What could be the cause of my leg pain?
If your leg pain comes on suddenly and you have problems moving or bearing weight, there's a good chance you've got an injury. Common leg injuries include:
- Meniscal tears
- Sprained ankles
- Fractured bones
- Dislocated joints
- MCL tears
- ACL sprains
- Hamstring strains
- Tendinitis
- Stress fractures
- Shin splints
You could also be experiencing pain from nerve compression in your lower back. Sciatica commonly causes pain that shoots down one leg.
One of the most common causes of joint pain in your legs is arthritis, which affects the cartilage or joint linings and causes inflammation, chronic pain, and stiffness. Other possible causes of leg pain include vascular disorders like peripheral artery disease and deep vein thrombosis.
How is leg pain diagnosed?
Dr. Crooks can often diagnose the cause of your leg pain from your symptoms and a physical examination. He also reviews your medical history and any other relevant issues like your hobbies and lifestyle.
If he needs detailed images of your joints, you might need an X-ray, MRI, CT scan, or a bone scan.
What treatments are available for leg pain?
Acute leg pain due to an injury like a fracture or sprain requires immobilization to encourage healing. Broken bones need aligning, which can involve surgery.
Less serious injuries also benefit from rest, with applications of ice and heat and the careful use of medication.
Chronic leg pain is often due to poorly healed injuries. Regenerative medicine techniques like stem cell therapy and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) could be helpful. These treatments encourage healing and the growth of new, healthy tissue, even in old injuries.
What treatments are there for arthritic leg pain?
Leg pain from arthritis isn't curable, so Dr. Crooks focuses on alleviating your symptoms.
Physical therapy can help, as can knee injections containing anesthetic, steroids, or hyaluronic acid. Genicular nerve ablation in your knees could also help by destroying the pain nerves.
If you have leg pain, it's important to determine the cause as soon as possible to ensure you get the right treatment. Call Pinnacle Pain and Spine for prompt and courteous care or book an appointment online today.
