Leg Muscle Pain
All About Leg Muscle Pain
There are a wide variety of reasons for leg muscle pain. These reasons can range from overuse and excessive exercising to more serious issues. Regardless, many people throughout the world experience leg muscle pain and seek for methods of treatment to relieve the pain and distress. Throughout this article we will examine the different causes to this type of pain as well as when to see a doctor.
One of the most common situations in which leg pain is experienced is in the form of leg cramps. These muscle cramps can be due to a wide variety of situations. When a person exercises frequently without properly warming up the muscle, he or she can have leg cramps. Some medications, such as diuretics, can also cause leg muscle cramps. Other situations leading to cramps include lowered amounts of calcium or sodium, cholesterol medicine, and even sitting in the same position for an extended period of time. Obviously, these cramps make up the milder form of leg muscle pain even if they are problematic and annoying.
Aside from overuse and other situations that lead to cramps, other leg muscle pains may be a result of injury. The muscle itself can be strained; however, other common problems include stress fractures and inflammation near the tendons, which is also known as tendinitis. However, anyone who is on bed rest may experience muscle pain as a result of blood clots within their legs from a lack of frequent movement. Arthritis and an infection within the bone may be a leg pain cause that can be misdiagnosed as muscle pain. Furthermore, leg pain at the front of the leg after prolonged walking or running may be a sign of shin splints.
Along with the conditions listed above, there are a variety of other situations and illnesses that may be the cause. Although some of the conditions discussed next are relatively rare, they cannot be ruled out. Some people may have tumors within their legs that cause the pain. On the other hand, others may have issues with blood flow that causes these aches. Believe it or not, even a slipped disk from a person back may be causing the painful feelings in a person’s leg.
As with any symptom, proper diagnosis and treatment will vary depending on the cause of the leg pain. There is not one recommended treatment that will make leg muscle pain diminish permanently since the cause must be addressed. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek medical assistance if the pain lasts more than a few days. However, if the pain is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, swelling, or discoloration be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible.
There may be some methods to ease your pain until you get an appointment with your doctor. First, if you believe the pain is a result of overuse, be sure to rest for a while to give your muscle time to heal. You may also receive some relief by elevation of the leg and applying ice. For inflammation, feel free to take an over the counter medication to ease the swelling and minimize some of the pain.
In conclusion, there are a variety of different things that could be causing the leg muscle pain; therefore, it is important for anyone experiencing the pain longer than a few days or in the presence of other symptoms to seek medical attention. Only a doctor will be able to adequately diagnosis the problem and provide a treatment plan that will be successful. Never risk walking on a hurt leg too much because there could be a serious problem that may be due to something other than just a strain. Be smart and seek medical attention in these situations.