When Leg Pain Takes A Left Turn: Is It Vascular?
You stand up to work on the next item of your to-do list only to hiss in pain and sit back down.
Reaching down to inspect your leg, you find yourself wondering how best to tackle the sensation that took you by surprise. Should you reach for the ibuprofen? Perhaps grab an ice pack? Or does the pain warrant medical advice?
Well, before you can determine a treatment, you first have to isolate the cause.
The only problem? There may be many.
Leg Pain 101
Most commonly, patients who experience sudden, severe pain in their leg(s) will find that the pain itself is the result of physical overexertion.
“Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues,” Mayo Clinic explains. “Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine.”
That being said, when it’s not an issue of injury or spinal dysfunction, leg pain may also be the result of other conditions that develop gradually. In some cases, these conditions may be illness. Others may simply involve growths:
- Arthritis
- Bone fractures
- Gout
- Cysts
- And more
In any case, the legs are often more susceptible to pain and discomfort than we may initially realize.
Digging Deeper Into Discomfort
Injuries and growths are not the only common causes of leg pain. Rather, vascular issues — wherein irregular blood flow occurs in the lower extremities — may also cause various forms of pain and discomfort.
This is because, if your body is not able to circulate adequate volumes of blood on a daily basis, those target areas will experience pain as they cannot keep up with the signals sent out by the brain. Otherwise, internal pressure and swelling may also arise as a result of blood pooling in one or more areas in the legs and/or feet.
Vascular conditions that involve leg pain include Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), varicose veins, and more.
“The most common symptom of lower-extremity peripheral artery disease is painful muscle cramping in the hips, thighs or calves when walking, climbing stairs or exercising,” according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
Otherwise, to tell whether or not your leg pain may be vascular in nature, keep an eye out for the following symptoms:
- Skin discoloration
- Toenail discoloration
- Swelling
- Ulcers
- Muscle weakness
- Tingling or numbness
Get A Leg Up With The Right Doctor
When all is said and done, remember that your legs are not all that may suffer as a result of vascular complications.
In fact, according to Harvard Health Publishing, venous disease paints commonly experience persistent foot pain, as well. Other patients may also experience a manifestation of symptoms in their ankles.
But regardless as to where the pain manifests, you may wonder: Who should you call for help?
Simple! The Vascular Institute of the Midwest and ready and waiting to help you find the right solution for your unique needs. From state-of-the-art equipment to industry-leading patient care, we guarantee you’ll find comprehensive comfort and treatments when you work with our team.
If you’re ready to learn, contact us today by calling 563-324-3818!
