Why Do My Legs Hurt?

Many people experience leg pain.

Fewer can pinpoint the exact cause of their pain.

Truthfully, there’s a number of different possible causes for leg pain.

But regardless of what’s causing it, leg pain can be frustrating and impact your quality of life.

Not only is it painful, but severe cases of leg pain may even make it difficult to walk or stand.

Does any of this sound familiar?

If so, physical therapy can help.

At Capitol Physical Therapy, we have an special focus in pain management solutions.

We have a variety of therapeutic services to help people with all types of chronic and acute pain issues.

Let’s take a look at some causes of leg pain that we commonly see in our patients at our physical therapy clinics.

What Causes Leg Pain?

Most cases of leg pain aren’t serious and will typically resolve on their own.

However, there’s a variety of different causes.

Some causes of leg pain require intervention before they improve.

Physical therapy can treat your leg pain, but treatment will differ depending on what’s causing it.

Let’s take a look at some of the more common causes.

Leg Pain From Electrolyte Imbalance

Electrolytes are minerals such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, and calcium.

They help keep your muscles healthy and help prevent injury.

Any type of physical exertion, such as running, sports or other forms of exercise, will lower your electrolyte count.

Losing too much can cause leg pain.

A 2005 article by Jung et al. found that electrolyte loss plays a major role in exercise induced muscle cramps.

That’s why staying hydrated while you exercise is so important.

Additionally, some medical treatments, such as chemotherapy for cancer, can lead to an electrolyte imbalance.

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How Does It Feel?

An electrolyte imbalance may cause leg cramping, weakness, or numbness.

Occasionally, an electrolyte imbalance can cause muscle spasms in your leg.

You may also experience a tingling sensation in your legs, feet, and toes.

What Can You Do About It?

If you’re experiencing leg pain due to an electrolyte imbalance, make sure to load up on electrolyte heavy foods, such as spinach, beans, almonds, and avocados.

Staying hydrated is also an excellent way to restore your electrolyte levels.

Sports drinks can also contain electrolytes but be mindful of how much sugar is in them.

Leg Pain From A Pulled Muscle

Pulled muscles commonly occur in your legs.

A minor injury to your muscle or tendon is one of the most common causes of a pulled muscle.

How Does It Feel?

The symptoms of a pulled muscle may vary depending on the severity of your injury.

If you’re dealing with a pulled muscle, you might experience:

• Pain or tenderness
• Redness or bruising
• Limited motion
• Muscle spasms
• Swelling
• Muscle weakness

What Can You Do About It?

Most cases of pulled muscles are mild enough that you can treat them at home.

When it comes to pulled muscles, remember the acronym: RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.

RELATED ARTICLE: Understanding Heat And Cold Therapy For Pain Management

Make sure to rest your injured muscle.

As you do, apply ice to it, wrap it in a compression bandage, and keep it elevated.

If you’re finding that your at home remedies aren’t working, consider seeing a physical therapist for an injury consultation.

In rare cases, severely pulled muscles may require surgical intervention.

If you do require surgical intervention, physical therapy can help you recovery soon post surgery.

Leg Pain From A Sprained Ligament

Your body’s ligaments are the bands of fibrous tissue that help connect your bones with each other.

According to the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine, sprain ligaments most commonly occur in your ankle.

RELATED ARTICLE: Physical Therapy For Ankle And Foot Injuries

Therefore, leg pain is a frequent symptom.

How Does It Feel?

Depending on the severity of the sprain, a sprained ligament may cause:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Limited mobility of affected joint

What Can You Do About It?

As with a pulled muscle, the most important aspect to recovering from a sprained ligament is rest.

Applying ice or a cold compress can provide relief.

Finally, keeping the injury elevated can help to increase blood flow and reduce swelling.

Leg Pain From A Muscle Cramp

A muscle cramp is a sudden, involuntary contraction of one or more of your muscles.

They commonly develop in your leg muscles, especially your calves.

They can even make walking temporarily more difficult.

How Does It Feel?

Although they are typically harmless, muscle cramps can cause significant pain that may even wake you up at night.

