Pain in the left leg
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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The pain in the left leg accompanies a lot of people throughout their life. Some prefer to endure pain or self-medicate, while others are more rational - they go to medical institutions for medical help. The earlier it is possible to identify the cause of the pain, the less prolonged and less difficult will be the treatment.
[What causes pain in the left leg?
Pain in the left leg can occur due to many reasons. Often the pain in the leg is associated with diseases of the joints, leg vessels, muscles, spine.
The most common cause of pain in the left leg is problems with the vessels. A disturbed outflow of venous blood causes an increase in intravascular pressure. As a result, stagnation of venous blood is formed, nerve endings are irritated and, as a result, painful sensations appear in the leg. The patient experiences an unpleasant heaviness in the leg, "dull" pain. The started disease ends as a result of varicose veins.
Thrombophlebitis is a serious vascular disease that causes a throbbing, often accompanied by burning and other unpleasant sensations in the leg. The pain syndrome is permanent, the gastrocnemius muscles are the most affected.
Pain in the left leg can cause arteriosclerosis and arteriosclerosis. As a result of the tightening of the vascular walls, the patient feels a compressive pain, which increases during walking, in the area of the calf muscles. The main symptom of atherosclerosis is cold feet at any time of the year.
Diseases of the spine are accompanied by irradiating pain in the left leg. The patient may not know about this relationship, because the spine is not always painful. Most often, the cause of pain is inflammation of the sciatic nerve, or simply sciatica. Passing through the sciatic nerve, the pain is transmitted to the foot, causing unpleasant, pulling sensations in the area of the thigh or the entire back surface of the left leg.
Pain in the left leg can be a consequence of a diseased femoral nerve, which is found in osteochondrosis, spine tumors, spondylitis (more often in children). Pain extends to the entire antero-inner thigh surface.
Another, often occurring source of pain in the left leg is joint diseases. Exacerbation of pain is observed when changing weather conditions, the leg seems to "twist". Particularly tormented at this time are patients with gout. If the pain in the knee is fixed, then we can assume destruction of the knee cartilage.
Problems with peripheral nerves can also be a source of pain in the left leg. With neuralgia, pain occurs in periods, and, the attack can disappear, and the pain will continue to be present for some time.
Myositis - inflammation of the muscles - a serious disease that causes pain in the left leg. The patient should immediately call a doctor.
The pain in the left leg, prolonged and acute, can be caused by a bone disease such as osteomyelitis.
Often, various injuries (bruises, sprains or rupture of ligaments, fractures, etc.), heavy physical work, wearing uncomfortable shoes can provoke pain in the left leg.
If a person feels sharp painful attacks in the lower leg, as well as a fever and a sudden reddening of the skin, then it is possible to establish erysipelas (easier face). In the presence of swelling of tissues, pulsating and as if tearing the leg of pain can be a sign of thrombosis, phlegmon, lymphatic edema. Painful sensations are amplified by pressing a sore spot. Consultation of a doctor is extremely necessary in the event that suddenly the pain in the left leg does not go away, there is numbness, cooling, swelling or cyanosis of the skin.
What if you have pain in your left leg?
Pain in the left leg may not appear, if you follow several simple rules, for example, do not sit for long on a chair (especially this applies to office workers), and periodically get up and walk around the office. In the presence of vascular diseases it is recommended to exclude from the diet of their diet fat, cholesterol-rich food; perform special physical exercises that effectively help in the fight against varicose veins; you should lose excess weight, if any. Diseases of the spine can and should be treated only under the strict supervision of a doctor. The most common method of treatment is massage, included in the overall treatment complex.
For more than 3 days, pain in the left leg should be urgently addressed to a medical center for help!