Nerve pain in the legs

The nervous system – is a complicated system of structures, which permeates the whole body by ensuring regulation of its vital functions due to the ability to respond to external and internal factors. Roughly speaking, the nervous system is the center of the body, and if it is damaged, all organs and processes are affected, causing all possible diseases.

Leg pain is a widespread thing, which happens to everyone and can be caused by many different factors. Talking about types of leg pain, we want to highlight muscle and nerve pain. 

When being young and strong, we don’t treat our nerves’ health seriously, leading to unpleasant consequences. You should realize that a correct decision made now will provide you a long-term happy life with fewer diseases. 

You should be especially accurate, as nerve pain in the legs can be a signal to schedule an appointment with a doctor, and you shouldn’t leave it too long. In many cases, that symptom doesn’t mean anything and happens almost to everyone, but it can lead to a serious disease, which requires particular treatment and the help of a specialist. Don’t play games with your health; schedule your appointment today! You should see a qualified doctor, which can review your symptoms and medical history and diagnose the reason for nerve pain in the leg. Check out the info below to learn more. 

What causes nerve pain in the legs

1. Radiculopathy

This disease can be described as leg pain introduced by a problem in the nerve roots of the lumbar or sacral spine. This pain may be caused by inflamed, irritated, or compressed nerve roots. Usually, radiculopathy affects one leg. 

• Pain is centralized in the lower back or buttock and moves down the thigh, calf, and feet.
• Nerve pain is characterized by numbness in the calf, foot, and toes.
• Also, weakness in the hip, thigh and foot muscles is possible.

1. Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy is an illness that is described by one or more damaged nerves. The main cause of this form of neuropathy in the leg is diabetes. In most cases, this disease strikes both legs. Damaged nerves in the legs in this condition can be characterized by:

• Pain is centralized in the toes and gradually spreads approaching the knee
• Feeling of numbness in the legs and feet
• Also, later stages are usually supported by weakness in the toes and ankles 

1. Peroneal Neuropathy

The main cause of the symptoms mentioned below is the compression of the peroneal nerve close to the knee. By the way, nerve pain in the leg is not a common symptom of this case but may happen when peroneal neuropathy comes because of a trauma. Peroneal Neuropathy can be described by:

• Foot drop, characterized by the inability to lift the foot, or a catch in the toes while walking
• Nerves pain which identifies numbness along the side of the leg, the upper part of the foot, and/or the first toe webspace

1. Meralgia Paresthetica

Compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in the thigh may cause a condition called meralgia paresthetica, characterized by:

• A burning or achy pain in the outer side and/or front of the thigh
• Coldness in the struck areas
• Buzzing or vibrations (like a vibration of a mobile phone in the pocket) in the thigh region

1. Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

Dysfunction of the tibial nerve due to nerve compression within the foot’s tarsal tunnel leads to this syndrome. Nerve pain in the legs caused by Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome can be described this way: 

• The pain can be sharp and shooting, covering the inner ankle joint and along the sole of the foot
• Another common symptom is numbness in the sole
• A foot can feel tingling or burning 

1. Neurogenic Claudication

This type of leg pain occurs due to narrowing the spinal canal (spinal stenosis), causing compression of the spinal cord. This compression may occur due to bone spurs (abnormal bone growth), lumbar disc herniation, or spondylolisthesis (forward slippage of a vertebra).

The symptoms of this disease usually affect both legs and can be described by:

• Nerve pain in the leg and numbness while walking, standing, or doing upright exercises
• A leg may feel weak during its activity

How can I stop nerve pain in the legs

• Do some exercise

Although when you suffer from nerve pain in the legs, a great decision will be to exercise. Exercise should not be painful or strenuous. A walk around the block is an excellent example of physical activity that keeps your spine strong without doing any additional damage. 

• Stretch it out

Involve gentle stretching into your daily routine. Stretching is an excellent way to improve your spinal flexibility and range of motion while also building core and spinal strength. Plus, most stretches are simple enough to be done while watching the news or your favorite movie.

• Use the ice pack and heating pad

Alternating heat and ice therapy can provide immediate relief of sciatic nerve pain. Heat and ice may also help ease painful muscle spasms that often accompany sciatica. Remember always to use a barrier (like a towel) to protect your skin when using heat or ice, and never sleep while using heat or ice therapy.

• Refresh your posture

Whether you are working at your desk or relaxing at home, you might find that your sciatica pain spikes if you stay in the same position for too long. Varying your posture every 20 minutes and using proper posture can help take pressure off your spine and reduce your sciatica symptoms.

Even despite leg pain can appear after a hard day on your feet, making an appointment with a doctor won’t hurt, as it is essential to be always confident about your health condition, furthermore if we’re talking about cases when you need immediate surgery.