The pain is most often described as a sudden, sharp pain that can sometimes cause a visible hard lump of muscle beneath your skin.

What Can You Do About It?

Muscle cramps are usually only a temporary inconvenience that goes away on its own.

If your muscles are cramping due to overuse, resting them can help to reduce pain.

Self care measures such as ice packs and over the counter pain medication can also help to ease symptoms.

If they happen frequently, it may be a sign of a deeper issue.

In that case, it’s a good idea to consult with a physical therapist as soon as possible.

Leg Pain From Varicose Veins

Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins that appear close to the surface of your skin.

Although they can occur anywhere, varicose veins most commonly affect the veins in your legs.

How Does It Feel?

Varicose veins often don’t cause any symptoms and are only a cosmetic concern.

However, some people with varicose veins experience symptoms, such as:

• An achy, heavy feeling in the legs
• Burning, throbbing, swelling, and muscle cramping
• Pain that increases after sitting or standing for a long time
• Itchiness around the veins

What Can You Do About It?

If your varicose veins are causing you pain, there are some home remedies that can help.

Self care measures, such as rest and over the counter pain meds, can help to manage your symptoms.

Physical therapy can also help.

Speak to your physical therapist about some of the exercises you can use to manage your varicose vein pain.

How To Avoid Leg Pain

Now that you know more about the causes of leg pain, you might be wondering how to go about preventing it in the first place.

Not to worry, we’ve got you covered.

Here are some physical therapist’s approved tips for avoiding leg pain.

1. Wear Shoes That Support Your Feet

It’s hard to feel your best when you’re wearing shoes that don’t properly support your feet.

Look for a pair of shoes with enough heel cushioning and arch support.

2. Stretch Your Legs, Especially Before Exercise

Don’t underestimate the importance of stretching your legs and warming up before exercise, especially before you go running.

Regularly stretching your body can do wonders for preventing injury and avoiding cramps.

Stretching your calf muscles is particularly important to help prevent injury, such as tendinitis.

3. Drink Enough Water

Staying hydrated is also an important factor in avoiding leg pain.

Getting enough fluids helps to keep up your body’s resistance to injury and sprains.

Aim to drink at least three pints of water a day.

4. Do A Variety Of Exercises

Doing the same exercise again and again can be just as bad as not exercising at all.

Overusing a single muscle or joint is one of the top causes for leg pain.

Therefore, it’s important to make sure you mix things up.

Consider incorporating yoga, pilates, and other different types of exercises into your fitness routine.

Focusing on different muscle groups can help as well.

For example, perhaps one day you work on your core strength, another your upper arms, another your legs, and so on.

5. Move Around!

Inactivity is one of the worst things for leg pain.

Sitting still for long periods of time can increase your risk of blood clots in your legs.

However, it’s important to pace yourself.

Don’t immediately jump into a high intensity exercise routine.

Instead, gradually build your endurance.

When Should I Worry About Leg Pain?

In rare cases, leg pain can be a sign of something more serious.

Consult with a physical therapist if you experience leg pain that:

• Occurs during or after walking
• Causes swelling in both legs
• Doesn’t go away on its own

On the other hand, certain types of leg pain can be more serious.

Go to your nearest emergency room as soon as possible if you’re feeling leg pain that comes with:

• Signs of infection, such as redness, tenderness, or fever
• Swelling, paleness, or coldness to touch
• Swelling in both legs accompanied by breathing difficulties
• Severe pain that develops for no apparent reason

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Book Your Appointment With Our Physical Therapy Clinic Today

Leg pain can stem from a wide range of causes — some minor, others requiring more targeted care.

At Capitol Physical Therapy, we offer a wide variety of services that can help reduce your leg pain and prevent future flare ups.

Whether you’re dealing with muscle cramps, pulled muscles, or more persistent issues like varicose veins or sprained ligaments, identifying the root cause is key to effective treatment.

Our team of physical therapists take a personalized approach to help relieve your pain, restore function, and improve your mobility.

Don’t let leg pain limit your movement or disrupt your life.

Book your appointment with Capitol Physical Therapy to hear more about how you can take action on your leg pain.