need to stop taking hormonal contraceptives. These products can only be used under medical supervision.
To relieve heaviness in the legs, it is recommended to do light exercise and walk. Swimming has a good effect.
During treatment of the disease, you should give up high heels, thermal procedures, and bad habits. And you should forget your favorite pose – cross-legged.
Obese people should lose excess weight.
To normalize blood flow and eliminate discomfort in the legs, you need to do a light self-massage of the limbs, as well as lie horizontally and place your legs above the level of your heart.
After diagnosis and drug therapy, you can consult with your doctor about the advisability of taking traditional medicines. They can relieve discomfort and relieve pain.
Herbal medicine has been used for many years to treat heaviness and pain in the legs. But for greater effect, folk remedies must be used in conjunction with drug therapy prescribed by a doctor. Only with this treatment regimen can you get rid of the disease and prevent relapse.
Leave to infuse in a dark place for a month. Use 30 drops with water for rubbing or orally twice a day.
It is necessary to shake the contents of the jar periodically. After the allotted time, strain the resulting tincture and take it for three weeks, increasing the dose by one drop daily. After three weeks, continue treatment, but reducing the portion of tincture by a drop daily.
A common reason for visiting a doctor is heaviness in the legs. Most of the world's population complains of discomfort in this part of the body.
The causes of heaviness in the legs are signs of chronic diseases and natural leg fatigue. If the cause of heaviness in the legs is simple fatigue, symptoms usually appear towards the end of the working day. They go away after rest, there is no need to worry about this. If heaviness of the legs is recognized as a symptom of the disease, the discomfort will be long-lasting and intense.
Pain in the lower extremities can occur due to injuries, fractures and stretch marks. An additional cause of pain in the calves is external irritation: improper selection of shoes, increased physical activity, playing sports without necessarily warming up the muscles of the lower extremities. Obesity can be a cause of leg pain.
Causes of heaviness in the legs that are not caused by diseases:
Many diseases can cause unpleasant pain in the calves. After the examination, the doctor will be able to diagnose what disease caused the symptoms and prescribe treatment.
Causes and diseases in which symptoms occur:
If your legs are heavy due to illness, the treatment will be different. After a detailed examination and diagnosis, the attending physician will prescribe medications.
The choice of therapy depends on the treatment of the underlying disease and severity. Unpleasant pain in the legs is relieved by prescribing venotonics to patients. The choice of drugs depends on the condition of the venous walls and concomitant diseases. Only the attending physician can administer medications, select the dosage and duration of treatment. The above applies to medications taken orally.
Preparations for external use can be used independently. You must strictly follow the instructions. It is advisable to use the drugs at night, after taking a foot bath, which relaxes the muscles of the lower extremities.
To relieve discomfort and pain in the legs and normalize blood circulation, you can use the following techniques:
Following the methods will help reduce or eliminate pain and discomfort in the calves.
Treatment with traditional medicine has a good effect on the condition of the legs. Heaviness in the legs caused by natural fatigue can be cured with folk remedies. A lot of proven folk recipes have been developed, the treatment of which will help cope with the ailment.
Traditional recipes for heaviness in the calves:
If there is heaviness in the legs, the method of treating the symptom will be to perform gymnastic exercises. The choice of gymnastics depends on the cause of the disease. Healing physical education is aimed at normalizing the functioning of the circulatory system and relaxing the leg muscles. Treatment with gymnastic exercises has a good effect on the condition of the symptom, but acts as a preventive measure.
Exercises aimed at eliminating discomfort in the legs:
This set of exercises can be performed for various diseases that manifest as unpleasant pain in the calves.
Heaviness in the legs often serves as a signal that the function of the veins is impaired. Painful sensations in the lower extremities cause constant discomfort to a person. To avoid the appearance of symptoms, avoid many factors that cause them, try to reduce the risk of diseases. To reduce the development of fatigue and discomfort in the legs, you will have to develop useful habits:
By following the listed rules, you will be able to protect and eliminate the risk of developing heaviness in your legs.
Heaviness in the legs very often bothers people. A third of the world's population complains of pain, buzzing or aching in the lower extremities. Most often, pain, as well as heaviness in the legs, occurs due to stagnation of blood, namely the blood vessels. Let's take a closer look at the main causes of heaviness in the legs, as well as how it is treated.
