Are you suffering from excruciating leg pain due to a sprain, fracture, or injury? If yes, then this is a must-read article for you. If you are among those who suffer from leg pain and have limited activity due to it, you know the struggle of living life with limitations. In this post, you will learn about the different types of leg pain, their causes, and their impact on daily activities.
You should know that having this type of problem with your legs can lead to major problems and even stop you from doing things. When pain takes over your life, it becomes impossible to function even on a day-to-day basis. The good news is that many treatments available at our Manhattan pain management center that can help get rid of these painful symptoms in as little time as possible so that you can live a happier life again.
What causes leg pain?
Over time, tight muscles, poor posture, and imbalances in your body can lead to a wide variety of health issues, including lower back pain, knee pain, and even problems with your feet or ankles.
Leg pain is one of the most common reasons for people to seek medical attention. If you have pain in your leg, it can be scary. Out of nowhere, everything around you will feel different and harder to manage. Many different conditions can cause it, including:
· Sprains and strains: A sprain or strain is an injury to a ligament that can occur from overuse or sudden trauma, such as falling down or changing direction quickly.
· Fractures: A fracture is an injury to the bone caused by blunt force trauma such as falling or being struck by an object. Fractures can occur in almost any bone throughout the body, including in your arms and legs.
· Sports injuries: Sports injuries can be very serious if they cause torn cartilage or ligaments.
· Joint problems: Joint problems can cause pain all over your body, including your lower back, hip, knees, and ankles. Some joint-related conditions include arthritis and osteoarthritis.
· Overuse: Leg pain can result from repetitive physical activity, such as running or playing sports. This type of leg pain is often referred to as runner's knee or patellofemoral (PF) syndrome.
· Musculoskeletal injury: Pain in the lower leg can be caused by a fracture or dislocation, sprains, strains, and tears in muscles and tendons. These injuries can occur during sports participation or even at home on a daily basis without your knowledge.
How does leg pain affect your life?
Leg pain can vary in intensity, depending on the severity of the problem. For example, if you have bone spurs on your heel bone (calcaneus), you might feel a sharp shooting pain when you move your foot up and down (dorsiflexion). If you have arthritis in your knee joint, you might feel a dull ache after sitting for long periods of time. And if you have peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage), you might experience numbness or tingling sensations that travel from your feet up through your legs.
Leg pain can be a serious problem. If left untreated, leg pain can lead to:
· Change in behavior, just as it can take away the motor function
· Feeling guilty about the activity that causes pain when pain isn't your fault.
· Reduced quality of life due to inability to participate in activities that you enjoy
· Trouble sleeping and experiencing problems with your mood or emotions
· Make it hard to exercise and get enough physical activity, which is important for good health.
· Weakness in your legs may make you feel like you want to stop working or doing other activities requiring energy and effort.
· Social life may suffer as well because of the embarrassment and shame that comes with having a condition that limits your activities.
Leg pain is different for everyone. It can range from mild to severe, and it can affect your ability to walk, sleep and work. In some cases, leg pain is short-lived and goes away on its own. But if you're experiencing chronic leg pain, you may want to see a pain specialist for an evaluation to get the right treatment for your leg pain so that it doesn't affect your quality of life.
Should you see a specialist for leg pain?
If you have pain, it can be difficult to know whether it is serious or not. So the most important thing is for you to know what type of pain you're experiencing.
The best way to find out is by visiting a medical professional specializing in treating this condition. If it's sharp and stabbing and doesn't seem related to any activity, then usually, it's something that needs to be addressed by a physical therapist or pain specialist. A physical examination will help determine whether the pain is due to an injury, muscle strain, sprain, or something else.
You should seek medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms:
· If you have experienced sudden or intense pain in your leg
· Pain with movement, like bending over or lifting something heavy
· Swelling, tenderness, or other symptoms of inflammation like heat or redness in the joints
· Pain that radiates down one or both legs
· Pain that's not getting better over time
There are several reasons for leg pain. The sooner you get it diagnosed and treated, the less damage you will be susceptible to. If left untreated, your condition could cause permanent damage, leading to severe complications.
Treatment for leg pain depends on what's causing it. Your doctor may suggest steroid injection treatment to control your symptoms, physical therapy to strengthen your muscles, and exercise programs to help improve mobility and endurance.
Takeaway
Certain things may aggravate your leg pain, depending on where the pain is coming from. If you have persistent leg pain, don't suffer in silence. Consult our Manhattan pain management specialist to assess the problem.
Leg pain can be uncomfortable and frustrating, but it is possible to reduce and even eliminate the pain through our pain management services. In addition, we offer treatment options that can get to the root of the problem and relieve your leg pain in a non-invasive manner.