The 7 Most Common Causes Of Leg Pain

If you had to make a list of how many things you’ve stopped doing due to your intense leg pain, how long would it be? You’ve probably had to raincheck on practicing your favorite sports or even taking a walk around the mall. 

Leg pain is an all-too-common complaint. The best you can do is identify the source of your pain to treat it and go back to enjoying your life to the fullest. 

In this blog, we’ll explain the most common causes of experiencing leg pain.

Which Of These Causes Can You Relate To?

There are a variety of potential leg pain causes, including muscle strains, joint injuries, overuse syndromes, and nerve problems. 

A physician must determine the underlying cause of your pain by performing an examination, along with prescribing the appropriate treatment according to your lifestyle and diagnosis.

Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)

When you have this condition, your legs don’t receive enough blood. This is usually because your arteries have narrowed down. When you walk, your legs may feel weak or numb, and they might cramp. They also might feel a little cold and present an odd color. 

Your doctor will look at many different factors when assessing PAD risk. Those include age, current or former smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and family history.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

This is a blood clot that forms in a vein deep in your thigh or lower leg. It is usually caused by restricted blood flow tied to prolonged periods of being seated or lying down. You might not always present any symptoms, but the most common are swelling and pain; also, your leg might feel warm and turn red. 

If you notice any of these symptoms, you must immediately contact a specialist because, if not treated, the blood clot can break off and travel to your lung, causing a pulmonary embolism.

Electrolyte Deficiency

Minerals such as sodium, potassium, and calcium are all electrolytes that contribute to muscles working smoothly. If you exercise regularly or do any sport daily, you can lose these minerals through sweat. If you lose too much, your legs will start cramping, feeling weak and numb.

Spinal Stenosis

Spine spondylosis is a disease in which the spaces within your spine’s bones get narrow. This puts pressure on the nerves in the region, causing pain, tingling, numbness, or paralysis in your legs. You also might have trouble with balance. Medication and physical therapy can help ease the pain and reduce symptoms.

Sciatica

Sciatica is leg pain caused by a pinched nerve in your lower spine. It can be as severe as a bad cramp or as mild as shooting pain, making it difficult to stand or sit. A slipped, herniated disk, a slipped vertebra, a spasm of your butt muscles, or spinal stenosis are all possible causes. 

Your doctor might suggest OTC medication and physical therapy if you have minor discomfort. If you have a more severe problem, you might require surgery.

Pulled Muscle

When a muscle is stretched excessively, it becomes strained or pulled. This affects mostly athletes and people who intensively exercise. The agony is severe and begins immediately, with the area feeling sensitive to the touch.

The most effective cure is to ice it with ice packs for at least 20 minutes throughout the day. Keep your leg wrapped and lightly elevated. OTC pain relievers may help with the discomfort.

Varicose Veins

Veins that have to work extra hard to return blood to your heart appear twisted, blue, or black purple. They may make your legs feel heavy, burn, throb, or cramp. You’re more likely to get them as you grow older and/or if you’re overweight, pregnant, or spend a lot of time sitting or standing. Treatments include losing weight, exercising, or wearing compression stockings.

Relieve Your Pain With Experts

You don’t have to suffer anymore! At Leigh Brain and Spine, we offer you non-surgical and drug-free solutions for relieving your joint aches, backaches, neck strains, or other pains that are bothering you. Our expert physicians will know exactly how to diagnose the problem right away!

We pride ourselves on being one of the first clinics in Chapel Hill to use Piezo Wave Therapy which delivers multiple sonic waves to the affected part of the body, effectively relieving your pain. What are you waiting for? Go back to living your life to the fullest with our leg pain treatments from the best chiropractors in Chapel Hill.

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