Right leg pain

A feeling of heaviness, pain in the legs - these are symptoms that are familiar to many, regardless of age or social status. Most often, both legs hurt, but sometimes pain occurs in the right leg, which can be caused by various reasons - diseases of the bone or vascular system, a pain symptom may indicate an injury, venous congestion or deformation of the spinal column.

Such a large variability of causal factors can be explained by the rather complex structure of the lower limbs, which consist of large and small bones, joints, muscle tissue, tendons and ligaments.

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Causes of pain in the right leg

Among the frequently encountered factors that provoke pain in the right leg, the following diseases can be named:

• Obliterating atherosclerosis, Leriche syndrome.
• Thrombosis, thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities.
• Osteochondrosis, most often of the lumbosacral region.
• Spondylolysis (failure of the arch and body of the vertebra to close).
• Intervertebral hernia.
• Myositis of various etiologies.
• Lumboischialgia (radiculopathy).
• Joint diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, arthrosis, coxarthrosis, arthropathies).
• Injuries – spine, legs.
• Osteoporosis.
• Diabetes mellitus (diabetic polyneuropathy).
• Scheuermann-Mau disease (postural disorder, kyphosis).
• Schlatter's disease (a degenerative process in the tibia).

First of all, the causes of pain in the right leg are associated with diseases of the vascular system, secondly - with pathological processes in the spinal column. Less often, the cause of the pain symptom is an inflammatory process in muscle tissue (myositis).

1. Vascular factor.

Varicose veins are a chronic disease in which the lumen of the veins gradually expands, disrupting the process of venous blood outflow. Stasis of venous blood provokes the development of deep vein thrombosis, most often femoral, and stagnation of blood flow can also cause thrombophlebitis.

Thrombosis (DVT or deep vein thrombosis) is a secondary disease characterized by thrombus formation in the venous lumen, its blockage. The disease was described two centuries ago by the German physician, the founder of morphological pathology, Rudolf Virchow, who proposed to systematize the causative factors into a triad - blood clotting disorder, slow blood flow and vascular wall integrity disorder. Thrombosis should be differentiated from thrombophlebitis, which is distinguished by the fact that thrombi appear not in deep veins, but in superficial veins.

OASNK – obliterating atherosclerosis of the lower extremities – is a progressive process in which the inner wall of the vessels is filled with cholesterol deposits, narrowing of the vessels and blockage of the arteries develops.

Leriche syndrome is a congenital or secondarily acquired occlusion (blockage) of the iliac aorta and aorta abdominalis – the abdominal aorta. Most often, the disease manifests itself as intermittent claudication and pain in the right or left leg.

2. Diseases of the spine.

Lumbar osteochondrosis is a progressive disease associated with radiculopathy (radicular syndrome). Pain in the right leg is radiating pain, which is provoked by a degenerative process in the intervertebral disc.

Spondylolysis is a defect in the structure of the vertebral arch (vertebral arch), most often caused by excessive loads.

A lumbar disc herniation is a protrusion or prolapse of the disc nucleus through a damaged fibrous ring.

Myotonic or neurodystrophic lumbosciatica (sciatica) is a painful syndrome in which there is a pinching of the nerve endings of the Nervus ischiadicus trunk - the large nerve of the cross (sciatic nerve).

3. Diseases of muscle tissue.

Myositis is an inflammatory process in striated (skeletal) muscles, most often of infectious etiology. Myalgia can also be caused by toxic or mechanical factors (overload).

Inflammation of the tendons - myoenthesitis, caused by excessive physical exertion of a professional nature.

Fibromyalgia is a disease that is common in women and is considered a complex, poorly understood syndrome. Fibromyalgia is characterized by widespread (diffuse) pain in muscles, soft tissues, including in one or both legs.

4. Joint diseases.

Arthritis of the knee joint - osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other types. This is a degenerative or inflammatory damage to the knee cartilage.

Coxitis, coxarthrosis is a degenerative disease of the hip joint.

