Pulling legs: causes of nagging muscle pain, what to do

Reasons for pulling legs

The most common cause of pain and so-called heaviness in the calf or thigh area is problems with the spine. For example, it may be a disease that subsequently causes heaviness and pain.

These unpleasant symptoms are explained by the fact that a pinched nerve occurs, which is accompanied by specific nagging pain in the lumbar region and calves. This kind of painful symptomatology can bother you both during the day and at night. To identify the disorders that lead to them, as well as to eliminate them, a tomographic examination of the spine is necessary.

pulling legs - painful sensations in the calves

Foot problems can be caused by many things. For example, these include muscle strain, varicose veins, atherosclerosis, gout, some diseases of the genitourinary system, diabetes, rheumatism and even intoxication of the body.

Some of the listed ailments directly affect the free circulation of blood in the body and, in particular, in the legs, as they directly affect the thickness of the walls of blood vessels. This is why unpleasant symptoms and nagging pain in the legs .

Myalgia, muscle pain

Myalgia, or muscle pain, is a symptomatic disease that is accompanied not only by discomfort in the muscles during movement, but by swelling of the arms or legs, and the appearance of muscle inflammation. In addition, with myalgia there is a violation of the permeability of muscle cell membranes.

Symptoms of myalgia vary and depend on the type of disease. Main types of myalgia:

• Fibromyalgia – accompanied by musculoskeletal pain, which manifests itself especially strongly when palpating the muscles;
• Myositis is an inflammation of skeletal muscles, which is accompanied by pain even with the simplest movements. Treatment of this type of disease is extremely necessary, as it can lead to disability;
• Polymyositis is a disease characterized by inflammation of the striated muscles and skin. Polymyositis is often accompanied by malignant tumors.

Role of the vascular system

An important factor is the slagging of the body, in particular the vascular system. Due to accumulated deposits on the walls of blood vessels, blood circulation is significantly impaired. As a result, an already serious problem is aggravated, since the removal of metabolic products slows down.

The main reasons that cause nagging pain in the legs and discomfort when moving in the calves can only be determined by a specialized specialist (vascular surgeon), who will prescribe a special set of scanning procedures and tests (blood for coagulation indicators, glucose, platelets).

Diagnostic methods

To find out why there is a feeling of heaviness in the legs, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive diagnostic examination:

• taking anamnesis;
• visual inspection, which includes palpation, testing and checking reflexes;
• ultrasound examination of the diseased limb;
• radiography;
• vascular angiography;
• radionuclide scanning;
• computed or magnetic resonance imaging;
• lab tests.

If necessary, an additional ultrasound of the kidneys is performed.

Types of nagging leg pain

• Quite sharp and sharp pain in the ankle and calf area, which may be accompanied by muscle numbness, indicates the initial symptoms of atherosclerosis. Confirmation is the disappearance of unpleasant sensations after a short rest, which return after a certain period of time. There are also frequent cases when the problem bothers a person even at rest. In order to get rid of pain in the calves and thighs, you should give up bad habits. As a rule, diagnostic measures are carried out using ultrasound, after which treatment (vascular plastic surgery) is prescribed.
• An acute painful reaction to movement, constricting the muscles of a limb or thigh with a spasm. Feet can be cold even during the warm season. It is also possible such a phenomenon as the absence of a clear pulsation on the big toe of the lower limb and its pain. The listed symptoms may indicate the presence of a disease such as endarteritis. To eliminate the disease, you should contact a specialist who can quickly identify its causes. If signs of the disease appear in a smoker, you should give up this addiction. If the pain is too acute and the leg muscles are cramping, it is better to call an ambulance, as inaction can lead to blockage of the arteries.
• You will need to consult a rheumatologist if you feel unpleasant sensations and pain in your joints and calves both while standing and while walking. These types of symptoms are characteristic of arthritis. To solve the problem, you will need to undergo the necessary tests, consult a specialist and x-ray examination. To restore health, you will need to take special medications in combination with regular physiotherapeutic procedures.
• As a rule, the calves can be bothersome during thrombophlebitis: the pain is characterized by its constancy, which after a while turns into a burning sensation. This disease is accompanied by symptoms such as compactions in the area of ​​blood vessels, swelling and redness of the skin. Treatment is most often outpatient.
• Pain in a part of the body such as the hips is a concern if you have problems with the genitourinary system. To identify the cause that causes nagging pain, an ultrasound should be done.
• Quite often, the consequences of injuries or hip fractures cause pain or discomfort when moving. To eliminate such symptoms, orthoses specially manufactured for such purposes are used. This will also help relieve stress on your muscles.
• Convulsive contractions of the limbs during sleep, a feeling of weakness, swelling of the skin, as well as itching of the calf of one or the other leg can signal a disease such as diabetes. In this case, be sure to take the appropriate tests and visit a specialist who will prescribe all the necessary procedures.
• A sharp pain in the heel that extends to the calves may indicate a so-called “heel spur.” The solution to the problem is a consultation with an orthopedist and undergoing prescribed procedures with mandatory x-ray diagnostics. If a person is overweight, a change in eating behavior and nutritional system will be required.

calf leg massage

Venous thrombosis

The occurrence of pain during thrombosis (blockage of a vein with a blood clot) is promoted by inflammation of the vessel wall or surrounding tissue. In addition, impaired outflow can lead to swelling and discoloration of the skin (pallor, cyanosis, redness). Pallor can be detected in the early stages of thrombosis of the veins of the iliofemoral region. Cyanosis is caused by congestive hypoxia and, as a rule, occurs with obstruction of the proximal veins of the leg. Pain during thrombosis can be aching, sharp or dull, intense and moderate. Often the pain intensifies when walking or carrying heavy objects. Pain may be relieved by lying down with your legs elevated. With superficial vein thrombosis, diagnosis is not difficult. If there is a suspicion of deep vein thrombosis, then objective research methods are necessary.

