“What causes Joint Pain In Legs?”
The body region where two or more bones unite to support and facilitate movement is called a joint. Leg pain occurs due to different conditions and occurs at any time, depending upon the cause. It can either affect your one leg or maybe both, depending on the causing factor. For example, any injury or disease to your joint can lead to tissue inflammation, and this can cause leg pain. Many factors can lead to leg pain discuss below.
Leading Causes Of Joint pain
Among the joint pain, knee joint pain is very common, followed by shoulder and hip pain. It can affect any bodily part.
Osteoarthritis(OA): This disorder is the most common cause of joint pain in your leg; aging is the most common risk factor. It affects your joint of the knee, hip, spine, and hands.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): Is an autoimmune disorder that affects your hands, wrist, and knee joints.
Bursitis: Is a sac that is filled with fluid that eases friction between tissues. Inflammation of the bursa can also lead to leg pain.
Symptoms
- Swelling
- Pain
- Stiffness
- Loss of movement
Diagnosis
For diagnosis, your doctor will ask you series of questions and may perform a physical examination. In some cases, a joint X-ray may be required to diagnose arthritis. For diagnosis of autoimmune disorder blood test may be conducted if your doctor suspects another cause. They may also require a complete blood count or a sedimentation rate test to detect inflammation.
Treatment
Your pain could go away in a few weeks (acute), or it could last for several weeks or months (chronic). Joint pain is generally treated with medication, physical therapy, or any other alternative treatments.
Medications: If you have moderate to severe joint pain with swelling, your doctor may prescribe NSAIDs such as aspirin and naproxen. For mild pain without swelling, doctors usually prescribe acetaminophen.
Physical therapy: If you are obese, you need to do regular low-impacted exercises because reducing weight can help ease pressure on your joints, such as bicycling and swimming.
Capsaicin: is a topical agent usually used to treat pain in muscles and joints and significantly relieve joint pain from arthritis.
Injections: If oral or topical drugs do not ease the pain joint, the doctor may recommend injections. Such injection includes steroids, Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), and Prolotherapy.
When Do I See Doctor?
- If the area around your joint is red, tender, swollen
- If you have a fever
- pain that persists more than three days
Home treatment
A few essential home remedies might reduce short-term joint discomfort. One method is known as PRICE.
P.R.I.C.E. Treatment Method
Protect: Protect your joint by using the brace.
Rest: Take as much rest as possible and try to avoid those activities that trigger your pain.
Icing: Doing 15 mins of icing can reduce your joint inflammation
Compression: use elastic compression to compress your joint.
Elevation: Raise your affected leg above the level of your heart
