What Can Leg Pain Indicate?
There are certain changes in the legs that you should never ignore, such as a feeling of heaviness; wounds that don’t heal; redness, warmth, or tenderness; pain that doesn’t go away even after you stop exercising your legs; and having legs or feet that are much colder than the rest of your body.
Here are some more specifics on what different kinds of leg pain may indicate:
- Leg pain or discomfort in the calves and thighs. This pain can occur while you exercise, but it can also creep up on you while you are resting. This may be a sign of peripheral artery disease, which affects the blood flow in the lower part of the body. You are at a greater risk for peripheral artery disease if you smoke, have diabetes, or have a family history of vascular disease.
- A feeling of pressure in your leg veins. This, along with leg fatigue, swelling, and/or discoloration of your legs or feet, may be a sign of chronic venous insufficiency. Being overweight, over the age of 50, pregnant, or having a job where you have to stand or sit for long periods of time are the risk factors for chronic venous insufficiency.
- A burning sensation. You might not think much about it if you have diabetes and you have leg pain or a burning sensation – you may think it’s just part of the illness. However, whenever you are in pain, it is a sign that you should see your doctor.
Your legs may be trying to tell you that you have a very serious health issue that you should deal with immediately. If you have been having leg pains, contact Dr. Sammy A. Zakhary for help. Call the office in Glendale, Arizona, at (623) 258-3255 for an appointment today.