Causes of heavy legs:
The reasons listed are temporary.
If you approach them correctly, you can very quickly cope with unpleasant sensations in your legs, eliminate pain and other not very pleasant symptoms.
Comprehensive treatment will help overcome temporary causes of heaviness in the legs.
Heaviness in the legs may appear due to chronic arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities. This disease is characterized by narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels and their blockage. Causes (diseases) that cause heaviness and pain in the legs:
If these diseases progress, the person begins to limp and gets tired very quickly. Therefore, it is important to carry out the necessary treatment in a timely manner.
If pain is noted not only in the feet, but also in the legs, it means that the following pathologies have developed:
The listed causes of heaviness in the legs need urgent elimination. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary treatment in a timely manner.
When heaviness in the legs accompanies pain, then its causes are as follows:
It is also important to try to cure these causes as quickly as possible in order to relieve the patient of unpleasant symptoms in the leg area.
To eliminate the causes of heaviness in the limbs, it is important to establish the correct diagnosis and carry out the necessary treatment. The patient is prescribed a general and biochemical blood test, a general urine test, a Reberg-Toreev test, and a serological test. It is important to check your blood glucose levels.
In addition, the doctor gives the patient X-rays, computer diagnostics, electrocardiography, examination of venous vessels, MRI, computed tomography and other studies. An ultrasound is done to check the health of the heart.
Thanks to a whole range of studies, the specialist makes the correct diagnosis and identifies the exact causes of heaviness in the limbs. Based on the results obtained, an individual treatment is prepared for the patient.
If you are concerned about pain and heaviness in your legs, especially in your calves, you should consult a therapist. The doctor will examine the patient and, if necessary, refer him to a cardiologist, vascular surgeon, orthopedist or nephrologist.
Folk remedies can eliminate heaviness in the legs. It is important to consult a doctor before using them. Treatment of unpleasant symptoms in the calves and other areas of the lower extremities is carried out using the following folk remedies:
Treatment with folk remedies for pain and heaviness in the calves and other parts of the legs should be carried out in parallel with traditional methods of therapy.
It is important to use topical products every day. An ointment or cream against heaviness in the legs and calves should be selected according to the causes and symptoms of the development of the disease. The ointment has anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, thanks to which it copes well with leg problems and relieves unpleasant pain and other symptoms of discomfort.
It is recommended to use the remedies prescribed by the doctor after taking baths with sea salt or herbs.
During pregnancy, the body goes through many changes. Heaviness in the legs and pain during this period in a woman’s life are a common occurrence and arise due to an increase in body weight and a shift in the center of gravity. It is important to visit a doctor to rule out complex pathological conditions. Heaviness in the legs during pregnancy should be treated using the following methods:
It is important that the treatment of discomfort in the lower extremities is carried out comprehensively and under the supervision of a doctor.
Now you know what methods you can treat painful sensations in the legs and why it occurs.
A huge number of people are faced with such an unpleasant problem as heaviness in their legs. This symptom may be accompanied by the development of pain, swelling in the lower extremities, and trophic disorders. The causes of heaviness in the legs can be associated both with the presence of pathologies and with other external factors.
External factors that provoke the development of heaviness in the legs include:
A feeling of heaviness below the knees in the calf area is a dangerous symptom that requires immediate consultation with a doctor and a proper examination. The causes of heaviness in the calves can often be associated with the development of the following conditions:
With prolonged physical overload, the patient may also be bothered by a similar unpleasant symptom.
Patients who are wondering why heaviness occurs in the lower extremities should understand that such a symptom often occurs against the background of certain underlying diseases:
The problem can also occur in overweight patients and in women during pregnancy. In order to eliminate the symptom in the form of a feeling of heaviness, it is necessary to cure the underlying disease.
Before starting to treat a particular disease, a comprehensive examination is required. The following procedures may be prescribed:
When faced with the problem of heavy legs, you should refrain from self-medication and, at the first sign of a problem, consult a doctor.
There are general recommendations that can help you get rid of the feeling of heaviness and fatigue in the lower extremities. These include:
People with excess body weight are recommended to focus their efforts on weight loss.
