Navigating Healthcare: A Guide to Modern Medicine and Wellness

Tag: leg pain

leg rush
Sciatica Patient

What Causes Back Pain and Leg Pain?

An estimated 80% of the population experiences back pain– especially lower back pain– at one point or another in their lifetime. While still prevalent, leg pain can stem from back pain, but it occurs less frequently. Leg pain tends to be both bothersome and debilitating, potentially limiting an individual’s daily activities. Patients consulting a spinal care look to a doctor to administer treatment for quick pain relief; more importantly, patients want doctors to provide answers to the cause of their discomfort. But in the end, patients fail to understand that the answer may not be as clear-cut as they believe.

In reality, a wide spectrum of spinal conditions can lead to instances of both back and leg pain.

For example, Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) can trigger leg pain, coupled with back pain. PAD refers to the buildup of plaque along artery walls and the subsequent blocking of blood vessels in the legs. This, in turn, restricts the amount of oxygen nourishing the leg muscles and causes discomfort in patients’ legs and back. But combined leg and back pain can also be a harbinger of a life-threatening condition called Deep Vein Thrombosis. This serious condition refers to the formation of blood clots in the deep veins in the body. If the clot breaks free, it can be dangerous and clog a smaller vessel, thereby culminating into a stroke.

Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg SyndromeRLS or more commonly known as Restless Leg Syndrome, may seem like not a big deal to people that don’t have it.  But, for the 10% of the population that does have RLS it’s a condition that can essentially interrupt your life and make certain things, like sleeping soundly, really difficult.  Since it mainly has to do with sleep, it is considered a sleep disorder, though some people say that they also have symptoms during the day time as well.  Essentially, the name itself defines what this condition really is; having restless legs.  But, it’s much more than just that.  Most people that experience RLS deal with the uncomfortable and sporadic sensation of a pulling in their arms or legs.  It’s a really annoying condition to say the least, especially while trying to sleep.  Most of the people that have this condition will try to move their legs while sleeping in order to relieve the symptoms – for some people it works, and for others it does not.  Other people say they feel pins and needles in their limbs, or a bug-crawling like sensation under the skin.  These sensations tend to worsen when sitting still or lying down.