The majority of patients complain of leg pain when lying down but not standing. You may feel frustrated if you experience leg pain while lying down at night when you are trying to sleep peacefully. As a result, your performance in your day-to-day activities is also affected. Although you carry the weight of your body almost all the time, you should not experience pain or fatigue in your legs. Getting to know the possible causes and treatments of your aching legs will help you alleviate your pain and improve your sleep quality. It is always recommended to consult a leg pain doctor.
Symptoms of Leg Pain
Symptoms associated with leg pain when lying down but not standing may include:
- A throbbing or cramping pain in the leg
- Cramping of the legs
- Legs that are numb and tingly
- Feeling restless
- Sleeplessness
- Fatigue during the day
- During the day and at night, there is an aching leg bone pain
- Legs with abnormally red skin
- A localized feeling of warmth and swelling
- Legs feel heavy
- Veins in the legs that are bulging and bluish
- The legs are swollen
- Leg vein itching
- Changes in the color of the skin around the leg veins
Causes of Leg Pain and Cramps When Lying
Identifying the exact cause of leg pain can be difficult. An idiopathic leg cramp is one that has no known cause. Many factors can contribute to calf cramps and thigh pain at night, including:
- Too much high-intensity exercise can cause leg cramping at night due to overworking the muscles.
- Pinched nerves and spinal cord injuries.
- Sitting or standing for an extended period of time. It is common for pregnant women to experience leg cramps at night, especially during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
- Drugs such as blood pressure medications, diuretics, and statins, can cause leg cramps.
Methods for Diagnosing Leg Pain
A doctor should be consulted if you are experiencing severe leg pain or if it interferes with your daily life. Depending on your condition, your doctor may also order imaging or other tests, such as:
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Physical Examination
To determine the cause of your symptoms, your physician will conduct a physical examination.
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X-Rays
Bones can be visualized by X-rays, which are images of dense structures.
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
It uses radio waves and electromagnetic fields to generate detailed pictures of your body. In many cases, these images are required when the soft tissues and ligaments surrounding the legs or back need to be examined in detail. ·
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Ultrasound
Through the use of sound waves, it is possible to create images of the structures within your body, allowing you to diagnose problems affecting soft tissues, such as Achilles tendinitis.
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Computerized Tomography (CT) Acan
A cross-section of structures is created by combining several X-ray images. In addition to being cost-effective, it is often faster and more efficient than magnetic resonance imaging for larger surveys of the body. As opposed to an MRI, a CT scan uses a small amount of radiation.
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Venography
This type of test is performed by injecting dye into a vein in the leg in order to detect blood clots.
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Electromyography (EMG)
In this test, a needle electrode is inserted into muscles to determine whether nerve damage is present in the muscles.
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Blood Tests
A doctor may want to examine you for signs of inflammation, blood clots, nutritional deficiency, immune system abnormalities, diabetes, cholesterol, and other conditions that may be causing your leg pain.
When to See a Doctor
Here are conditions when you need to visit doctor
- If you experience severe leg pain that does not subside on its own
- If you are concerned that you may have a blood clot
- if you are experiencing new or worsening leg pain and have a known condition such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
- You may need to change your current treatment plan.
- If you are having frequent leg pains at night that interfere with your sleep, you can talk to one of the providers at the pain medicine clinic.
- Providers at all of our locations can assist you in determining the cause of your nighttime leg pain.
How is Leg Pain Treated?
Leg pain is treated in accordance with its cause. There are many home remedies that can be used to treat sore or aching legs. It may, however, be necessary to seek medical attention if the pain is sudden, severe, or persistent, or if there are other symptoms present. Use the RICER method if you suddenly experience pain after an injury:
- Take plenty of rest and do not move your leg.
- Place an icepack on the sore area for 15-20 minutes at a time, using an ice pack that is covered or a bag of frozen peas. For two to three days, repeat the procedure every two to four hours.
- Secure the bandage firmly around the affected area.
- Maintain an elevated leg position.
- Consult your doctor regarding the injury.
- Do some yoga. In spite of the fact that exercise is beneficial to your veins, it is not recommended to exercise too close to bedtime because it will keep you up. You can improve your blood flow and relax by stretching and doing yoga.
- Drink plenty of water. In order to maintain healthy circulation, it is important to stay hydrated. If you drink it all right before going to sleep, you may experience other disruptions to your sleep. Throughout the day, ensure that you remain properly hydrated.
- Stretch any cramping muscles by straightening your leg and flexing your foot.
- By massaging any knots in the muscles with your hands or a foam roller, you will be able to relax them
Pain clinic Fort Worth has a credential record with dealing all types of pain even a leg pain when lying down but not standing. Our goal is to help you achieve pain-free sleep by developing a treatment plan together with you.