Treatment with folk remedies helps to quickly and effectively cope with feelings of fatigue and pain. You can use the following recipes:
You need to take care of your own legs, as they are subject to enormous physical stress. Preventive measures in the form of moderate physical activity, giving up bad habits and adjusting the diet will help avoid the development of serious complications and will have a positive therapeutic effect.
Discomfort in the calves appears due to fatigue, excessive loads (overtraining), injury to muscles and tendons. In some cases, the occurrence of severity is associated with pathology of blood vessels, bone and nervous systems, and metabolic disorders.
The development of varicose veins occurs slowly and is characterized by the following symptoms:
The disease is accompanied by congestion in the superficial veins of the lower extremities, decreased elasticity and increased permeability of the vascular wall. In the later stages, the pathology can be complicated by thrombophlebitis, which is characterized by the formation of blood clots on the inflamed mucous membrane of the veins. This causes constant pain due to swelling and heaviness in the leg muscles.
Atherosclerotic damage to blood vessels is characterized by the appearance of cholesterol plaques on their inner wall. This occurs when there is a violation of lipid metabolism in the body and increases with smoking. Atheroma closes the lumen of the artery and impairs blood supply to the tissues.
Hypoxia processes cause the accumulation of under-oxidized products, which form the symptom of “intermittent claudication.” It is characterized by the development of heaviness in the calf muscles during walking and goes away after a short rest. Cramps in the legs, a feeling of numbness and coldness of the extremities also appear.
Learn more about “bad” and “good” cholesterol to avoid it.
With flat feet, the arches of the foot become flattened and its shock-absorbing functions decrease. As a result, a clinical picture appears, including characteristic symptoms:
As a result, large joints of the lower extremities and the spine suffer, motor activity decreases, endurance to physical activity worsens, and performance decreases.
Radiculitis often occurs with pathology of the lumbar spinal discs and pinching of the sciatic nerve. As a result of the inflammatory process, the following occur:
With increasing symptoms of sciatica, the ability to move and sensitivity in the lower extremities significantly decreases.
When water-salt metabolism is disrupted, the concentration of potassium in the blood serum decreases. This chemical element is responsible for the processes of excitation in cells and the transmission of neuromuscular impulses. The result is a violation of the contraction of muscle cells, including the lower extremities. Causes of potassium loss may include:
As a result of dehydration, the following appear:
A critical decrease in potassium levels in the blood can lead to death as a result of cardiac dysfunction.
When tired and overtrained, heaviness in the legs occurs as a result of excess accumulation of lactic acid and does not require treatment. Discomfort in the calf muscles associated with diseases requires careful diagnosis and the prescription of complex therapy.
There was a feeling of heaviness in my legs. Sometimes it felt like my legs were cramping. This was especially true for the calves and just above the knees. It was very difficult to walk even a hundred meters. I went to the hospital, they did an ultrasound, they said everything was normal. How so? They recommended Detrolex. I won’t say that there was an effect that I was expecting, but it was still slightly better. I don’t know what the reason is, maybe the lumbar region. Everything was fine before.
Yes! This happens to me after exercise, but then it goes away after a couple of days.
My wife has regular pain on the outside of her lower leg, I had this when I was physically overloaded. We went to a traumatologist, he recommended reducing physical stress on the legs, changing shoes so that the heel was smaller and controlling the weight. As a result, we continue to suffer, but we don’t think about ourselves; I am sometimes amazed by people’s negligent attitude towards their health
Thanks for the really helpful comments??
Currently I am in the hospital in the Vascular Surgery Department. My legs (especially the right one) hurt very badly, it hurts to walk, my calves hurt, and I have frequent cramps. But the doctor says that the reason is in the spine and they are now examining the back. But nevertheless, blood clots are treated. I went to different doctors for 2 months and no one could make a diagnosis. And the other day I did an ultrasound of my veins and they discovered a blood clot in my leg, so I’m lying here... Take your health more seriously.
Hello, please help! I have very severe pain in my calf muscles. The pain is dull and aching.
But the pain lasts only a couple of hours after running (I run from 5 to 9 km). If the next day or the day after I do any exercise on my legs, the pain immediately returns (it goes away after a couple of hours before the next run or exercise). When I stop working out for 3-4 weeks, everything goes away. As soon as I start running again, the pain returns on the 3rd - 4th training session (running) and everything starts again. Moreover, the pain gets worse after each run.
