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Pain in the lower leg: causes and consequences
Last reviewed: 17.10.2021
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Pain in the lower leg is a rather complex problem for a person, because they can be a symptom of a disease such as thrombosis, life-threatening. And thrombosis is not the only disease that is signaled by pains in the lower leg. It happens that such pain sensations in the shin are associated with diseases that are still in the initial stage of development - then they can be quickly cured. How to distinguish a dangerous situation from one with which you can quickly cope?
The reasons for the pain in the lower leg
- In the blood, the concentration of a certain type of salt is reduced, for example, magnesium, calcium, potassium, magnesia. The reason for reducing the concentration of salts can be diuretics.
- A person uncontrolledly takes medications: statins (they can cause destruction or deformation of muscle tissue, thereby lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood).
- Muscle spasms, primarily as a result of prolonged exertion, physical strain.
- Rupture or tearing of ligaments or tendons due to muscle injuries
- Fracture of lower leg bones, ankle joint
- Deformation or trauma to the meniscus
- Thrombosis of veins (deep or superficial), blockage of blood vessels
- Inflammation of tendons
- Damage to the meniscus.
- Atherosclerosis arising in the vessels of the legs
- Infectious lesions of the calf tissues
- Deformation, rupture, stretching, trauma, damage to nerve fibers (in groups of risk - smokers, people who abuse alcohol, as well as diabetics).
- The so-called trap syndrome, when the lower leg is clamped or squashed as a result of trauma or muscle strain
- Fractures due to overexertion
- Contracture of muscles - the so-called blockage due to overexertion, heavy loads
- Inflammation of the periosteum of the tibia
- Large and small overshoots in caviar muscles
- Expanded veins, tearing of ligaments located under the knee
- Inflammation of the tuberous surface of the tibia
- Inflammation of the tip of the patella - the so-called knee of the jumper
- Tumor or osteoma of the lower leg or thigh
- Abuse of such medical devices as cortichostrol
- Malignant tumors of crural bone
- The disease, which is called Paget's disease (breast cancer of the nipples)
- Raynaud's syndrome
- Syndrome of squeezing muscles
- Compression of the nerve roots located in the lower leg
Smoker's pain
This pain is localized in the shins of people who often smoke a lot. If you stop smoking, the pain can go away. If after rest the person ceases to feel pain, means, serious problems with health are not present. But if even in a calm state a person still suffers pain, then there is a serious reason to consult a doctor for diagnosis. The heart and blood vessels of a smoker undergo special stress and can provoke pain in the shin. Therefore, special attention should be paid to the cardiovascular system.
Pain due to thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis can be dangerous only in case of complications that can endanger life. These complications can occur if a person has lost a blood clot. If the risk of developing a blood clot is high and it can get into the lungs or the brain, the person needs an operation to remove a thrombus, otherwise a fatal outcome is possible. In the event that a person has blood clots in his veins, an ankle can hurt.
Pain due to compression of the ankle tissue
The compression of tissues can be as a result of a strong impact on the shin, squeezing it with a heavy object, trauma to the shin. Because of this, there may be a hemorrhage in the soft tissues of the shin, causing a tumor and pain. Blood vessels during such a trauma can also be squeezed, causing a red or blue hematoma on the skin.
Happens, that at squeezing the hemorrhage in muscles occurs, at the same time squeezes vessels and nervous fibers. Because of this, there is swelling of the foot, which becomes very hot, changes color and pain appears in the shin area.
If the muscle tissue and nerve fibers are damaged, this process can be irreversible, the pain can be very severe. At the same time, the muscles atrophy, the foot can not perform its functions, physicians call this state a dangling foot. A person can not bend it, which means that he can not walk, ride a motorcycle or a bicycle, or even swim.
Foot pain after open fractures
This pain can occur with osteomyelitis, especially shin osteomyelitis, in which immunity is greatly weakened, and then surgery may be required.
[12], [13], [14], [15], [16], [17], [18], [19], [20], [21], [22], [23]
Damage to the meniscus
In this case, a person can also worry about the shin pain. It is more typical for people who go in for sports and run a lot: football players, runners, basketball players. Damage to the meniscus is most often treated by surgery.
Pain in the lower leg due to muscle spasm
Such pain can provoke pain in the lower leg. The treatment is very simple - massages, pain relievers, ointments with analgesics. And everything will be all right - the pain in the shin will stop bothering.
Is there any danger from shin pain?
It depends on the disease, which is signaled by pain. If it is a question of a thrombosis - and such patients more than 50% among those who complains of pains in an anticnemion it is dangerous. A thrombus can come off and clog the vein or pass through the bloodstream to other organs, for example, the lung. When clogged with a thrombus lungs, a person dies instantly. And the sizes of venous thrombi do not matter for human life - it can be dangerous and small, and a large thrombus.
It is very important to make a diagnosis with shin pains. If there is a blood clot, the doctor will continue the research methods. To know exactly how to fight for a person's life. If there are no thrombi in the veins, then the treatment will be more easy and effective. The main thing is to start it on time. That is, as soon as possible.
The mechanism of pain in the lower leg
The tissues of the lower leg are permeated with a variety of nerve endings. They are in the muscles, and in the tendons, and in the ligaments, and in the vessels, and in the tissues that surround them. Any part of the leg can become inflamed, and nerve endings - too. Then the pain is transmitted through the nerve receptors. For example, with deep vein thrombosis, the walls of their vessels or tissues around it can become inflamed. So there is irritation of nerve endings and pains in the lower leg.
The most common causes of pain in the lower leg - constant strain on the legs. It can be either a long sitting or standing in one place or, conversely, a lot of walking, running, jumping, and all kinds of movement. Pain in the shin can occur when a person first performs a large physical load, and then abruptly stops and takes a break. Muscles, ligaments and tendons that are accustomed to being toned, now become immobilized, so they can get sick from load changes.
The cause of the pain can be and trauma - dislocations, stretching, cracks - any injuries of the shin. Then you need immediate medical advice.
The structure of the lower leg. Where does the pain in the lower leg come from?
The shin is a part of the leg that goes from the knee to the heel. It has a large and small tibia. They attach a cup over the knee. Bottom, near the heel, the large and small tibia bones pass into the ankles - the inner and outer ones are the processes of the tibia. These bones along their entire length are connected by membranes.
The doctor's shin is divided into two parts - the front and the back. The border of these parts is located along the inner edge of the tibia, the other border runs from the back of the outer edge of the ankle to the back of the head of the other bone - peroneal.
The calf muscles are located along the anterior part of the shin bones, as well as along the posterior part of the leg. Physiologists divide the leg muscles into 3 large groups. These are the front muscles that help to unbend the toes and the foot, the external muscles, which allow the foot to bend and rotate, and also move the foot outwards. And the back muscles, which help the foot and toes to bend - these muscles are called gastrocnemius. Most of the pain in the lower leg does not require a long time for treatment, unless the cause is not a serious illness. But why are there pains in the lower leg?
The nature of shin pain
The pains in the lower leg appear first below the knee on the outside of the legs (this is the region of the tibia). This length is more than 10-15 cm. Pain can occur during heavy physical exertion, and after they are reduced or stopped - the pain subsides.
If the pain in the shin arises during physical training, then you need to stop these exercises so that the pain subsides.