Leg pain can stem from various reasons, such as musculoskeletal issues, nerve compression, injury, and sprains. Whatever the source of your Memorial Area leg pain, treatment options are available which can help you regain your sense of movement. Remember that the cause of your pain will determine the type of treatment your doctor will administer.
You can experience leg pain from the following common causes:
Poor blood circulation
Leg pain is common in people with diabetes because of poor blood circulation. Due to the high levels of blood glucose and the damage to the lining of your blood vessels, your legs and feet might not receive sufficient blood.
Injury or trauma
Another common cause of leg pain is injury due to a direct blow like contact sports, a sprain or strain during athletics, or an injury following a car accident. If you participate in sports, you can easily suffer injuries because of the sudden and powerful movements involved. You can experience musculoskeletal pain or bone fracture if your injury is from a car accident.
Certain conditions
Certain medical conditions like arthritis can cause chronic leg pain due to inflammation. The swelling and tenderness of the joints can limit your range of motion because your joints might feel stiff and painful. The pain can be constant, or it might occur on an on-and-off basis.
Nerve compression
Nerve compression can occur due to repetitive motion or, in the case of a herniated disc, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, and degenerative disc disease. A herniated disc causes pain when the inner contents of the spine leak out, compressing the discs together, which leads them to rub against one another, causing pain. A good example is a sciatica, pain from your lower back and down one or both legs.
Treatment options
Your treatment method will depend on your condition, cause, and symptoms. The way your specialist might treat a sprain is not similar to the way they will treat a fracture. Your doctor will first perform diagnostic testing, which might involve a physical exam and X-ray imaging. The following are treatment options you might undergo:
Lifestyle changes
If diabetes or arthritis causes leg pain, your specialist might recommend lifestyle changes to improve your symptoms. They might recommend diet changes and incorporating physical activities to lower blood sugar levels and improve stiffness.
Other treatment options include:
- Physical therapy
- Medication
- Orthotics
- Braces
Advanced treatment methods
If your leg pain is due to nerve compression, your specialist might recommend a different approach to treatment. The following are methods your doctor can use:
- Nerve blocks. Your specialist injects a local anesthetic and an anti-inflammatory steroid into a cluster of nerves that send out pain signals.
- Vertiflex. If you have spinal stenosis, your doctor can use Vertiflex interspinous spacers to open up your spinal discs and relieve you of the pressure.
- DRG therapy. Dorsal root ganglion therapy involves disrupting pain signals going to your brain using an implantable device.
- LinQ. The LinQ sacroiliac joint fusion system is used to stabilize the sacroiliac joint.
If you have chronic leg pain due to poor blood circulation or nerve compression, visit Expert Pain for treatment. You will meet qualified and experienced specialists ready to offer customized treatment after a thorough evaluation. Call or book an appointment online.
