How Is Leg Pain Diagnosed
If your leg pain is severe or interferes with your daily life, its important to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms and perform a physical exam.
Your doctor may also order imaging and other tests, including the following:
X-ray This test creates images of dense structures, such as bones.
Magnetic resonance imaging This test uses a magnetic field and radio waves to create detailed images of areas of your body. These are often needed when detailed pictures of soft tissues and ligaments around the leg joints or back are needed.
Ultrasound This test uses sound waves to produce images of structures in your body, and can be useful to diagnose conditions affecting soft tissues, such as Achilles tendinitis.
Computed tomography scan This test combines many X-ray images to create a very detailed cross-section of structures. This test is good for larger surveys of the body and is cheaper and often faster than MRI. Unlike MRIs, CT scans use small amounts of radiation.
Venography This test involves injecting a dye into a vein in your leg and using X-ray imaging to detect blood clots.
Electromyography This test involves inserting a needle electrode into muscles to measure their electrical activity, which can help detect damage to nerves leading to muscles.
Postexertional Malaise And Immune Function
CFS/ME patients report a changeable pattern to their symptoms and physical and cognitive capabilities, often with severe symptom exacerbation following physical exercise . This is termed PEM, with approximately 95% of CFS/ME patients experiencing PEM . As regards the cause of PEM, it has been suggested that exercise may exhibit the ability to amplify preexisting immune abnormalities, in addition to oxidative and nitrosative stress . Immunological abnormalities have been reported following exercise in CFS/ME. For example, observations in CFS/ME symptom flare after moderate intensity exercise have been reported to be directly linked to the levels of interleukin-1 , IL-12, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-13, 8 hours after exercise . Additionally, sustained increase in plasma TNF- in CFS/ME patients and not in healthy controls has been observed after exercise . Moderate intensity exercise has also been reported to induce a larger 48-hour postexercise area under the curve for IL-10 .
Q: How Is Pots Tested/assessed
A: Seeking answers from a medical center with autonomic expertise will give you a better chance of receiving an accurate diagnosis. If you think you may have POTS, its important that your doctor rules out other conditions, including thyroid disease.
Your autonomic medical specialist will use a special tilt table test to diagnose your condition. The tilt table test is designed to measure heart rate and blood pressure as you change your body position from lying flat to a 60- to 70-degree angle. The title table is the best way to confirm a POTS diagnosis.
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Treatment For Leg Pain
Treatment for leg pain will depend on the cause. When the cause of your leg pain is a minor injury or muscle cramp, you can treat the pain at home. Effective pain-relieving methods to try at home include:
Resting and elevating your leg Over-the-counter pain medications Applying ice on the affected area a few times each day Taking a warm bath Gently stretching the affected leg muscles
When the cause of your leg pain is related to heart health, it may be necessary to start taking cholesterol or blood pressure medications to help restore healthy circulation. It is also necessary to follow a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle to prevent heart problems and treat leg pain.
A diet full of healthy fats, fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and omega-3 fatty acids Reduced intake of processed foods and fried foods Increased fiber intake Reduced sodium, sugar, and cholesterol intake Regular physical activity Relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation Weight loss and maintaining a healthy weight
Can Boredom Cause Fatigue
Being bored can make you feel tired. That may sound strange, but it’s true. If you were very busy during your working years, you may feel lost about how to spend your time when you retire. When you wake up in the morning, you may see long days stretching before you with nothing planned. It doesn’t have to be that way.
Engaging in social and productive activities that you enjoy, like volunteering in your community, may help maintain your well-being. Think about what interests you and what skills or knowledge you have to offer and look for places to volunteer. Read Participating in Activities You Enjoy for ways to find volunteer opportunities.
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How Chronic Pain Causes Fatigue
The Arthritis Foundation says, The pain-fatigue connection can be a vicious circle. Dealing with pain for months at a time over many years can wear you down. It can affect your sleep habits, which adds to your exhaustion. Being fatigued, in turn, can worsen pain and make it more difficult to manage.
Here are five specific ways pain can cause fatigue.
Diagnostic Criteria For Me/cfs Using The National Academy Of Medicine Clinical Criteria
For a diagnosis of ME/CFS, the person must have the following three symptoms:
Diagnosis also requires at least one of the following two symptoms:
It is important to note that these are not the only symptoms of ME/CFS, just the minimum needed to meet the diagnostic criteria.
