Are you constantly fidgeting around or wincing in pain because of discomfort in your legs? Whether it’s your upper or lower leg, you just seem to have constant pain or issues that are driving you mad. It makes it hard for you to sleep at night, and it’s also challenging to do some of your normal daily tasks when the pain gets very bad.
You’ve had this recurring pain for a while, but what could be causing it? Here are a few options that might be the culprits:
Tight muscles
Hopefully, this is the cause of your pain as it is the least serious and the easiest to deal with. Chronically tight muscles can bunch up and form knots that are very painful. You’ll typically feel tightness in your calves as they get overworked every day. This can coincide with muscle cramps, but you can also go through periods where there’s no pain at all. If the pain in your legs gets worse when you’ve been walking or running, then it could be down to excessive tightness. Stretch out your muscles to ease the pain and avoid pulling or tearing them.
Shin splints
Shin splints are very painful and occur on the front of your lower leg. They are common in people that run a lot, and they result in pain along your shin bone that’s caused by extra stress put on the tendons and tissue in that area. Again, you will know if this is your issue if it gets worse when you run or walk a lot! Thankfully, this can also easily be solved by giving your legs some rest and icing your shins. Buying better footwear can also reduce the stress on the shin bones and prevent pain in the future.
Varicose veins
If you have an achy or heavy feeling in your legs that’s often coupled with a slight burning sensation, you could suffer from varicose veins. The interesting thing about varicose veins is that they aren’t always painful. But, when they are, that’s what you tend to feel. The pain also gets worse if you’ve been sitting or standing for long periods. It will be fairly obvious if this is your issue as you will have veins in your lower legs that are dark purple or bulging and twisted. In most instances, there are no health risks with varicose veins, and you can get rid of the pain by improving your circulation – compression socks work well here. Of course, be sure to see a specialist just to be sure of what to do.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
Stick to the blood vessel theme, another cause of your leg pain could be peripheral artery disease. This is a health condition that’s caused by a build-up of fatty deposits in your arteries, narrowing them and restricting blood flow. You won’t always experience pain, but you can get cramping in your legs when walking, and you could also feel numbness or weakness in the legs as well. If you have any of these symptoms, you should get peripheral artery disease screening to be sure if this is your issue or not. If it is, you can receive the treatment required to deal with the pain and enjoy life to the fullest.
Tendinitis
Tendinitis is defined as the inflammation or irritation of a tendon. The tendon is the thick cord that attaches muscle to bone in your body. There are plenty of tendons in your legs, but the two most prominent ones are the patella and Achilles tendons. These attach muscles to your knee and ankle respectively. Tendinitis can lead to increased pain in these joints, particularly after taking part in activities. The pain can worsen with time and get better when you rest. If you suffer from tendinitis, it’s important to rest and let your body heal. Most cases can resolve themselves like this as you give your tendon a chance to get back to normal and reduce inflammation. Complications come when you persistently tax the inflamed tendon, usually leading to surgery.
In summary, your chronic leg pain can be caused by all sorts of different issues. The type of pain and its consistency or occurrence can help you understand what’s causing it. In a lot of cases, one of the problems on this list will be the reason for your pain. If not, you should see a doctor and get a proper diagnosis, meaning you know the correct course of action. Don’t ignore your constant leg pain, especially if it progressively gets worse. Always find the cause to find the solution and be healthy once more!