Leg pain is quite prevalent, particularly among runners and physically active persons. The lower leg region endures the most stress daily, rendering it vulnerable to injury. Lower leg injuries can take several forms. Nevertheless, the intricacy of the lower leg region could make pinpointing the actual cause quite difficult. Luckily, a skilled physician can accurately determine the reasons for your Memorial Area leg pain with a thorough physical exam and imaging studies. Meanwhile, continue reading to discover the most prevalent potential causes of leg pain.
- Injury
Muscle, bone, ligament, tendon, and joint injuries are common reasons for lower leg discomfort, resulting in conditions like fractures, shin splints, strains, and sprains. Unlike strains and sprains that damage the ligaments, tendons, and muscles, shin splints are triggered by trauma to the tibia’s inner edge.
- Tendonitis
The connecting tissue between bones and muscles is a tendon. Tendonitis of the lower leg develops once the tendons get inflamed or irritated, primarily due to a rapid spike in physical activity intensity and the misuse of the calf muscles.
- Lower Back Pain or Sciatica
Sciatica is a disorder in which one or more nerves that go from the lower spine to the leg become irritated. This discomfort in the lower back generates leg pain, weakness, fatigue, cramps, numbness, and a burning sensation. Spinal stenosis, herniated disc, a tumor, or an infection could cause sciatica.
- Muscle Cramps
Inadvertent contraction of the lower leg muscles causes muscle cramps, resulting in agonizing discomfort. These abrupt, tight muscular cramps might be caused by tension, dehydration, or overuse. Patients with thyroid, fibromyalgia, diabetes and liver disease are more likely to experience muscle cramps.
- Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Peripheral artery disease is characterized by constricting one or more leg arteries, thus impeding blood flow to the leg. PAD leads to painful calf cramps that intensify with continued physical activity. Effective treatments for peripheral artery disease include a balanced diet, quitting smoking, and exercising.
- Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
DVT is a deadly condition that occurs once a blood clot develops in the leg vein. Once these blood clots move to your lung, they may end up causing a pulmonary embolism by blocking a blood vessel. This condition could harm vital organs, such as the heart and lungs, and sometimes lead to heart failure.
Typically, these clots result from a vein wall injury caused by pregnancy, diseases like cancer, and more. DVT in the lower leg could cause acute calf discomfort and edema, redness, and warmth in the calf. Medications that thin the blood are utilized to treat and prevent DVT.
- Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic Venous Insufficiency happens once the valves in your leg veins are damaged or dysfunctional, preventing blood from returning to the heart. For this reason, blood flows back into the vein and pools in the legs. Symptoms of this condition include leg cramps, ankle inflammation, a painful, stinging, itchy feeling in your legs, and general weakness.
Leg pain is not only a nuisance, but it also interferes with normal activities. This discomfort makes routine tasks like getting dressed, driving to work, and running errands miserable. If you have been suffering from leg pain, whether while standing or walking, contact a specialist to determine the underlying cause and obtain appropriate therapy.