Gout of the feet is a chronic disease in which urate crystals accumulate in the joints of the feet (the joint of the big toe) due to a violation of uric acid metabolism.

Also, the causes of pain in the right leg may be associated with a unilateral infectious (streptococcal) disease - erysipelas.

The variety of etiological factors causing unilateral pain in the leg is often a reason for an extensive, comprehensive examination prescribed by a vascular surgeon or rheumatologist.

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Symptoms of pain in the right leg

Signs and symptoms of pain in the right leg are most often non-specific, that is, they cannot indicate a specific cause of the disease. The pain signal can be associated with vascular pathologies, diseases of the skeletal system, as well as with metabolic disorders or inflammation of muscles and tendons. However, pain in the right leg can serve as the first alarming evidence of the onset of diabetes, thrombosis or pathological destruction of the hip joint. Therefore, at the first signs of discomfort in the leg, you should consult a doctor for examination.

Differential symptoms of pain in the right leg

1. Varicose veins:
   • Fatigue after walking, even for a short time.
   • Periodic cramps in the calves of the legs, more often at night.
   • A stabbing pain in one or both legs when standing.
   • Dull, nagging pain that subsides when the body is in a horizontal position.
   • A feeling of distension in the calf muscles of the leg.
   • Itching of the skin of the legs.
   • A pulsating sensation in the leg.
2. Obliterating atherosclerosis:
   • Increasing pain in the leg muscles.
   • Pain, spasm in the calf when walking.
   • Feeling of cold in the foot.
   • Pain in the leg that subsides with movement.
   • A tingling, crawling sensation in the foot.
   • Swelling of the foot when the body is in an upright position.
   • Dry, flaky skin on the legs.
   • Periodic convulsions.
3. Coxarthrosis of the hip joint:
   • Radiating pain in the leg (from the groin down to the knee).
   • Pain when trying to get up from a chair, from a bed.
   • Pain that subsides at rest, in a horizontal position.
   • Intermittent claudication, limping on the right or left leg.
   • The leg gradually becomes thinner, the muscles atrophy.
   • Gradual restriction of leg movement.
   • Difficulty moving the leg to the side.
4. Neuropathic pain:
   • Pulling, paroxysmal pain.
   • Burning, tingling throughout the leg.
   • Numbness in the leg (calf, foot).
   • Severe shooting pain radiating to the back of the leg (lumbago).
5. Arthrosis:
   • Sharp, stabbing pain that intensifies when walking and moving.
   • Pain when standing and maintaining the position for a long time.
   • Joint swelling.
   • Dependence of pain on weather conditions.
6. Diabetes mellitus, neuropathy:
   • Cramps in calf muscles at night.
   • Swelling of the legs.
   • Itching, sometimes unbearable.
   • Tingling in the feet.
   • Weakness, tiredness of legs.
7. Myalgia, myositis:
   • The pain is intense, starting from the hips and moving downwards.
   • Pain dependent on weather conditions.
   • The appearance of nodules in the muscles that can be palpated.
   • Sharp pain in the calf muscles, convulsive syndrome.
8. Gout:
   • Pulsating pain in the big toe.
   • Swelling and redness of the joint.
   • The pain, which patients describe as “gnawing,” is worse at night.

Symptoms of pain in the right leg may subside and move to the left limb, and pain may also be bilateral, especially as the disease progresses.

Pain in the right leg can have different nature, accordingly, by comparing the specifics of pain and general descriptions of diseases, you can try to independently determine the root cause of the pain symptom.

If the pain radiates to the right leg

When the pain is felt as reflected, irradiating, most likely it is lumbosciatica with compression of the peroneal nerve or with discogenic lesion of the upper roots of the lumbar region. Especially characteristic of lumbago is the sign of lumbago, which spreads along the back of the leg. As a rule, the pain radiates to the right leg if there is a right-sided displacement of the vertebra and compression of the nerve of the sacral spine. The sensations are so strong that a person literally cannot straighten his back, much less walk.

