If you have leg pain, do you know what could be causing it? When should you see a doctor to find out how to get relief from the pain?
Leg pain can be an intermittent issue or a constant problem, develop over time or show up overnight, target one area of the leg or cause the entire leg pain. Because leg pain varies so much from person to person, it can be difficult to pinpoint the problem.
Leg Pain: Check Your Symptoms
The most common symptoms of leg pain that push someone to call a doctor include:
- Burning. A jolting pain is one of the first symptoms of leg pain. Depending on the cause, it can even radiate from the lower back and buttocks down the leg.
- Numbness and tingling. A person with severe leg pain might have the constant sensation of their leg falling asleep.
- Heaviness in the foot. People with heaviness or weakness in the foot often struggle to move normally.
- Constant Pain. Pain on one side of the buttocks is common with people who experience leg pain
What Causes Leg Pain?
Since the leg contains a number of different structures and tissue types, a wide variety of conditions and injuries can cause leg pain. Most commonly, leg and foot pain originates because of one of the following conditions:
Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease
Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease is a condition where the discs between vertebrae lose cushioning, fragmentation and herniation due to aging.
Spondylolisthesis
A bone (vertebra) slips forward onto the bone below it causing pain that radiates from the back to the leg.
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis
The open spaces in the lower spine are narrowing, which cause pain and cramping in the leg, especially when standing for long periods of time
Lumbar Herniated Disc
This is a very common condition that refers to a problem with a rubbery disc between the spinal bones.
Finding Relief from Leg Pain
In order to properly treat this disorder, it’s important to go to the doctor with a detailed description of the type of pain you’re experiencing, how the pain started, and frequency of the pain. From your description, a physical exam, and an MRI, a spine specialist will be able to diagnose the cause of your leg pain.
Based on the diagnosis, Drs. Cohen, Torrealba, and Saullo can help you find the proper treatment option for your leg pain.
Call the Spine & Scoliosis Specialists at 336.333.6306 to schedule an appointment with one of our spine specialists.