I used to run 5 times a week, but I cut it down to 3 times. It didn't give any results. I live in Spain. I saw a doctor, he said that it was all due to stress. I asked how to treat, he told me don’t run!
I’ll describe more precisely what kind of pain it is. The pain is aching and my calves seem to be twisting. Severe pain only when running. When I lift my foot off the ground, it’s as if my calf muscle is being squeezed in a vice. Not, as it seems to me, pain in the lower calf (closer to the heel).
Can you recommend anything? Thank you in advance!
Hello, Oleg. Most likely you have a complex of symptoms called Chronic compartment syndrome, or rather even Chronic exercise compartment syndrome. This concept is relatively new, so it most likely does not yet have a more human name in Russian medicine.
Regular physical activity on the same muscles led to a deterioration in blood circulation in them during muscle growth. The fact is that during training, any muscles increase in volume, filling with blood (well, you, as an athlete, know this better than me). Bundles of muscle fibers are covered with a special sheath - fascia. During running, the pressure inside these muscle cases increases. In your case, this leads to excessive compression of the blood vessels. Why this pain occurs is not even known exactly. According to one theory, due to a deterioration in blood circulation itself, and according to another (more popular) - due to a disruption in the flow of oxygen during this period.
Why did this start? This may be due to the fact that your muscles have already reached good volumes thanks to sports, and during blood filling the pressure on the vessels becomes even greater. Or maybe it’s due to microtrauma as a result of constant impacts on the ground. But there is most likely only one treatment in your case – surgery (fasciotomy). Otherwise, this condition usually lasts for months or years. Or listen to the advice of a doctor, who will also relieve pain, but running will most likely return the problem. Surgery will allow you to quickly return to sports. There are also various physical therapy methods, but it is best to discuss this with your doctor.
Of course, this is not a diagnosis, but only an assumption. To put it definitively, you need to conduct a study measuring the pressure inside the muscle sheaths (most likely immediately after exercise).
Good afternoon Oleg! A very familiar situation, I’ve been doing boxing and for the last few months there has been pain in my legs after jogging, a strong feeling of burning and squeezing of the muscles in my calves, the pain lasts 10 minutes after the end of the jog and my legs hurt for a week, with a light jog during the day the symptoms also worsen! Please, if you clarify the diagnosis of this problem (disease), write to me.
Sorry for the spelling
Hello. Varicose veins are a lousy disease. I haven’t gotten sick yet, it seems to me, but the veins in my legs are enlarged (especially on the left) and I periodically feel pain and heaviness in my calves. It started about 10 years ago when I had to ride to work standing in a crowded trolleybus for 35-40 minutes and in order to somehow get away from the crush I tried to stand at the rear window. I don’t know what was the main cause of the pain in my legs, either standing for a long time without moving or the bouncing of the rear of the trolleybus, but the sensations were unpleasant. I started putting an elastic bandage on my calves and had to change to minibuses - it’s a little expensive, but health is more valuable. The pain is gone. Now I try to swim more and practice moderate walking. My legs sometimes ache, but it's tolerable.
I have normal weight, age 55, I don’t abuse alcohol, I don’t smoke, please advise how to protect myself from possible exacerbations. Thank you in advance! Good luck and health!
And these sensations are not alien to me, in the spring I started to twist my calves, I thought they were joints, but it turned out to be veins. I began to take a closer look and it’s true - during the heat in the middle of the working day, the wreaths began to grow, there was a small red mesh under the knee. The girls at work advised me to apply Venolgon-911 cream as soon as I feel heaviness during the day and at night. It contains extracts of horse chestnut and hazel; it smells fresh and fresh after application. I want to say that it’s a completely different matter. It’s good that I didn’t start my varicose veins, but sounded the alarm in the meantime
The calves on both legs hurt when walking and very badly. In the morning I can barely go to the toilet. Then it seems to subside, at rest they don’t hurt as much, only if you massage it. Since mid-July I had polyarthritis, now I have synovitis in my knees, could this be because I limped so much? Thank you!
