Types of Leg Pain That You Should Never Ignore
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), more than half of adult Americans suffer from chronic pain, especially in the back and legs. You should seek professional diagnosis and treatment when you have annoying or debilitating leg pain. Dr. Ioannis Skaribas Houston can help you avoid misdiagnosis of leg pain as arthritis or muscle ache when it is an indication of a severe underlying condition. Various medical issues may affect the normal flow of blood in your lower limbs, making it difficult for you to stand or walk.
Consequently, below are conditions that may cause leg pain and discomfort that you should not ignore and thus seek immediate medical attention.
Peripheral artery disease
Also called peripheral vascular disease, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common condition associated with the narrowing or blockage of arteries in the lower extremities or legs.
Arteries in your lower extremities may be blocked or narrowed due to them accumulating fats and cholesterol in their walls.
Arteries are part of your cardiovascular system and supply oxygenated (oxygen-rich) blood to the entire body. These blood vessels ensure that your tissues and organs have an adequate supply of nutrients.
Other symptoms associated with peripheral artery disease, apart from leg pain, are changes in the skin color of your legs, slower growth of toenails, erectile dysfunction, and pain when you use your arms.
If you have PAD, you may be at risk of stroke, heart disease, or amputation.
Chronic venous insufficiency
The venous disease occurs when the veins in your legs get damaged, making it much more difficult for blood to return to your heart from your lower extremities. Chronic venous insufficiency may affect you, especially if you are 50 and above.
Normally, the veins in your legs have valves that ensure oxygen-poor blood flow back to your heart. But, without the valves working correctly, the blood flows backward and may pool in your legs.
You may be at risk of chronic venous insufficiency when you are overweight, pregnant, or physically inactive. Other potential causes of this particular cause of leg pain may include sitting or standing for an extended period, deep vein thrombosis, high blood pressure in the veins of your legs, and damage of veins in your legs by a surgical procedure or injury.
Diabetic leg pain
Also referred to as diabetic neuropathy, diabetic leg pain occurs when high blood sugar levels damage the nerves around the muscles in your legs and feet. When you have nerve damage in your legs, you will experience a tingling or burning sensation, and your feet may feel very hot or cold.
Diabetic leg pain may also be identified by skin, hair, or nail changes.
If you experience persistent pain, sores, fatigue, cold, warmth, discoloration, inflammation, and painful calves after sitting or standing for an extended period, refer the matter to a specialist doctor.
You can help reduce leg pain symptoms at home if they result from an underlying health issue by maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, controlling your blood pressure, and stopping smoking.
Contact Expert Pain today to schedule an appointment and learn more about the causes and treatments of leg pain.