When is leg pain serious? And what are the most important causes of sudden leg pain, the previous questions will be answered in this article through the contents site, leg pain is a fairly common disorder as 75% of people suffer from leg pain at some point in their lives, which affects their quality of life and the nature of their activities, when is leg pain serious? This is what will be discussed in the next lines.
When is leg pain serious?
When is leg pain serious, and what are the most important symptoms and signs related to this? Leg pain is dangerous if it is accompanied by one or more of the following symptoms:
- The pain is accompanied by swelling and redness in the leg, which indicates the presence of a thrombus in one of the leg veins that may reach a very large size due to the tumor.
- Suffering from shortness of breath and feeling hungry for air in the form of leg pain, and this is supported by the presence of a thrombus in the leg vein, as it results from a dangerous pulmonary embolism in the patient.
- Leg weakness and its inability to bear the weight of the body, and the condition is very dangerous when the patient loses his ability to walk.
- A change in the color of the leg, as the patient feels that his leg is pale or blue and cold, and this indicates the interruption of blood supply to the affected leg as a result of the presence of a clot in one of the main or branch arteries feeding the leg.
- Weakness of sensation in the affected leg, so the patient loses his ability to distinguish heat from cold, and the intensity of pain varies from case to case. This pain may increase or decrease in association with sensory confusion and disturbance.
Sudden leg pain and its main causes
After answering the question about when leg pain is dangerous, sudden leg pain and its most important causes will be addressed. Sudden leg pain is defined as pain that appears suddenly without introduction or gradual, which raises the patient’s concern about the causes leading to this, the most important of which are:
- Muscle cramp: Muscle cramp is a common cause of sudden leg pain, as it is mainly caused by strenuous exercise or sudden, rapid, and unplanned movements.
- Growing pains: Growing pains appear in children in puberty, especially during the night. These pains are concentrated in the lower extremities (thighs, legs, and feet) and are severe in some cases, which requires conducting a series of examinations and investigations to rule out possible serious cases.
- Bruises and bruises: It can be said that bruises and bruises are cases that cause sudden pain in the leg, and the pain, in this case, is accompanied by discoloration or swelling and redness of the skin along with pain, and this condition improves automatically over time.
- Disorders of the musculoskeletal system: Disorders of the musculoskeletal system are accompanied by pain in different places in the body, and therefore sudden leg pain appears when muscles, ligaments, or joints in the leg are injured.
- Vascular occlusion: A blood vessel occlusion is characterized by severe pain, swelling, pallor, and other symptoms that vary depending on the affected area and the type of blocked blood vessel (artery or vein).
- Nerve injuries: Sudden leg pain can result from a nerve injury in the lower part of the spine or the pelvic area, and the pain, in this case, is so severe that it is difficult to control by taking simple painkillers, and it may be associated with other symptoms such as numbness or confusion and other nervous disorders.
- Varicose veins of the lower extremities: Varicose veins of the lower extremities are a common disorder that affects about 35% of people, and this condition is associated with the appearance of finger polyps and burning pain with numbness in the legs, and therefore a doctor should be resorted to treating it in time before it reaches a large size.
- Fractures: Sudden leg pain can result from fractures that may affect different ages, especially children and the elderly.
leg pain complications
In the context of answering the question of when leg pain is dangerous, several related complications will be mentioned, the most important of which are:
- inability to walk or do various activities; Which affects the patient's quality of life and the nature of the activities that can be performed.
- The patient's psychological state declines, especially in the case of stubborn pain that does not respond to various treatments.
- Inability to engage in occupations that require physical strength and continuous work, such as construction work and others; Which affects the physical condition of the patient, and causes the deterioration of his economic situation.
- Weight gain and obesity due to the patient's inability to exercise that helps tone the body; Which worsens the patient's condition.
Leg pain home treatment
After discussing the answer to the question of when is leg pain serious, a group of home and treatment measures will be mentioned that help control the pain effectively, the most important of which are:
- Avoid strenuous physical activities and activities that require a large amount of energy.
- Make sure to get an adequate amount of rest and avoid making sudden, unplanned movements.
- Placing cold compresses on the affected leg, as ice and cold water help relieve pain, swelling, and local heat.
- Not keeping the leg level for a long time, as it is recommended to raise the leg on a pillow slightly higher than the surface of the body, and this procedure is very important for the prevention of various vascular disorders such as varicose veins and thrombosis.
- Placing a compression bandage around the affected leg. This procedure is considered a successful treatment for pain related to varicose veins and vascular disorders such as thrombosis and emboli.
- Taking various nutritional supplements, especially B vitamins, that help relieve pain caused by neurological and skeletal disorders.
- Taking various analgesics, nerve relaxants and muscle relaxants, and the previous medications are necessary for the treatment plan necessary to manage leg pain.
Tips for dealing with leg pain
A set of tips will be provided to help control leg pain, the most important of which are:
- Avoid doing strenuous work or activities that put pressure on or apply pressure to the affected leg.
- Doing light exercises frequently helps to get rid of muscle spasms if any.
- Getting rid of obesity and trying to lose excess weight to avoid pressure on the affected leg.
- Commit to a healthy diet rich in various nutrients, especially calcium, phosphorous, and vitamin D, and focus on milk and its derivatives; Due to its richness in the previous elements.
Here the article ends, where the question of when leg pain is dangerous was answered, the most important causes of sudden leg pain and its related complications were discussed, and finally, ways to treat leg pain and get rid of it at home were mentioned, in addition to providing a set of tips for dealing with leg pain.