Everything you need to know about leg pain

Pain crops up when nerves respond to stimuli, such as high levels of pressure, chemical, and high or low temperature, which can be released because of tissue damage. Leg pain can be of different kinds, including a sharp pain, a dull ache, numbness, tingling, burning, or a radiating pain. It can also be acute or it can be persistent and chronic. On a scale, the severity can be rated from 1 to 10 or from mild to severe.

Below is some information about leg pain that will help you understand this common ailment better.

Is leg pain normal?

• Leg pain can make your life very hard and tiring.
• It occurs to almost every individual on a regular basis due to physical activity, medical health, genetics and general health of the body.
• It may also occur at a particular time for some people, for example, leg pain in women when they are on their period.
• It is normal, but chronic pain can be dangerous and should be checked out by doctors immediately.

What are some causes of leg pain?

• Vascular pain : Peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis, varicose veins, infections, eczema, etc, are the vascular causes of leg pain.
• Neurological pain : Health conditions that cause leg pain include nerve damage, sciatic nerve pain, nerve damage, and restless leg syndrome (RLS), in which the legs twitch uncontrollably. The neurological pain in the legs can be present even while resting.
• Musculoskeletal pain : Examples of musculoskeletal pain include crepitus, which is recognized by a popping or a cracking sound in the knees; arthritis, which is an autoimmune disease that affects the ankles, hips, or knees. If a muscle, ligament, or a tendon gets strained, the pain caused will be musculoskeletal. Some of the musculoskeletal pains include stress fractures, night cramps, and compartment syndrome.

What leg pain treatment exercise is recommended when you have sciatica?

• Sciatica is a health condition that occurs when the sciatic nerve in the body is impaired or is causing problems in the body.
• The sciatic nerve is a nerve that starts from the spinal cord and goes down the hips and then branches down into both legs.
• This can cause extreme pain and it is hard to treat.
• However, there are some exercise-based leg treatment options you can do at home.
• Many people who experience leg pain because of sciatica have reported less pain with constant practice of these exercises.
• One exercise includes leg and arm lift, wherein you have to position yourself with all fours on the ground (use a soft, but firm mat). Keep your back and spine straight while your abdomen is engaged. Lift your right arm and left leg, and stay like this for about 5 to 8 seconds. Revert to all fours position. Now lift your left arm and right leg, and again stay in the position for 5 to 8 seconds. Revert to all fours when done. Continue this exercise for 2-3 minutes.

What leg pain treatment exercise is recommended when you have varicose veins?

• Varicose veins is a health condition that tends to occur most often in the deep veins of the legs, and it is marked by enlargement of these veins.
• Sometimes, varicose veins can indicate that the patient has circulatory problems.
• Although for many it may only cause concern because of the change in the color of the now prominent bulged veins, for others, it can cause intense leg pain in the form of swelling, throbbing pain, or even muscle cramps. Bleeding may also occur.
• Many patients wear compression stockings to alleviate the pain caused because of varicose veins.
• One simple exercise recommended as a varicose veins leg pain treatment is the bicycle kick exercise.
• For this exercise, lie down on a soft mat on the floor with your back on the ground. Lift both your legs off the ground and form an angle of 90° by bending your knees. Gently extend your right leg out straight, without changing the position of the left leg, which should still be bent at the knee. Pull your right leg back, and similarly, extend your left leg slowly. Continue doing this for 2 to 3 minutes in a slow and gentle manner.