Why legs and feet hurt: 5 reasons that don’t immediately come to mind

An expert in the treatment of valgus and posture talks about the main causes of pain in the legs and feet, as well as their treatment and prevention.

Symptoms can be caused by a number of reasons that may not be obvious to the average person at first glance. Only an experienced professional doctor can make an accurate diagnosis, prescribe treatment or preventive measures. Otherwise, the progression of already acquired diseases, as well as the occurrence of complications, simply cannot be avoided.

The valgus deformity of the 1st finger (Hallux valgus), or, as it is also called, the “bone” of the big toe, is the most common cause of foot pain. This happens due to the fact that the thumb begins to move at an angle towards the other fingers, which leads to deformation of the joint.

Very often, such a deformation is attributed to “wrong” shoes, injuries or neurological diseases, but in most cases these are only aggravating circumstances, not the real causes. In fact, hallux valgus deformity of the 1st toe is a symptom of a systemic deformity, not just a foot problem. Normally, the arch of the foot is held together by the muscles, but if for some reason the muscles stop coping with their task, the foot begins to “sag”, stretch and become deformed.

This process is often slow and is accompanied by various symptoms, such as:

I categorically advise against using various types of abduction splints for the treatment of hallux valgus deformity, they do not correct and often even increase the deformity.

A decrease in the height of the arch of the foot causes such a diagnosis of flat feet. Flat feet are characterized by a flattening of the arches of the foot, which leads to the loss of its shock-absorbing function. As a result – a violation of the correct biomechanics of step and weight distribution, and in the long term – pain in the legs, changes in posture and curvature of the spine, disruption of the systems of internal organs. Flat feet can occur at any age due to curvature of the spine or increased stress on the feet.

If you have any problems with your feet, you should immediately contact an orthopedist. He will conduct special studies and may recommend surgery or conservative treatment using orthopedic insoles and special exercises. Models of shoes with heels will have to be completely abandoned, since wearing them leads to additional overloading of the forefoot and increases pain.

Many women experience leg pain during pregnancy. As a rule, this is associated not only with an increase in body weight, but also with the appearance of a shifted center of gravity, which leads to a violation of the curves of the spine.

A separate problem after pregnancy is the deformity of the feet. Many women note that after pregnancy the foot increased in size, the bone began to grow, pain appeared.

The occurrence of such a condition is precisely associated with a violation of the position of the pelvis and lower back. The presence of a displaced center of gravity during pregnancy leads to an anterior tilt of the pelvis and excessive deviation of the lower back. After childbirth, the original position is not completely restored, which threatens to shift the overall center of gravity forward. As a result – overloading and flattening of the feet.

As a result, there may be severe pain, swelling of the legs and feet, their numbness and tingling, cramps, varicose veins.

To relieve pain, it is recommended to take regular walks, exercise to improve blood circulation and reduce pressure on the legs. When carrying a child, you should wear comfortable soft shoes, compression stockings that help retain fluid in the tissues. It is better to refrain from walking in tight shoes, and it is also necessary to avoid staying in one place for a long time.

A separate important factor is therapeutic exercises aimed at eliminating the cause of the disease, strengthening the stabilizers of the pelvis, working with posture and normalizing the body’s center of gravity. Without it, there will be no result.

The occurrence of pain in the legs and feet can also be associated with pathologies of the spine, such as, for example, herniated discs, protrusions or spondylosis. These problems usually arise after the age of 30 due to excessive physical activity, as well as prolonged work in a sitting position.

From the spine to the legs are nerve conductors that are responsible for the work of the muscles. If the nerve conductor suffers at the exit from the spine, the signal entering the muscles is distorted, untimely and faulty. As a result, the necessary muscle cannot be activated in a timely manner, the stability of the joints is disturbed, the gait changes, weakness and stiffness in the legs appear.

In case of problems with the spine, namely severe pain and impaired movement function, you should immediately consult a doctor who will issue a referral for a number of studies, including X-rays and MRI , in order to accurately diagnose and identify a particular problem. pathology.

Treatment can include massage, physiotherapy, drug therapy, duct tape, manual therapy, various types of drug blockages, and even surgery.

If diseases of the spine are detected, it is strictly forbidden to self-medicate, take medications without consulting a doctor, and try to correct the situation with the help of physical activity. It can only make the symptoms worse.

Trauma or surgery to the legs or abdominal wall can lead to pain in the legs and feet because it damages the support system of the legs. As a result, the correct biomechanics of entire departments are disrupted, and as a result pain, numbness, tingling and swelling of the lower extremities may occur. In order to exclude such negative postoperative consequences, it is necessary to strictly adhere to the doctor’s recommendations regarding treatment and rehabilitation.

To relieve pain, restore ligaments and muscle tissue, special exercises, orthopedic insoles, as well as therapeutic physiotherapy can be prescribed.

In the treatment and prevention of diseases that cause pain in the legs and feet, it should be remembered that the musculoskeletal system is an integral system, the individual components of which are closely related to each other. Therefore, leg pain symptoms can often cause localized health problems in completely different body systems.

Modern medicine has the necessary knowledge, methodology and tools for the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of foot diseases. It is important to know that most of these problems can be eliminated with the help of therapeutic exercises and special exercises, the program of which was developed by an experienced orthopedist. The best prevention and path to health is a healthy lifestyle, balanced diet and weight control, and regular moderate physical activity.