Why do I feel pain in my leg muscles? Could this be related to venous disease?
Pharmacist's response:
Leg pain is any discomfort in the leg that begins in the hip joint and extends to the heel. Your feet comprise joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels. Leg pain can be short or long-lasting and affect the whole leg or just a smaller/faster part, depending on how severe the potential injury or condition you are suffering from is.
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a large vein, often in the thigh. If this clot breaks off, it can travel further to the lungs or brain and cause a stroke or pulmonary embolism. Deep vein thrombosis in the leg causes redness, sensitivity, and swelling of the leg. The pain is usually described as a feeling of muscle spasm or a highly unpleasant pain.
Chronic venous insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency occurs when the veins in the legs do not allow blood to travel back to the heart. Problems with the valves in the veins can cause blood to flow in both directions and cause blood to pool in the legs. If chronic venous insufficiency is not treated, it can cause unpleasant pain, swelling, and ulcers in the legs.
Varicose veins
Varicose veins are enlarged, twisted veins that often develop with aging. Circulation in the veins slows down and causes these veins to appear twisted and bulging. Symptoms of varicose veins include muscle spasms, unpleasant and severe pain during an attack and swelling of the lower legs, severe pain after prolonged sitting or standing, and itching.
When to seek medical help?
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience inflammation, discoloration of the skin of your legs, ulceration, or even visible swelling of your feet. If you have trouble breathing, consider that you may have a blood clot. If your doctor confirms that your painful legs are caused by varicose veins or deep vein thrombosis, he may refer you to a vein specialist. Traditional methods of treating varicose veins range from wearing compression stockings to the many remaining surgical options modern medicine offers.
When suffering from DVT - deep vein thrombosis, drugs such as blood thinners or Detralex are innovative drugs, but you may even need surgery in some more severe cases.
Interesting reading: Tearing legs
Interesting reading: Pains in the muscles of the legs
