Leg Pain and Fatigue Causes and Treatment
Leg pain and fatigue can follow a hard workout at the gym or sitting too long in a cramped car during a road trip. However, the soreness should fade within a day or two, and your legs should start feeling normal.
But sometimes, leg pain does not go away, which could indicate an underlying health problem. So do not ignore ongoing pain in your legs — your primary care physician can help find and treat the issue and get you back on your feet.
Causes of Leg Pain and Fatigue
Chronic venous insufficiency, a venous disorder, is a significant cause of heaviness and pain in the legs. This condition occurs when veins deep in the legs that keep blood flowing back to the heart weaken, allowing blood to pool.
People who sit or stand for long periods, those who are overweight or obese, and women are at greater risk for this condition, which causes leg pain and fatigue. Leg pain can result from several types of injuries, diseases, lifestyle choices and many other causes.
Injury
- Inflamed tendon: Overuse of tendons can cause irritation, causing pain near joints and stiffness.
- Shin splints: Stress on the muscles around the shin bones can cause aching along the shin. This can be caused by overuse, new shoes, or a new activity.
- Strain: Overstretching or tearing a muscle can lead to soreness and fatigue during activity or movement.
- Stress fracture: Tiny cracks in bones from repetitive force can cause deep pain and tenderness.
Disease
- Arthritis: Joint inflammation can lead to stiffness, swelling, and aching in the legs.
- Diabetes: Nerve damage from high blood sugar may cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the legs.
- Multiple sclerosis: This condition affects the nervous system and can lead to muscle fatigue and leg weakness.
- Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Reduced blood flow to the legs can cause cramping, pain, and tiredness during activity.
Lifestyle
- Dehydration: Low fluid levels can lead to muscle cramps and overall fatigue.
- Muscle fatigue after exercise: Overworked muscles may feel sore, heavy, or weak after physical activity such as a new sport or workout.
- Obesity: Extra weight puts pressure on joints and muscles, leading to pain and tiredness.
- Poor circulation: Sluggish blood flow can make legs feel cold, achy, or fatigued.
Other Causes
- Blood clots: A clot in the leg can block blood flow and cause sudden pain or swelling. A blood clot requires immediate, emergency medical care. Call 911 or go to an emergency room if you're experiencing these symptoms.
- Bone infection: Infections in the bone can lead to deep, persistent pain and fatigue.
- Medication side effects: Some medications may cause muscle weakness, cramps, or tiredness as side effects.
- Sciatic nerve pain: Pressure on the sciatic nerve can cause sharp pain that travels down the leg.
Diagnosing Leg Pain and Fatigue
There are countless causes for leg pain and fatigue. Seeing your physician is the only way to get an accurate diagnosis. You should contact your physician if you have leg pain accompanied with swelling, fever or discoloration (black or bluish tint to leg). It is also important to see a physician if your leg pain is getting worse and at-home self-care is not helping.
To diagnose leg pain, your physician will start by examining your legs, as well as your feet, back and hips. You will be asked to describe the pain and explain what makes it worse or better. Your physician may order additional tests, such as an X-ray or MRI, to get a more detailed look at your leg.
Leg Pain and Fatigue Treatment
Your physician will address the root cause of leg pain and fatigue to help you find relief. Here are a few treatment options your health care provider may recommend:
- Compression therapy: This involves wearing supportive socks that apply gentle pressure to control leg swelling and discomfort.
- Medicine: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help with mild to moderate leg pain. If you are prone to blood clots, your physician may have you take medicine to thin your blood. You may need to take antibiotics if you have an infection.
- Physical therapy: Completing leg exercises with a supervised physical therapist can ease painful symptoms and restore motion in the joint.
- Surgery: You may need surgery for varicose veins, severe tendon damage, sprains and strains, or other leg injuries.
Prevent Leg Pain and Fatigue
It is not always possible to prevent leg pain. However, your lifestyle does play a part in reducing your risk. Here are few lifestyle changes to make to prevent leg pain:
- Aim for a healthy weight
- Avoid sitting or standing too long
- Eat a heart-healthy diet
- Follow your physician’s recommendations for physical activity
- Promote leg circulation with exercise, compression stockings and leg elevation
- Quit smoking to decrease your risk of PAD and blood clots
- Take rest days from exercise
- Warm up before exercise (every time, no exceptions)
Learn more
Frequently Asked Questions About Leg Fatigue or Soreness
Watch for symptoms that could signal something more serious:
- Numbness, weakness, or swelling in your leg or legs
- Skin changes, like discoloration, paleness, or a cold feeling
- Pain that worsens with activity or keeps you up at night
- Trouble walking or sudden loss of strength
- Pain after an injury that’s sharp or severe
If you notice any of these, it’s best to reach out to your primary care provider right away.
Leg weakness or fatigue can be symptoms of a range of health issues. Some of the most common include:
- Nerve conditions like sciatica, multiple sclerosis, or peripheral neuropathy
- Muscle disorders such as muscular dystrophy or myositis
- Circulatory problems that reduce blood flow to the legs
- Vitamin deficiencies or imbalances such as B12, vitamin D, or potassium
- Chronic conditions like diabetes or thyroid disease
If you’re noticing ongoing weakness or pain that’s affecting your daily life, it’s important to talk with a health care provider to find out what’s causing it and how to treat it.
Yes, dehydration can cause pain or tiredness in your legs. Your body needs enough fluids to keep muscles working properly and blood flowing. When you’re dehydrated:
- Muscles may cramp or feel sore due to a lack of electrolytes
- Blood circulation can slow down, making your legs feel heavy or tired
- You may feel tired overall, especially during activity, long periods of standing, or exposure to heat
Most healthy adults should aim for about 15.5 cups, or 3.7 liters of fluid per day for men and 11.5 cup, or 2.7 liters for women. This includes water, other sugar-free beverages, and water-rich foods like fruits and vegetables. Drinking water regularly can help prevent these symptoms.
Nerve pain and muscle pain usually feel different and they often come from different causes:
- Nerve pain may feel sharp, burning, or like pins and needles. It can start in your back or hips and travel down your leg, and may come with numbness or weakness. This type of pain is more likely to affect how your leg moves or feels.
- Muscle pain may feel dull, achy, or sore. It often shows up after activity, strain, or injury and tends to stay in one area. Muscle pain affects how your leg works during movement.
If you’re not sure which type of pain you’re feeling, a health care provider can help you figure it out and find the right treatment.
It could be, especially if your pain is near your knee or ankle joint and comes with stiffness or swelling.
Here are a few symptoms that may be caused by arthritis:
- Pain that’s worse in the morning or after sitting still
- Swelling or tenderness around the knees, hips, or ankles
- Stiffness that improves with movement
- Aching that feels deep or persistent, not sharp or sudden
If your symptoms are similar to these or aren’t improving, a visit with your primary care provider can help you get relief.
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