What causes soreness, swelling, and pain in the legs?
May 03, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Lin Yunfei
Introduction
Leg soreness, swelling, and pain may result from intense physical activity in a short period, during which anaerobic metabolism in leg muscles produces lactic acid, leading to leg soreness, swelling, and weakness. It could also be caused by varicose veins in the lower leg, where impaired blood flow prevents proper return of blood from the legs to the heart, resulting in blood pooling in the legs. Additionally, leg soreness and pain may arise when a herniated intervertebral disc compresses the spinal nerve roots.
Leg soreness, swelling, and pain may be caused by physiological factors, or by pathological conditions such as varicose veins or lumbar disc herniation. The details are as follows:
1. Physiological Factors
After intense physical activity within a short period, anaerobic metabolism in leg muscles produces lactic acid, leading to leg soreness, swelling, and weakness. Symptoms usually improve with appropriate massage and rest, which tends to be effective.
2. Pathological Factors
1) Varicose Veins
When the veins in the lower leg become varicose, they fail to return blood from the legs back to the heart. Blood pooling in the legs increases pressure, causing symptoms such as leg soreness, swelling, and skin discoloration. It is recommended to take medications such as micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) tablets, pancreatin-kallikrein enteric-coated tablets, or diosmin capsules under medical guidance to reduce vascular permeability and alleviate venous stasis symptoms.
2) Lumbar Disc Herniation
The spinal nerve roots transmit sensory and motor signals to the legs. When a herniated intervertebral disc compresses these nerve roots, it may cause various leg discomforts, including soreness, pain, and numbness. It is recommended to take neurotrophic medications such as mecobalamin tablets, vitamin B12 tablets, or adenosylcobalamin tablets under medical supervision to improve symptoms.
In addition, similar symptoms may also result from piriformis syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, or other causes. Specific diagnosis requires relevant medical examinations at a hospital to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
