No doubt, legs are highly sensitive to injuries and medical problems. The reasons behind this is constant physical movement and bearing of the body weight. Having your legs pain, legs ache and tingle are some of the common symptoms, that most people experience at some point in their life. Also, manifestations of such uncomfortable symptoms are higher among older people, who are no longer physically active. These problems may be temporary or chronic. Let’s take a look at the causes, diagnosis and treatment for having your legs ache and tingle.
Legs Ache and Tingle: Causes
When you analyze leg ache and leg tingling separately, you will identify a number of causes for both the problems. For example, tingling in legs are mostly manifested due to nerve compression or increased pressure from the spinal column to the legs or both. The probable causes for getting your legs ache and tingle are as follows:
Restless Leg Syndrome
If a person is experiencing legs ache and tingle frequently, especially during sleep, then he or she may be suffering from restless leg syndrome (RLS). Over here, the nerves that control the movement of the legs are affected, resulting in leg ache and tingling. On rare occasions, the hands too can be affected by restless leg syndrome.
Circulation Problem
poor circulation in legs.
Nerve Damage
Unusual nerve sensations are collectively called paresthesia. Legs ache and tingle can be manifested as a result of nerve damage and irritation. Very often, people above 40 years of age can suffer from bone spurs and disc protrusions, which in turn leads to a tingling sensation in the legs. Also, increased pressure in the peripheral nerves causes the legs to ache and tingling.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is mostly manifested as a complication of diabetes and at times, due to infection and damage of the nerves in the peripheral nervous system. It causes mild to unbearable tingling leg cramp causes.
Other causes for legs ace and tingle include multiple sclerosis (a chronic condition of the central nervous system), tumors in the nerves and side effects of medications. Like any other medical problem, timely diagnosis and treatment is the thumb rule to prevent further complications in legs ache and tingle. Delaying only worsens the pain and discomfort, which over time becomes difficult to treat. A neurologist and vascular physician are the best people to diagnose legs ache and tingle.
Legs Ache and Tingle: Treatment
The underlying cause can be identified based on a physical examination, other manifested symptoms, medical history and overall health condition of the patient. In order to rule out other medical problems, the physician may perform certain laboratory tests like nerve conduction studies, CT scans of the lumbar spine and non-invasive vascular studies of the leg portion.
Treatment options for legs ache and tingle depend entirely on the diagnostic result or the underlying condition. Hence, identifying the source of the problem is the first step for getting the correct treatment. If necessary, the physician may prescribe correct therapeutic interventions based on the severity and the patient’s health. In case, the problem of legs ache and tingle is minor and temporary, you can practice certain home remedies to combat this discomfort.
- Applying ice packs to the leg portion that ache will help in subsiding the painful symptoms. You can wrap ice packs in a clean wash cloth and place it over the affected area for about 10 minutes.
- Go for leg exercises at home.
- Another effective remedy for legs ache and tingling sensation in legs is applying heat. For this purpose, you can use a hot water bag or a heat rub. Nevertheless, ensure that the temperature is of a manageable range.
By following these easy self care tips, you can get relief from legs ache and tingle. For pain management, you can also administer over-the-counter, non prescription pain killers. If there is no improvement in legs ache and tingle, then consult a physician as soon as possible.