What to do when your legs drag

A common reason that a person is bothered by unpleasant pain in the legs and calves, caused by muscle cramps (especially at night), may be a banal lack of essential microelements in the body for life. This can be observed in pregnant women (hips are more of a concern). As a rule, after a person begins to take a vitamin complex, problems disappear.

Let us note that modern medicine has stepped far forward, and currently there are tests that can reveal which microelement is missing in the body.

As an example, for symptoms such as painful limbs in the evening and at night, the treatment method is based on replenishing the body with the doses of magnesium it needs. That is, in order not to pull your left or right leg, you need a balanced diet.

To determine the exact cause and the correct treatment for nagging pain in the legs, you should first make an appointment with a doctor.

Treatment

The doctor finds out what symptoms accompany heaviness in the lower legs, determines the causes and prescribes treatment based on the diagnostic results. Only by eliminating the cause of the pain can a complete recovery be achieved, the mobility of the limb restored and a return to an active life.

Help before diagnosis

To quickly relieve pain, it is recommended to lie down for 15-20 minutes with your feet on an elevated surface. You can use contrasting foot baths - keep your feet in ice water for one minute and in hot water for one minute. Repeat the procedure 4-5 times.

Conservative therapy

In most cases, pain and discomfort in the lower extremities can be eliminated using conservative methods. Analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs (in the form of tablets, injections, ointments) have an effective effect. Depending on the cause of the pain, other medications may be needed. Additionally, physiotherapeutic procedures, physical therapy, kinesiotherapy, massage, and manual therapy are prescribed.

Surgery

The need for surgery arises only in case of complex injuries and in advanced situations (complicated intervertebral hernia, varicose veins of the saphenous veins, obliterating atherosclerosis of 3 and 4 degrees).

Crick

Muscle pain can appear after fast walking, running, playing sports, or walking in poorly fitting shoes. As a rule, discomfort occurs immediately after exercise or after 12-24 hours. Most often, pain occurs in the legs, sometimes in the hips. Possible pain on palpation. Sometimes swelling of the lower leg occurs. If there is a clear connection with physical activity and the pain is bilateral, then the diagnosis is beyond doubt. In cases where the pain is one-sided, it is necessary to exclude possible venous thrombosis using objective diagnostic methods.

Why muscles hurt: the most common cases

Myofascial syndrome

The most common cause of myalgia is myofascial syndrome. Muscle dysfunction develops. Local compactions form in the affected tissues. There is a primary MFS, which occurs as an independent disease, and a secondary form, which develops against the background of spinal pathology and various somatic conditions.

Symptoms of myofascial syndrome:

• pain is local or regional in nature, that is, muscles hurt in a specific place or part of the body (arm, leg, back);
• range of motion in the affected area is limited;
• pain is asymmetrical, unilateral;
• upon palpation of the muscle, a tight cord is detected and pain is noted;
• a trigger point (TP) has been detected - a zone of increased sensitivity around the affected area, when pressed, a jumping symptom occurs (shudder);
• there is referred pain characteristic of a specific muscle.

Polymyalgia rheumatica

The diagnosis is common among older people. With polymyalgia rheumatica, there is no weakness in the muscles, and blood tests reveal signs of inflammation. The pain is localized in the muscles of the pelvis, shoulder girdle, and neck area. It radiates to the joints of the arms and hips. The pain is constant, symmetrical, and worsens with movement. During an exacerbation, low-grade fever and an increase in ESR may occur.

Fibromyalgia

The disease most often occurs in women over 40 years of age. The cause of constant pain is unknown. Examination of the patient shows no signs of pathology. The pain can be very strong, constant, generalized in the bones, ligaments, and muscles. Fibromyalgia is characterized by a chronic course.

Signs of pathology:

• the pain is diffuse, occurring in the limbs and torso;
• pressure on trigger points does not cause spasm, muscles do not cramp;
• foci of pain are located symmetrically in the back of the head, between the shoulder blades, in the lumbar region and buttocks;
• the patient complains of depression and asthenia.

Muscle rupture

Most often, muscle ruptures occur in the lower leg (possibly in the thigh). A rupture occurs as a result of a sudden stretch or contraction of a muscle. Typically, a small section of muscle is torn where it connects to the tendon. But there are also large ruptures, up to separation of the muscle from the tendon or separation of the tendon. Muscle rupture occurs mainly when the limb is sharply flexed in the direction opposite to the acting force. The rupture is accompanied by acute pain immediately after excessive stress. The pain may subside for a while, but as the hematoma grows, the pain will gradually intensify. Swelling occurs in the area of ​​the damaged muscle and range of motion is limited.

Diagnosis of muscle pain

At the first appointment, a neurologist will try to determine the possible cause of the disorder. To do this, he will ask the patient when the pain began, what the nature of the attacks are, whether convulsions occur, etc. Then the doctor conducts an examination and does several neurological tests.

To clarify the diagnosis, the following procedures may be required:

• general and biochemical tests of urine and blood;
• X-ray, CT or MRI of the diseased area;
• Ultrasound of joints, muscles;
• consultations with narrow specialists.

Causes of muscle pain

Myalgia can develop for the following reasons:

• muscle strain, other injuries;
• neurogenic myopathy;
• excessive physical activity without preliminary training;
• vascular disease;
• poisoning with toxic substances;
• side effects of medications taken;
• primary inflammation of muscle tissue;
• endocrine disorders;
• electrolyte imbalance;
• infectious myositis;
• metabolic disorders;
• myofascial syndrome (MFS);
• rheumatic pathologies such as Wegner's granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Still's disease, etc.