Leg pain and tiredness are often very common problems in people. The problem that causes leg pain may not only be tiredness, but may indicate serious problems and diseases. That is why health experts advise not to neglect the signals sent by the body and consult a doctor immediately.
What are the causes of leg pain and fatigue?
Most leg pain is caused by wear and tear, overuse or injury to joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons or other connective tissues. Some cases of leg pain can be attributed to problems in the lower spine. Several factors are also associated with the onset of fatigue and leg pain. These are the most common causes:
Sleep disorders
The presence of problems and disorders that prevent night sleep reduces its quality and is one of the common causes of body and muscle fatigue, and these are the most important problems that can cause lack of sleep: insomnia and chronic anxiety, depression, pain, restless leg syndrome, night shifts…
Venous insufficiency;
Venous insufficiency is damage to the veins of the legs that prevents normal blood flow. This has a lot to do with age, because with age, the veins lose their structural properties and a change in their elasticity leads to deformation. All this prevents proper functioning, resulting in the accumulation of blood in the legs, which causes swelling, pain and a feeling of tiredness.
Sedentary lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle is one of the worst enemies of the human body and even more so of the musculoskeletal system. When we talk specifically about the legs, a sedentary lifestyle leads to poor blood circulation in the lower extremities and this leads to a feeling of heaviness, pain and swelling.
Diet
As mentioned above, venous insufficiency is one of the main causes of pain and feeling of fatigue in the legs, but one of the reasons that causes this structural change in the veins and poor circulation is poor diet. Therefore, a good diet has a positive effect on blood circulation in the lower extremities. This, coupled with daily physical activity, reduces the risk of leg pain.
Tobacco
Smoking often causes a lot of damage to the body. Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for structural changes in the cardiovascular system, which impairs blood circulation in the extremities, specifically in the legs. All this results in a contraction of the blood vessels, which causes a decrease in the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, leading to various symptoms such as pain, tiredness and heaviness.
Treatment of leg and thigh pain
Many cases of leg and thigh pain can be treated at home without medical intervention. Home treatment methods vary depending on the cause of the pain. Pain in the leg and thigh muscles due to minor sports injuries, such as sprains and strains in the legs, can be treated with the following techniques:
- Rest for 1 to 3 days to avoid further injury, allow time to heal and reduce swelling. Return to activity should be gradual in intensity to ensure flexibility, strength and muscular endurance.
- Ice: To reduce swelling, inflammation and pain. Ice is applied wrapped in a cloth for up to 20 minutes, not directly on the skin.
- Compression: use an elastic bandage (tightly wrapped but not tight) to reduce swelling and pain.
- Leg elevation: the leg is raised above the level of the heart to reduce swelling and pain.
- Medications: Medications such as acetaminophen may help relieve some of the pain, but if pain persists for more than 72 hours, professional medical attention should be sought. In this case, it is preferable to avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. So as not to adversely affect tissue healing and recovery.