If the pain radiates to the right leg, then a problem is developing in the spine – intervertebral hernia, which must be treated comprehensively, and not only with the help of manual therapy. It should be remembered that there is a direct cause-and-effect relationship: osteochondrosis – intervertebral hernia – lumbosciatica – pain syndrome.

Aching pain in the right leg

Most often, nagging pains, not intense, bearable but constant, are characteristic of osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine. Pinched sciatic nerve is already an exacerbation of the process, in which the pain intensifies and becomes unbearable. If the lower back "aches", as a rule, on one side, it is necessary to urgently take measures to prevent the displacement of the vertebra before a hernia forms. The effectiveness of treatment directly depends on timely treatment. In addition, nagging pain in the right leg can be an initial sign of unilateral varicose veins of the deep veins, less often a symptom of gynecological or urological problems. In any case, the nagging nature of the pain indicates that the disease is in the initial stage of development, and until it worsens, a person has time to prevent serious complications.

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Aching pain in the right leg

It may indicate a lack of microelements or vitamins in the body. This condition is quite understandable for pregnant women with a lack of magnesium. It is worth starting to take vitamin and mineral complexes, as the aching pain in the right or left leg goes away. Also, such pains can occur in those who are overly fond of diets that deplete the body's resources and reserves. However, aching pain in the right leg, like all one-sided pains, is a rather serious sign of incipient problems, which may include the following diseases or conditions:

• A developing degenerative lesion of the spinal column with radiating pain to one or both limbs.
• Magnesium or calcium deficiency.
• Initial stage of obliterating endarteritis.
• Initial stage of varicose veins of the deep veins.
• The first symptoms of diabetes.
• Manifestations of renal pathologies.
• Pelvic vein dilation.
• Haemorrhoids.

Severe pain in the right leg

May indicate developed thrombophlebitis of the femoral vein. With this disease, a person feels acute, severe pain, the leg noticeably swells, becomes bluish. Thrombophlebitis of the main, iliofemoral vein is most clearly felt when the pain symptom appears on one side of the abdomen and spreads down to the groin, then most often to the leg. If the thrombus completely blocks the vein, the leg noticeably swells, lymphostasis develops, the body temperature rises (up to 39 degrees), general intoxication of the body begins. Also, severe pain in the right leg can be provoked by myositis, especially of infectious etiology. Muscle tissue is permeated with nerve endings that are sensitive to the slightest inflammation. The pain with myositis is very intense, does not subside with a change in posture, body position. Among the causes that cause severe, acute pain in the leg or legs, gout can also be named. Most often, this disease affects both feet, but the onset of the disease can also manifest itself in the joint of the big toe of one limb, for example, the right one. In addition, severe pain in the right leg is a typical sign of lumbosacral radicular syndrome. This pain is so sharp, acute, that it is not by chance that it is characterized as a "lumbago".

Diagnosis of pain in the right leg

Diagnostic measures for unilateral leg pain should be as comprehensive as possible, since the pain symptom can be a consequence of a variety of diseases.

Diagnosis of pain in the right leg involves the following examination plan:

• Collection of anamnesis, which includes answers to the following questions:
  • Where is the pain in the right leg localized?
  • Does the pain appear in the other leg?
  • Characteristics of pain: aching, sharp, constant, paroxysmal, and so on.
  • Dependence of pain symptoms on weather conditions, time of day (night, day).
  • Dependence of the pain symptom on rest or physical activity, on body position.
  • The presence of other symptoms – body temperature, skin condition, pain in other areas of the body.
• Physical examination - visual inspection, specific tests, reflex testing, palpation.
• Instrumental diagnostics of pain in the right leg:
  • Ultrasound examination of the leg (vessels).
  • Radiography.
  • Laboratory blood tests that determine the number of leukocytes, leukocyte index, ESR, uric acid levels and other parameters of a possible inflammatory process.
  • Arteriogram – recording of arterial pulse fluctuations over time.
  • Duplex angioscanning.
  • Examination of the skeletal system – scintigraphy (radionuclide scanning).
  • Magnetic resonance imaging showing the condition of blood vessels, cartilage, and bone tissue.