While diagnosis requires that a person has had symptoms continually for six months, early intervention with pacing and rest can help reduce symptoms, improve quality of life and reduce the risk of exacerbating the disease. Research suggests that patients who are able to pace their activity and not push themselves tend to do better in the long term. Pacing and rest can start even prior to an official diagnosis.
While there is currently no cure and no evidence-based treatments, it is important to find a doctor who is not only sympathetic to ME/CFS, but can work with you to help manage your symptoms.
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Food Allergies Food Intolerance And Fatigue
Symptoms: Fatigue, sleepiness, continued exhaustion
Although food is supposed to give you energy, medical research suggests that hidden food intolerances or allergies can do the opposite. In fact, fatigue may be an early warning sign of food intolerance or food allergy. Celiac disease, which happens when you cant digest gluten, may also cause fatigue.
Ask your doctor about the elimination diet. This is a diet in which you cut out certain foods linked to a variety of symptoms, including sleepiness within 10 to 30 minutes of eating them, for a certain period of time to see if that makes a difference. You can also talk to your doctor about a food allergy test or invest in a home test such as ALCAT which may help you identify the offending foods.
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Fibromyalgia And Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are two related disorders 2. Fatigue, headaches, muscle aches and sleep disturbance are among the symptoms common to both disorders. In fibromyalgia, pain symptoms tend to be more prominent, whereas in CFS, fatigue and flu-like symptoms are more obvious. Depression is quite common with both disorders, and treating this depression may improve other symptoms.
Reviewed by: Mary D. Daley, MD
- Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are two related disorders 2.
- In fibromyalgia, pain symptoms tend to be more prominent, whereas in CFS, fatigue and flu-like symptoms are more obvious.
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Fatigue In Peripheral Neuropathy
Unfortunately fatigue is a central part of many neuropathies and especially the immune mediated neuropathies. It is central to many other chronic illnesses that affect the bodys immune system. The causes are often complex and many.
Dr. Scott Berman, in his book Coping with Chronic Neuropathy notes in chapter VIII Dealing with Fatigue and Insomnia that this symptom is one of the most difficult and challenging for the neuropathy patient. Dr. Berman is a Psychiatrist, a member of the Board of Directors of the NSN and a Medical Advisor. Scott lives with untreatable CIDP.
He notes:
that in one study looking at fatigue in autoimmune neuropathy 80% of 113 patients had severe fatigue. The fatigue was independent of motor or sensory symptoms and was rated as one of the top three most disabling symptoms. .
For decades in living with untreated Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy , Autonomic Neuropathy and Progressive Polyneuropathy due to exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam, I can attest to the facts noted above. While other major symptoms respond to treatment with Immune Globulin , the symptom of severe fatigue continues as one of the symptoms that responds only temporarily to the infusions followed by several days of total fatigue following infusion and then with some lessening until the next infusion.
Impact on family and friends:
Educating yourself about neuropathy:
Weak Left Arm And Leg
Usually, if there is weakness in the left arm and leg, first of all they suspect a stroke an acute disorder of cerebral circulation. Indeed, a characteristic symptom of this pathology is the numbness of one half of the body, in this case the left one. This is quite probable, but not the only factor that can be expressed in the weakness of the limbs. So what else can cause this condition?
- vegetative vascular dystonia, obliterating endarteritis
- cardiopathology
- disease of the left kidney, including the tumor process
- disease of the spleen
- obliterating atherosclerosis, or thromboangiitis
- diseases of the spine, including curvature of the spine, protrusion of the disc, hernia, tumor process in the spine.
It is almost impossible to diagnose such diseases without special research methods. Therefore, the doctor must necessarily send the patient to a follow-up examination to pinpoint the possible cause of weakness of the left arm and leg. If you suspect a stroke, you need to see a doctor immediately.
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What Is Muscle Fatigue
As the name implies, muscle fatigue is the name for a broad condition in which your feet or legs feel sore, achy or just tired. While not a medical condition onto itself, this symptom is a common ailment among our population. It may not be anything serious, but experiencing muscle fatigue can make it difficult to fully live the busy life you want to live.
Muscle fatigue may be associated with several other symptoms, including swelling, soreness, or a general achiness. If you are experiencing leg fatigue, you may find it challenging to spend time on your feet.
Primary Sarcopenia Muscling Up
If blood flow isnt the issue, your tired legs may be due to loss of leg muscles. The clinical term for a loss of leg muscle and muscle strength is primary sarcopenia. Primary sarcopenia is due to aging. Starting sometime in your 30s, you begin to lose muscle mass. Bone density also declines with age. And in women, the hormonal changes triggered by menopause make bones even more likely to fracture in a fall. Both women and men also see an acceleration in muscle mass loss and muscle weakening after age 50.