If you walked a lot, limping and straining your calf muscles, this could be the reason. But based on the intensity and nature of the pain, this is not an ordinary sprain, but local myositis (muscle inflammation). This is a very broad concept, and can be caused by various reasons (not just overexertion and injury). If the reason is not very serious, incl. Assumed, treatment is mainly based on providing rest for the muscles. Anti-inflammatory drugs and warming ointments are also prescribed.
The second possible cause is early stage peripheral arterial disease, called intermittent claudication. But in this case, muscle pain after rest at first usually does not appear instantly, but after some time. Then it can reach a constant state, even at rest. And in most cases there are predisposing factors - excess weight, smoking.
In any case, talk to your doctor (therapist), since in both cases and for other reasons, the lack of treatment can have a bad effect.
A familiar situation, my legs not only hurt, I was more worried about cramps. It’s sad, but during pregnancy I encountered varicose veins. I rubbed in Thrombocide gel every day to strengthen the walls of blood vessels and remove these unpleasant symptoms. I am very glad that the treatment was not in vain and the gel helped me.
Spasms may be accompanied by nervous diseases, liver disease, endocrine system and muscle weakness.
The cause of spasms may be magnesium and iron deficiency, varicose veins, uremia. Frequent use of diuretics leads to a decrease in potassium and magnesium. Especially magnesium. More than half of cases of cramps occur due to a lack of magnesium.
Hello! A month ago, the calf on my right leg began to hurt sharply, for no reason. When I walk, my leg doesn’t hurt, as soon as you sit down, a dull aching pain begins, as if in the muscles, then above the calf, then below. I went to the hospital, had an ultrasound of the vessels and veins, according to them no complaints. They also sent me for an X-ray of my lower back and discovered osteochondrosis. During the holidays, they prescribed Oka decarstao and Nise ointment + dry heat. But there is no improvement. I don’t wear heels, I’ve never had any injuries.
• the outflow of venous blood is impaired;
• a focus of inflammation has arisen in the nerve fibers on the periphery.
If the pain is throbbing, then there may be an inflammatory process in the vein. If the place swells and hardens, thrombophlebitis develops, which can cause a blood clot to break off at any time.
In a sitting position, the calves begin to ache due to a deficiency of vitamins and microelements, in particular calcium in the body. It is worth reviewing your diet and taking a general and detailed blood test.
Perhaps there are problems of a neuralgic nature or there were old injuries in the case of sprained ligaments or muscles of the joint.
The calves also hurt due to vascular diseases and impaired venous blood circulation. When walking, the blood rises. With prolonged sitting, it begins to stagnate in the calf muscles. The reason for this is a sedentary lifestyle, excess weight, or accumulation of toxins, oxygen starvation in the muscles.
When the sciatic nerve is inflamed, the spine itself does not hurt, but a paroxysmal pain syndrome occurs in the muscles.
It is osteochondrosis, as you noted, that leads to muscle discomfort. The reason for this is a pinched nerve, damage to the nervous system in the periphery. You need the help of a neurologist and most likely you need to contact him.
The musculoskeletal system has a complex structure, practically entangled with nerve fibers, and pain can radiate to the calves of the legs from almost any node peripheral to the spinal column. As a rule, blood circulation is impaired in one leg, i.e. at the site of pathology and has a local course. What to do, the joint loses its elasticity and flexibility.
A comprehensive examination, CT, and MRI are required. If the cause of pain in the calf muscle is unclear, it is the syndrome that needs to be eradicated, and not the pain itself, by rubbing in various ointments and gels. Try using anti-inflammatory medications to increase blood flow as well. Apply a cold towel to the sore area.
You need to see a rheumatologist or infectious disease specialist. And, of course, only complete diagnostics. Massage, physiotherapy, therapeutic mud, foot baths with the addition of nettle, mint, chamomile, sage, and plantain should be beneficial.
Good afternoon. My son is 16.5 years old. For three days his calves hurt when he moved. At rest the legs do not bother me. When you try to massage your calves, you feel as if you are walking over a hematoma. I haven’t played sports for the last month, but before that I played basketball, sometimes once a week, sometimes less often. Available diagnoses: chronic gastritis (treated in December), hypothyroidism since age 12 (compensated by treatment), astigmatism (wears glasses). Two weeks ago I had ARVI and acute pharyngitis. I received Klacid, Miramistin, Vibrocil for 5 days. I took a vitamin-mineral complex in September. Recently I got pretty cold; at -23 degrees I was outside for about half an hour in thin trousers. Could the pain be caused by any of the following? Do I need to see a doctor now about leg pain and which one? Or should I just wait and see if it goes away on its own?
