Experiencing leg muscle pain can be very distressing, as it may seriously limit how mobile one can be. Normal, everyday actions such as walking up or down steps, getting up and sitting down, or the act of simply walking can become difficult, or even impossible with leg muscle pain. The most common reasons one may experience pain in their leg muscles is due to abnormal muscle contractions, muscle strains, or a physical traumatic injury affecting one or more leg muscles.
Determining the best treatment method for leg muscle pain may be a long, arduous process of trial and error as each individual responds differently to treatment. Usual treatments include letting the affected muscles rest, light stretching exercises, or the ingestion of prescription or even over-the-counter medications. If you are trying to perform home treatment but are unsure of any progress, perhaps it would be best to simply see a doctor instead.
Leg Cramps
One common cause of muscle pain is due to leg cramps, and these generally only appear when one overuses their muscles. In the event of this occurring, it would be beneficial to rest the leg in a slightly elevated position as frequently as possible until the pain begins to subside. Icing the affected area may also help. Patients are generally recommended to apply ice multiple times a day for as long as 15 minutes a session. One may also use over-the-counter pain medication as instructed.
Muscle Strains
The occurrence of muscle strains is the result of unusual muscle contractions and they will also cause one to experience leg muscle pain. Treatment methods are similar to how one would treat a leg cramp. Once the pain completely subsides, light exercises can be reintroduced once again to one’s daily regimen. It is imperative that one remembers to not stress the recovering leg muscles too much, and that any exercise or activity should be halted immediately should any pain reappear. If over-the-counter muscle medications are ineffective, see your physician for a prescription to stronger medications.
After the initial leg muscle pains have finally subsided, apply heat to the affected areas instead of ice. Perform the heat therapy in the same way and time intervals as you normally would with ice. Various over-the-counter ointments and creams are available in pharmacies to regulate the pain. These remedies are created with many active ingredients, so one may need to do some research into which ones are most effective and have fewest side effects.
Caution
Additional complications that may occur as a result of leg muscle pain include swelling, skin discoloration, and worsening pain. Should one experience any of these conditions, or if home treatment fails to remedy the problem, seek medical treatment as soon as possible. The physician may conduct a few tests to determine the severity of the problem. The majority of these tests can be conducted in the doctor’s office, however there are a few that require a visit to the hospital.