Leg pain when walking

Pain in the legs when walking is familiar, perhaps, to each of us, with rare exceptions. If earlier it was older people who complained about it, now among the patients who seek medical help with such complaints, you can increasingly meet middle-aged people, or even very young people, 20-25 years old. Heaviness and pain can occur both when walking and at rest.

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Diseases that cause pain in the leg when walking

The type of pain, its intensity and frequency may vary significantly depending on the cause of the pain. Among the most common causes of discomfort are:

• Osteochondrosis.
• Sciatica.
• Gout.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Neurogenic lameness.
• Venous/true intermittent claudication.
• Lumbago.
• Flat feet.
• Osteochondrosis

This disease is a disorder of the intervertebral discs, joints, and spinal tissues. People over 30-35 are susceptible to it, however, in some cases, teenagers are also susceptible to it. With osteochondrosis, patients often first feel pain in the spine, which is accompanied by numbness of the limbs, most often the left side suffers, then pain in the legs occurs when walking. Patients also feel unwell, quickly get tired at work. Various methods are used in the treatment: laser therapy, electrical stimulation, acupuncture, manual therapy, and be prepared for a course of procedures that includes up to 15 sessions.

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Sciatica

This is an inflammation affecting the sciatic nerve. The symptom here will be intense pain in the back of the thigh, patients may also feel weakness, numbness of the limbs, and tingling in them. Painful sensations only intensify when a cold appears, for example, when coughing. The causes of sciatica can be intervertebral hernia, arthritis, various injuries, hypothermia, past infectious diseases. As a rule, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, a course of physiotherapy, and bed rest are used to treat sciatica.

Gout

It occurs most often in people over 40 years of age and is associated with excessive accumulation of uric acid salts in the body. Attacks are often accompanied by reddening of the skin of the leg, a significant increase in temperature, and intense pain. The disease can be caused by poor nutrition, drinking alcohol in large quantities, diabetes, and arthritis. Unfortunately, this disease is incurable: it is impossible to completely get rid of it after the first signs appear. However, a proper diet, bed rest, and blood purification procedures can help in the fight against gout. Sometimes doctors resort to surgery.

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Osteoarthritis

Pain in the leg when walking can be caused by damage to the knee, metatarsophalangeal joints, and the first toe. In this case, especially increasing sensations when walking may subside in a calm state. Over time, movement of the affected joints may be limited. Physiotherapy, therapeutic massage, anti-inflammatory drugs, and reduced loads are used to treat the disease.

Neurogenic lameness

This disease usually occurs in men after 40-45 years of age who are engaged in heavy physical work and are constantly exposed to stress. In such cases, pain can spread throughout the entire leg, with the pain being especially acute in the knee area. Also among the common complaints are fatigue and tiredness. As a rule, the pain subsides at rest. Magnetic resonance imaging and myelography are used for diagnosis. Treatment consists of using anti-inflammatory drugs, electrophoresis, therapeutic massage, manual therapy methods, and a significant reduction in the amount of physical work.

Venous/true intermittent claudication

In case of venous claudication, pain is felt due to the outflow of blood from the extremities. The pain spreads throughout the leg, is accompanied by cramps, and constantly subsides when the movement stops. Relief comes with raising the legs.

True intermittent claudication also occurs due to blood deficiency, atherosclerosis. Characteristic features include fatigue, pain in the hip, shin, cold feet, problems with walking long distances. Treatment in these cases includes various physiotherapy procedures, rest in a sanatorium, and sometimes even surgical methods are used.

Lumbago

This is the name for severe lower back pain that accompanies leg pain when walking. It is caused by damage to the femoral nerve. The discomfort does not subside when you stand or sit. To alleviate the condition, you can lie down on a hard surface, raising or bending your legs. The use of reflex treatment methods is especially popular here.

Flat feet

This foot deformation is one of the common causes of fatigue that occurs when walking. In order to reduce painful sensations, doctors recommend using orthopedic insoles and doing physical exercises daily.

In a world where there is so much movement, pain in the legs when walking is almost inevitable. However, make sure that it does not develop into a chronic problem, pay maximum attention to your body - and you can avoid any problems!

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