If necessary, diagnosis of pain in the right leg may also include ultrasound of the abdominal organs, since the symptom may indicate impaired kidney or liver function.

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Treatment for pain in the right leg

Therapeutic measures to eliminate pain in the right leg primarily depend on the underlying cause of the symptom. The choice of method, method and duration of treatment for pain in the right leg are related to a specific diagnosis. A patient with varicose veins at an early stage can be treated on an outpatient basis, acute conditions with coxarthrosis, intervertebral disc herniation, and bone injuries require hospitalization and treatment in a hospital. In any case, the patient is required to strictly follow all medical recommendations, which may include the following:

• Following a diet, limiting the consumption of foods that provoke the disease (gout).
• Weight loss.
• Carrying out a set of therapeutic exercises.
• Massage, including self-massage of the foot.
• Giving up bad habits (smoking).

As a rule, if you see a doctor in a timely manner, treatment of pain in the right leg is carried out using conservative methods. Surgical intervention is indicated for varicose veins of the subcutaneous (but not deep) veins, large intervertebral hernia, vascular ischemia (obliterating atherosclerosis) of grade III-IV.

The main direction of treatment is the maximum neutralization of the provoking factor of the disease. If pain in the right leg occurs against the background of diabetes, first of all, of course, diabetes is treated. If the pain symptom is a consequence of lumbar osteochondrosis, therapy is prescribed that improves the condition of the spinal column.

Treatment of the legs, in particular the right leg, is carried out by doctors of the following specializations:

• Angiosurgeon.
• Phlebologist.
• Traumatologist.
• Neurologist.
• Rheumatologist.

What to do if your right leg hurts?

Preventive measures help not only to avoid pain, but also to prevent the development of very serious complications, such as thromboembolism, gangrene of the limb, erysipelas and others.

First of all, prevention of pain in the right leg involves following these rules:

1. Contrary to fashion trends, the fair sex needs to take care of comfortable shoes with low heels. Heaviness, swelling of the legs, aching joints, tendon damage, pain in the calves are frequent companions of lovers of high heels or too narrow fashionable shoes. This advice is especially relevant for those who work in a vertical position (salespeople, waiters, pharmacists, etc.).
2. Systematic rest for the legs, both right and left, is their horizontal, slightly raised position.
3. If varicose veins are diagnosed at an early stage, compression stockings and bandages can help.
4. Taking vitamins that improve the condition of the vascular wall is an excellent preventative measure against leg pain. You should regularly take vitamins C, K, P (rutin), A and E.
5. Preventive measures against pain syndromes in the legs include giving up bad habits. Smoking is especially harmful to blood vessels and blood conductivity.
6. To reduce the pain symptom in the right leg, as well as in the legs in general, you need to monitor your body weight. Obesity is a sure path to varicose veins, thrombosis, degenerative changes in the structure of the spine.
7. To ensure a uniform load on the body muscles, including the leg muscles, it is necessary to regularly perform a set of therapeutic exercises. Dosed squats with a straight back help well, this reduces the tension of the lumbosacral muscles and reduces radiating pain in the leg.
8. You should not cross one leg over the other while sitting. This habit leads to constant compression of the veins, deterioration of venous outflow, and disrupts vascular conductivity.

In any case, even if the disease is developing, you need to try to move to ensure blood supply to the leg. Of course, immobilization (immobilization) in case of injury or fracture of the leg is simply necessary. However, in other conditions, the leg needs normal blood flow. Consult with your doctor about how active the load should be and move. Remember the advice of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who said: "Life requires movement."

Prevention of pain in the right leg is also a timely visit to the doctor at the first alarming signs. The sooner the examination is carried out and the cause of the pain symptom is identified, the more successful and faster the treatment will be.