Sorry for the delay - I just arrived.
If you suspect the presence of fluid, you should urgently contact your surgeon directly.
If we are talking about pain, and such sensations have not been observed before, then they can indeed be associated with severe hypothermia against the background of a recent cold and pharyngitis. In viral diseases, the blood vessels of the entire body suffer and may even be damaged. Also, high temperature and intoxication impair the functioning of the thyroid gland, which affects metabolic processes in the tissues and blood vessels of the body, and can even contribute to vascular spasms.
Contact your pediatrician or adolescent doctor. Ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities and rheovasography can determine the functional state of the vessels and surrounding tissues. Also, consultation with an endocrinologist will eliminate the negative impact of a recent disease on the hormonal activity of the thyroid gland.
Herbal preparations with anti-inflammatory, anti-edematous and antispasmodic effects can improve metabolism and metabolism in blood vessels and help recovery. For example, Quercetin. Vitamin preparations that have a positive effect on the vascular wall are also indicated: rutin or, in combination with vitamin C, ascorutin. The choice of specific drugs, dose and time of administration can only be determined by the attending physician after examination and diagnosis.
Good afternoon Since childhood, the child has flat feet, hallux valgus, and rapid leg fatigue, so he was unable to play his favorite football. Now I have grown up, doctors say that flat feet are 1-2 degrees, nothing special, like everyone else. They even write “equinism,” but in our country this is not considered a pathology. But the problem is that my legs still get tired very quickly, especially when running. The maximum he can run is 0.5 km and that’s all - he sits down, his calves are strained and his feet hurt. Wears special insoles. Since pain and fatigue are not visible or provable, and flat feet, according to doctors, are the most common, what kind of research can further clarify the cause of such sensations. Formally, “Fit and healthy,” but the cross-country will not run objectively (and this is not a simulation), and there is a paid military department ahead.
Here's what the consultant doctor (a good therapist) says:
It is necessary to undergo examination, observation and treatment by a competent orthopedic doctor. Pain and exercise intolerance are symptoms, they form part of the clinical picture and are significant to the doctor. The degree of flatfoot is recorded during X-ray examination using special techniques (in different projections, with a load). This study must be carried out periodically, images and conclusions must be saved to record possible progression of the process.
It is very important to carry out therapeutic measures under the supervision of an orthopedist. Special massages, physiotherapy, and physical therapy are used, designed individually to restore the normal arch of the foot. Swimming is a good sport; it reduces the load on joints, muscles, ligaments and blood vessels. To reduce tension and pain, you can recommend taking warm foot baths (for the legs, feet) in the evening with salt (2 tablespoons of coarse or sea salt per 10 liters of water) for about 20 minutes.
Depending on the situation, it is possible to resolve the issue not only about orthopedic insoles (they need to be changed several times a year), but also about special shoes with rigid fixation of the foot. Constant medical supervision is necessary, and as the process progresses, a decision on possible surgical correction is required.
Thank you very much for your detailed answer! ??
Hello! In the summer I severely sprained my leg, the pain never went away. Now my left leg constantly hurts in my calf and there is severe heaviness and swelling. I have a sedentary job and do a lot of sports. The pain in the calf does not go away in the morning, the swelling subsides a little. Swelling occurs periodically, every few months. Can your calf hurt from stretching? Please tell me who is the best person to contact first?
Sorry for such a long answer.
With the described symptoms, it is necessary to exclude the presence of muscle injury, sprain of the ligamentous apparatus, traumatic damage to blood vessels, as well as dilatation of venous vessels (deep vein varicose veins). It is important to consider (during sedentary work and intense exercise) that changes in the spine can also manifest as pain in the limbs, swelling and heaviness in them.
In this case, it is recommended to consult a surgeon. The doctor will examine the leg and refer you for the necessary examinations: a general blood test (to exclude an inflammatory process), determination of indicators of the blood coagulation system (which is important for possible vascular changes), ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities. And also, if necessary, will refer you for consultation to related specialists: a vascular surgeon, traumatologist, neurologist.