Even if youre not planning a career as a senior bodybuilder, losing muscle mass should be a concern. Tired, weak muscles can limit your ability to be active and enjoy such activities as tennis, dancing, hiking, and much more. Growing weaker can also affect your daily functioning and independence.
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How To Get Relief At Home
Theres a lot you can do to help relieve the pain and achiness you may be experiencing.
- Lose weight if you need to. Obesity can lead to varicose veins as well as diabetes and a buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries, blocking blood flow.
- Stop smoking. Smoking is a risk factor for several conditions that cause heavy legs.
- Take days off from intense exercise.
- Elevate your legs about 6 to 12 inches above the level of your heart. This helps blood thats pooled in your legs to drain out to the rest of your body. Massaging your leg is an added bonus.
- Wear compression stockings to help promote blood flow.
- Be active. An effective way to control weight, lower cholesterol, and improve circulation is by being active. Youll need to cater your workout routine to your fitness level and be sure to get guidance from your doctor.
Fatigue Tiredness Light Headed Heavy Legs And Pain In The
Alexandra18 over a year ago
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Emilly1111 over a year ago
Hey, a constant lightheadedness can be a result of low blood pressure, so you might have check this as well. Sometimes, all of those symptoms that you are saying that you have can be related to this. Also, your blood is something that you generally need to check, maybe your eye pressure as well. Whenever you have something like this, it should be exanimate by your doctor, step by step, every detail, until you see what your problem is exactly. But, I bet that you have problems with your blood pressure and you need to do something to change this. With some natural ways or with some pills. Consult your doctor anyway.
jillian22108792 over a year ago
Guest over a year ago
whitney over a year ago
over a year ago
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How To Reduce Muscle Fatigue
If you have leg fatigue, one of the most important things you can do is rest and elevate your feet and legs. If theyre swollen, it may also help to apply ice for 15-20 minutes and/or use over-the-counter pain relievers. In addition, you can relieve fatigue by:
- Wearing insoles, inserts or orthotics to help realign and cushion your feet. Explore Dr. Scholls Shoe Inserts.
- Soaking in a warm bath with Epsom salts
If you suspect your leg fatigue may be the result of a medical condition, or if self-care is not helping to alleviate your symptoms, you should consult your doctor. They will be able to help you determine if your problem is connected to a larger medical condition. You should also talk with your doctor if you are experiencing:
- Severe, or persistent swelling that doesnt improve after 2-5 days
- Redness, warmth, and tenderness of the affected area, or if you have a fever
- An inability to put weight on your leg/foot
- Persistent pain that doesnt resolve after 2-3 weeks
- Burning pain or numbness
Tired Legs: Causes Treatment Prevention And More
Why are my legs tired?
Tired legs are a fairly common symptom with a variety of underlying factors. You may have an increased risk for tired legs if youre female, overweight, or older. Tired legs can also occur in people who regularly sit or stand for extended periods of time.
Read on to learn more about this symptom, including common causes and treatments.
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Never Ignore Chronic Body Aches & Fatigue
Chronic body aches and fatigue can affect anyone- no matter what your age- and can be a quite stressful experience.
Some of the most common body aches include neck/back pain, muscle pain, headaches, and joint pain. In addition, there is neuropathic pain, which is a condition that results in a malfunction of the nervous system.
Chronic body aches and fatigue can be a serious medical condition that needs medical attention and should never be ignored.
Following are some of the most common causes of body aches and fatigue that you should be aware of.
Muscle Damage Through Injury
There are many ways in which your muscles can be directly damaged. The most obvious is injury or trauma such as sporting injuries, pulls and sprains. In any muscle injury, bleeding from damaged muscle fibres occurs inside the muscle, followed by swelling and inflammation. This makes the muscle less strong and also painful to use. Localised pain is the primary symptom but weakness also results.
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Can Emotions Cause Fatigue
Are you fearful about the future? Do you worry about your health and who will take care of you? Are you afraid you are no longer needed? Emotional stresses like these can take a toll on your energy. Fatigue can be linked to many conditions, including:
- Anxiety
- Stress from financial or personal problems
- Feeling that you no longer have control over your life
Not getting enough sleep can also contribute to fatigue. Regular physical activity can improve your sleep. It may also help reduce feelings of depression and stress while improving your mood and overall well-being. Yoga, meditation, or cognitive behavioral therapy could also help you get more rest. Talk with your doctor if your mental well-being is affecting your sleep or making you tired.
