Pain in the legs: where do they come from?

pain-in-the-legs-where-do-they-come-from

First, it is only a slight tingling, then a sting in the muscles: leg pain can not only be felt in very different ways, they also have many possible causes. Frequently, the discomfort of the legs is just a sign of short-term overload, for example, when you have sore muscles after exercising . Or you have heavy legs because you walked all day through the city. As a rule, such body aches disappear after one or two days by themselves. But it’s not always as easy as with muscle aches. 

Pain in the legs: cause of the symptoms 

When it’s clear that overloading can not be the cause of leg pain, we need to look for clues. The following causes of leg pain are typical: 

  • Injuries such as broken bones, knee injuries, ligament or tendon rupture 
  • Weak veins or venous insufficiency 
  • Varicose veins 
  • Circulatory disorders 
  • Thrombosis and embolisms 
  • Joint wear (osteoarthritis or rheumatism) 
  • Inflammation 
  • Gout 
  • Osteoporosis

In addition, the cause of the pain is not always found in the leg itself – the symptoms of a hip disease, for example, can radiate to the thigh. If you are unsure of where the leg pain comes from, you should definitely seek medical attention. 

Do I always have to go to the doctor because of my leg pain? 

Especially with acute pain, there are some signs that indicate a serious illness and should be examined by a doctor. These include: 

  • Strong, long-lasting pain 
  • Swollen joints that feel overly warm 
  • Difficult to assess pain after an accident or injury 

What helps against leg and body aches? 

Anti-inflammatory drugs, which are available in both tablet and ointment form, help against severe leg pain. Especially with knee joint complaints, it makes sense to apply an ointment and then stabilize the joint with a bandage. Otherwise, pain in the legs is treated based on the cause:  varicose veins and weak veins, for example due to compression stumps or surgical procedures, fractures appear to be. In addition, there are some measures that can provide relief for almost all joint and limb pain: 

  • Cold or heat treatments (depending on the cause, ask your doctor) 
  • Physical therapy 
  • Exercise (especially joint-gentle sports such as swimming and walking) 
  • Water and bath therapy