Leg pain refers to a soreness or aching that can occur anywhere from the hips to the feet. This pain can be continuous or it can be intermittent. Sometimes, this discomfort is mild or it can be severe. Leg pain can occur due to an underlying medical problem. Fortunately, the diseases that cause leg pain have specific treatment methods.
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis, also known as thromboembolism, refers to a blood clot in the legs. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, symptoms of deep vein thrombosis include leg pain in one leg, swelling of the affected leg, redness of one leg, warmth of one leg and changes in its skin color.
Risk factors for developing deep vein thrombosis include being obese, chronic bedrest, smoking cigarettes and taking medications such as estrogen and birth control pills. Other risk factors for deep vein thrombosis include giving birth within six months, having recent surgery and going on a long plane or road trip.
Treating a deep vein thrombosis involves taking blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) such as heparin and warfarin. Sometimes, a filter may need to be placed within one of the larger blood vessels to prevent the blood clot in the leg from traveling to other parts of the body such as the lungs or brain.
Varicose and Spider Veins
The Cleveland Clinic says that varicose veins refer to blood vessels in the leg that enlarge and transform into noticeable blue and purple clusters of veins. In some instances, small tiny vessels surround the varicose veins and appear to look like spiders, hence the name spider veins.
Specific symptoms of varicose and spider veins include leg pain, muscle cramps or aching of the leg, leg swelling and itching around the veins. This condition can also lead to skin discoloration around the ankles and knee soreness.
The Cleveland Clinic says that risk factors for developing varicose and spider veins include being overweight, using birth control pills, having a history of blood clots, chronically sitting with the legs crossed and wearing tight clothes or undergarments. Other risk factors include standing for long periods of time and having a family history.
Sometimes, treatment for varicose and spider veins is unnecessary if the only problem is a cosmetic one. Surgery, laser therapy, sclerotherapy (injecting a chemical into the vein to destroy it) and photoderm (using light to destroy veins) can be used to manage varicose and spider veins.
Thrombophlebitis
The Mayo Clinic says that thrombophlebitis is a condition in which a blood clot in the veins leads to inflammation and swelling, especially in the legs. It says that thrombophlebitis symptoms include tenderness, warmth or pain in the affected region, swelling and redness.
Thrombophlebitis occurs when there is an injury to the vein. It can also occur as a result of a blood disorder. Some risk factors for thrombophlebitis include chronic immobility, being overweight, being a smoker and having varicose veins.
Treating thrombophlebitis involves taking blood-thinning medications such as heparin or warfarin, using support stockings and having surgery to actually strip out the veins. Sometimes, the clot can be surgically removed or a filter can be placed to prevent the blood clot from traveling elsewhere in the body.