Hello! My calf on my right leg hurts only when walking, it doesn’t hurt during physical activity, what should I do, do you have any advice?
Hello. My calves hurt during physical activity, I play sports and this has never happened before, it started around the beginning of the summer of this year and is still going on, a month ago I took D3 and didn’t exercise for two weeks, the pain went away, then I returned to training (I exercise daily), the first week went great, now the pain has appeared again, as if something were squeezing and stabbing the muscles, please advise me something. Thank you in advance.
Good afternoon, Timur. Now is the time that the main doctors who answer questions are all either traveling (business trips, recertification, etc.) or have just returned and are still busy... That’s why we had to wait so long. Sorry. If the answer is relevant, then here it is:
Also, intense physical activity can provoke pain in the presence of flat feet (both longitudinal and transverse). At the same time, pain in the calves can gradually arise and intensify, and also decrease after rest.
First of all, in this case, consultation with a surgeon is recommended. If necessary, the doctor will refer you for consultation to a vascular surgeon, neurologist, or orthopedist. To confirm the diagnosis, instrumental methods are used: x-rays of the feet, ultrasound examinations of arteries and veins.
After receiving the results of a complete examination and confirming the diagnosis, the attending physician can prescribe adequate and effective therapy.
Good day. I'm 33 years old and have no bad habits. My calves have been aching constantly for over 10 years now, it feels like it has always been there since childhood. The calves feel like they are filled with lead, they are torn, and sometimes there are cramps. The pain is mainly at rest, at night, sometimes the pain is so bad that I can’t sleep. If you cool the calves a little it becomes easier. Legs at night must be bare above the knees and not covered with a blanket; when they are cool, then somehow they can tolerate it. There is never any pain during physical activity, and the most amazing thing is that during 2 pregnancies my legs didn’t hurt at all, even at night, although before and after the pregnancies they hurt all my life. What could this be? Which doctor should I contact? What examination should I undergo? All blood parameters during pregnancy were always excellent. Legs visually look good. Heredity is bad - my father has terrible varicose veins. The answer is always relevant, thank you in advance.
Answer from a medical practitioner and site consultant:
There are a lot of other possible causes: ranging from changes in the spine (osteochondrosis with secondary changes in nerve endings (radiculopathy or radiculitis), nutritional disorders with the development of a lack of certain vitamins and minerals, changes not only in veins, but also in arteries, and ending with general diseases (hormonal sphere, respiratory system).
To diagnose the described changes, it is necessary to examine the state of the vascular system (ultrasound of the vessels of the lower extremities, rheovasography), general clinical studies (state of the coagulation system).
Consultation with a surgeon, phlebologist and general practitioner is recommended. Doctors will select the direction of the diagnostic search, and only after establishing a diagnosis will they be able to prescribe an adequate correction.
Hello. Let me briefly describe the problem. 3 years ago I injured my knee. A month in a cast, diagnosis of gonarthrosis of the knee joint. After 3 months I went to work (work involves walking) and it started. When you stand in one place, unpleasant sensations arise in your legs (from the knee to the foot). You can't call it pain. As soon as you start moving or sit down, everything immediately calms down. After about 6 months everything went away on its own (dispersed). 2 months ago I had ACL plastic surgery (the same injury). Before the operation, I donated blood and ultrasound of the veins of the lower extremities. After tests, the attending surgeon did not reveal anything and operated on the knee. It seems like high cholesterol in the blood. As soon as I started postoperative rehabilitation (walking without a cane), the same problem arose again. At the moment I am wearing elastic knitwear and drinking Prodaxa. Flat feet seem to have never happened, the lower back does not bother me. There is a slight discomfort in the buttock, but as the doctor told me, this is due to the fact that the load has begun and until the knee goes away completely there will be no concern. I am 24 years old. I smoke. Please advise which specialist I can contact and what tests and studies to conduct until the problem is completely identified. I’m from a small town myself and I’ll have to turn it into some kind of cent with paid services. Because in the city doctors cannot identify the problem. Thanks for the info.
Good afternoon, Maxim.
Discomfort in the legs can be associated not only with venous vessels, but also with arterial ones. In this context, it is recommended to consult a vascular surgeon, conduct studies of arterial vessels, ultrasound duplex angioscanning of the arteries of the lower extremities and rheovasography. And based on the results of the studies, doctors will be able to prescribe appropriate treatment.
