Pinched Nerve In The Leg - Causes, Symptoms And Treatment Of Pinched Nerve In The Leg

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Pinched nerve in the leg

It is impossible not to notice a pinched nerve in the area of one or both legs, because it is accompanied by severe pain. Most often women are exposed to the presented problem in the late stages of pregnancy, people who perform work with significant physical exertion, as well as professional athletes and people over 60 years old.

Content:

• Symptoms of a pinched nerve in the leg
• Causes of a pinched nerve in the leg
• Diagnostics of the pinched nerve in the leg
• Treating a pinched nerve in the leg

Symptoms of a pinched nerve in the leg

Signs indicating a pinched nerve in the lower extremities are as follows:

• The appearance of sharp and sharp painful sensations in the pinched area. They may also be tingling;
• Puffiness of the epidermis, a change in shade to red at the pinch point;
• Increased sweating (quite rare);
• Inability to straighten limbs in the morning. As the course of the disease worsens, this symptom becomes permanent.
• The patient is more constrained, when in an upright position, there is unbearable pain;
• Painful sensations can reach the back area.

Most often, symptoms of such a plan form unexpectedly, but disappear just as quickly. In the later stages of the disease, the presented sensations continue continuously. In the area in which painful sensations are most strongly felt, the pinched point of the nerve is located. This may be the fault of both physical and psychological effects.

In a dream, painful sensations can also appear. The factors that determine the pinched nerve in the lower extremities, of an additional nature, as mentioned above, may be redness and swelling of the skin. Constant sweating is sometimes added to this. There is an aggravation of motor activity in the situation when the motor nerve is affected, and sometimes atrophy.

Causes of a pinched nerve in the leg

A pinched nerve in the lower extremities can form due to the following factors:

• Osteochondrosis at the stage of exacerbation. Cartilage and discs, changing their shape, leave little space, which is allocated by the vertebrae. This has a positive effect on increasing compression in the area of the nerve branches. If we talk about the muscles, then they, being in a much more active state and with increased tone, further aggravate the situation. Indeed, in this regard, the painful sensations are much more tangible;
• Radiculitis. As you know, a large number of people over the age of 45 are faced with this disease. It is this ailment that can provoke a pinched nerve in the leg. The pain can be so intense that even prolonged loss of consciousness is likely. In this regard, at a critical moment, it is necessary to reduce the pain syndrome as soon as possible;
• Tumors of any origin;

• Loads that are associated with hard or prolonged physical labor;
• Injuries sustained that change the optimal structure of the bones and thereby affect pinching.

Diagnostics of the pinched nerve in the leg

Before prescribing a course of treatment, a person must undergo a standard examination, which consists in an X-ray of the spine and leg bones. In the case of a controversial diagnosis or contraindications, computed or magnetic resonance imaging (CT or MRI) is prescribed.

If a tumor is suspected, a scintigraphy, or radiological examination, of the spine is performed.

Treating a pinched nerve in the leg

First of all, starting treatment, you should release the nerve endings or fibers from the pressed state. This is due to the fact that it is this phenomenon that provokes painful sensations in the leg area in the event of a pinched nerve. In order to achieve this goal, specialists use manual therapy, some types of massage (in particular, acupressure, electric massage, vibration massage). No less effective are acupuncture and shock wave therapy, which, however, are undesirable for people over 60 years old. Additional methods of recovery are osteopathy, magnetic therapy and electrical stimulation.

In the event that the pinching is not associated with complications, for example a hernia or protrusion, the elimination of painful sensations can be carried out in a fairly short period. In the same situation, when the sensations turn out to be too forced, pain relievers and novocaine blockades are prescribed. Experts recommend that the patient maintain bed rest for at least two to three days, and also avoid increased and active movements and loads after being at rest.

After that, it is necessary to begin the restoration of the nerve. For this purpose, the so-called complex therapy is being introduced, for example, moxibustion, medicines, vitamin complexes. The final stage of this complex treatment will be the exact determination of the factor that provoked the pinched nerve in the leg area.

It is no secret that in the overwhelming majority of cases this manifestation is the result of the onset or aggravation of a disease already present in the patient. So, for example, pinching of the sciatic nerve in the leg area most often has a direct connection with osteochondrosis. It is in this connection that recovery without eliminating the real causes provokes a repetition of the situation if the lower extremities hurt when the nerve is pinched.

The operative method of treatment is resorted to only in a situation when the other methods of treatment do not help and the person is worried about periodic serious pain. In this case, an operation is performed to eliminate the cause of the pinched nerve. Most often we are talking about the removal of a herniated disc.

Thus, pinched nerve in the lower extremities is a serious problem that must be resolved as soon as possible. The relative advantage of the presented pathology is that the pain is easily relieved, however, without establishing the exact cause of the disease, this will be constantly repeated. Therefore, you should consult a specialist and not self-medicate.

Author of the article: Sokov Andrey Vladimirovich | Neurologist

Education: In 2005 completed an internship at the IM Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University and received a diploma in Neurology. In 2009, completed postgraduate studies in the specialty "Nervous diseases".