Leg pain can express itself in many ways. It is not the same what you feel for having tired legs, than what causes a stress fracture. But it is that the same pain caused by heavy legs can be generalized or localized in varicose veins if they are had.
Types of leg pain
It is impossible to describe all types of leg pain, but the most common are these:
- Due to poor circulation. The heaviness is compounded by intense pain when walking or exercising, which improves when you rest and which may be accompanied by tingling and / or cramps. There are many myths around heavy legs, but in this article we will tell you the whole truth.
- For a bone or muscle fracture. It is a sharp pain, located in the affected area, which is a warning signal sent by the body to alert that something bad has happened.
- From a muscle cramp. It is a sudden, intense pain that goes away but may reappear after a certain time. And think that a muscle cramp can alert you to various health problems.
- For sciatica. It is a pain that is easy to identify due to its location, since it runs down the buttock, the leg and can reach the foot, following the path of the sciatic nerve. It can be like an intense pang or manifest as a burning that gradually intensifies.
- For fibromyalgia. It is a generalized pain in the muscles and tendons but intensified in certain pain points.
- By osteoarthritis. It is a pain that is noticeable when moving and that is relieved with rest. It is usually located in the joints, so in the leg it is noticeable in the knee and the big toe.
- For arthritis. Unlike osteoarthritis, joint pain worsens with rest and the discomfort is more general.
Causes of leg pain
But, to try to be specific and see how to relieve leg pain later, we are going to define two large groups of causes:
- Leg pain due to various diseases. It can be due to circulatory problems (atherosclerosis, varicose veins, deep thrombosis …), due to arthritis, osteoarthritis, sciatica, a bone infection (osteomyelitis), fibromyalgia, tumors, etc.
- Leg pain due to injuries. They can be bone fissures or fractures or strains, muscle tears or tears, or ligament problems.
How to relieve leg pain
In the case of injuries, it is easier to specify, since these injuries, broadly speaking, usually require immobilization of the affected part, rest, treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs, a subsequent recovery or, if the case is serious, surgery.
In the event that leg pain is due to other diseases, we must see what is behind it and how to approach its treatment. It is not the same to relieve sciatica than pain in the knees or that experienced by someone with fibromyalgia.
The important thing: a good diagnosis
In the event that leg pain is due to a disease and not an injury, being able to accurately describe what this pain is like will give the doctor clues to correct the diagnosis. You have to look at the following:
- Where does it hurt. On the knee, from the buttock to the foot …
- When it hurts When you get up, when you move … It is also important to know at what time of the day, because night cramps, for example, give a lot of information to the doctor.
- How is the pain. Sharp, stabbing, etc.
- What other symptoms do you notice? Tingling, tiredness, etc.
How to avoid leg pain
In addition to following the specific treatment for the ailment that causes it, there are general recommendations that are useful in many cases:
- Be at the ideal weight . To avoid overloading the muscles and joints. If you need to lose weight, you can take our test to find out which is the best diet for you.
- To eat a balanced diet. The ideal is to follow a healthy model, such as our Mediterranean diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes.
- Get regular exercise. Ideally, it should be a sports routine that combines cardiovascular work (walking, running, cycling, swimming…) with strength (weights, isometrics…). And you should follow it between 3 and 5 times a week. If you want to do it at home, you can stop by our section of the gym at home.
- Bring proper postural hygiene. That is, adopt good postures when sitting, standing, sleeping, doing sports, etc.