Good afternoon. During the day, my calves are bursting from the inside, it feels like they are about to burst. The veins on the legs are not visible, only such a heaviness that intensifies by the end of the day. And especially in the summer when it’s hot. What could this be connected with: veins or muscles. Thank you.
Good afternoon, Olga.
For diagnosis (excluding varicose veins of the lower extremities), it is recommended to consult a surgeon (you can see a vascular surgeon, phlebologist). Instrumental studies are carried out: rheovasography and ultrasound (Dopplerography) of the veins of the lower extremities. It is important to determine whether there is a tendency to thrombus formation (blood test for coagulation and bleeding duration, blood platelets, coagulogram, IPT or INR).
Therapeutic measures will be determined by the attending physician.
It is also important to exclude the presence of flat feet (it can increase or even cause pain, heaviness in the legs, and is diagnosed by a surgeon).
General recommendations: comfortable shoes, try not to stay for a long time with bent knees (sitting, in particular), as this impairs the movement of blood in the legs, try not to stand for a long time, take foot salt baths in the evening, lie down in the evening for half an hour with legs raised above head level (to facilitate the outflow of blood from the veins of the legs to the torso area), a diet without a large amount of salt, so as not to increase tissue swelling.
Good day.
I read a large number of cases described here but did not find anything similar to my situation - for the last 2.5 weeks I have been experiencing muscle tightness in the upper legs (both left and right) above the knee and up to the buttocks - in my medical terms this is called a muscle group - rectus femoris and lateral muscles (I could be wrong) - exactly the same feeling as after an intense workout after a long break - the legs are definitely called stone/heavy, but in a normal situation this condition always went away after 2 days, but here it doesn’t take 2.5 weeks - I tried massage and hijama (cupping with bloodletting) but the feeling of heaviness did not go away! I don’t know what else to try, but maybe stop with daily swimming (I swim breaststroke 1 km every day) and stretch twice for 5-7 minutes? I would really appreciate your advice/explanation and thank you so much in advance!
Best regards, Dmitry
It is recommended to visit a competent neurologist. The doctor can diagnose local changes in sensitivity, as well as disorders of the motor nerve endings.
In terms of examination, the most informative is an MRI of the spine; the study can only be prescribed by a doctor.
Until a diagnosis is made, it is recommended to refrain from physical exertion that may aggravate the condition, including stretching. If you can’t do without swimming, then it’s better to do it on your back and with a slight range of motion and speed.
After establishing a diagnosis and identifying possible contraindications, drug therapy and manual therapy are indicated.
Good day. I’m 28 years old. I’ve been running marathons for 4 years. I’ve been doing Karate. On September 1, I ran 100 km, after which some problems started. First, heaviness in my legs began when walking. And after running, my left leg began to stomp. Then the pain began. in the area of the sacrum and knees. Then crap began when running, as if the legs were shaking. After running, there was also weakness in them. Then the pain in the sacrum and knees went away. They only make themselves felt less strongly during standing ups and straining. Now a couple of weeks ago, congestion began in the left calf. What does it have to do with when you wave your legs, it seems to go away. But gradually while walking it appears again. Then it disappears again. That is, the character is not constant. I noticed that I began to run better on the ground than on asphalt. There was something similar to congestion both in the calf and stamping the foot a couple of years ago, but it went away in just a couple of days. I’m really worried about this.
I can’t go to the doctor. Can someone say something about this?
To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to consult a doctor (neurologist, surgeon), additional studies: ultrasound of blood vessels, blood tests to identify signs of inflammation and the state of the blood coagulation system.
Among the general recommendations, it is important to pay attention to the nature of the warm-up (warming up all muscle groups) and stretching exercises. Water procedures (swimming pool, sauna) and massage help normalize blood circulation (in the absence of inflammatory changes).
Products and vitamin complexes (containing vitamins P, C (ascorutin)), group B, bioflavonoids (quercetin)), agents affecting venous outflow and blood vessels in general (detralex, escin, angionorm), chondroprotectors (containing chondroitin and glucosamine) improve the condition of the vascular wall, nervous system and musculoskeletal system. The choice of specific remedies can only be made by the attending physician.