Are Patients Being Overlooked
Dr. Fields says the back pain of an attack could be mistaken for something else and treated as such. But what the patient really needs is medication to lower their uric acid level.
Even though a doctor may know the patient has gout, they may assume the back pain is from a herniated disc or osteoarthritis, he explains. They have to do imaging or a biopsy to find the uric acid deposits in the spine.
Spinal gout is rare, but it may be worth talking to your doctor about if you have back pain and a history of gout. You should be even more suspicious if you use diuretics, have high blood pressure or are obese. Early diagnosis and treatment with uric acid-lowering drugs can prevent the need for surgical intervention.
Can Sciatica Cause My Leg And/or Ankle To Swell
Inflammation of the affected leg can occur if a herniated lumbar disc, spinal stenosis, or bone spurs compresses the sciatic nerve. Swelling in the legs is also a symptom of piriformis syndrome complications.
Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes pain in the buttocks. Muscle irritation in the piriformis can also affect the nearby sciatic nerve, causing pain, tingling, and numbness along the back of the foot and into the leg .
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Foods That Cause Uric Acid Build
Diet and nutrition play a role in uric acid levels in the body, and too much of it in the blood results in a condition known as hyperuricemia.5,6 Foods that contribute to uric acid buildup include dried beans, liver, gravies, and anchovies. Other high-purine foods are scallops, asparagus, mackerel, and mushrooms.
Alcohol interferes with the way that uric acid is excreted from the body, so high levels of alcohol consumption can lead to joint problems as well.7 Common triggers of uric acid buildup related joint pain also include dehydration and fructose-sweetened beverages.8,9
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Calf Muscle Pain Treatment
The best calf pain treatment will depend on the underlying cause of the pain. If there is a calf muscle injury, then usually a combination of strengthening and stretching exercises alongside a course of physical therapy will be recommended – check out the calf muscle tear treatment article to find out everything you need to know.
You can find out how to treat each of the calf muscle pain causes we have looked at here by using the links to navigate to the full articles on each condition.
Things That Cause Fluid Buildup
Several things can lead to extra fluid, or edema, in one leg, or both:
Congestive heart failure: This happens when your heart is too weak to pump all the blood your body needs. It leads to fluid buildup, especially in your legs. Other symptoms of congestive heart failure:
Learn more about heart failure symptoms.
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Lower Leg Pain With Activities
Calf muscle pain will come on at different times and during different activities depending on what is wrong.
1. Calf Pain Walking
Calf pain walking after an injury is common, particularly with a pulled calf muscle. But what if you haven’t actually injured your calf?
Calf muscle pain when walking without an injury is usually the result of reduced blood flow, and therefore lack of oxygen, to the calf muscles and usually settles down quickly with rest.
If you get calf pain when walking everyday that settles within a few minutes of resting, it can be a sign of intermittent claudication. Lower leg pain that persists even after resting may indicate a more serious problem such as severe peripheral vascular disease.
2. Calf Pain In Runners
Calf pain running is typically caused by the muscles being overloaded which can lead to a calf tear. Any sudden increase in running activities, be it distance, speed, surface, or the introduction of speed or uphill work, can overload the calf muscles resulting in pain.
A lack of strength or endurance in the leg muscles is a common cause of calf pain in runners. A good test is to stand on 1 leg and push up onto your tiptoes then slowly lower back down. If you can do this 30 times on each leg, it indicates good calf strength and endurance. If not, you would benefit from do calf strengthening work.
3. Calf Muscle Twitching
4. Calf Pain At Night
5. Calf Muscle Tightening
6. Calf Muscle Knot
7. Sudden Calf Pain
Can Hammer Toes Result In Leg Pain
Overview
A hammer toe can be defined as a condition that causes your toe to bend downward instead of pointing forward. While it can occur on any toe on your foot, it usually affects the second or third toe. If your hammertoe baby toe curls instead of buckling, it is also considered a hammer toe. There are two types of hammer toes. If your toes still can move around at the joint, then it is considered a flexible hammer toe. It is a milder form of the condition and there are more treatment options. The other type is called a rigid Hammer toes, which occurs when the tendons in your toe become so rigid that they push your toe joint out of alignment, and it cannot move at all. Typically, you will need surgery to fix it.
Causes
It is possible to be born with a hammer toe, however many people develop the deformity later in life. Common causes include tightened tendons that cause the toe to curl downward. Nerve injuries or problems with the spinal cord. Stubbing, jamming or breaking a toe. Having a stroke. Being a diabetic. Having a second toe that is longer than the big toe. Wearing high heels or tight shoes that crowd the toes and don?t allow them to lie flat. Aging.
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Non Surgical Treatment
Surgical Treatment
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Why Are Bunions Painful
Bunions are misalignments of the joints in the big toe, which often result in a bone-like growth on the interior side of the foot. Since the joints in the big toe are not in their correct alignment, people experience pain when trying to stand up, sit down, walk, jog, run, or put on footwear. The pain is due to the pressure that different actions put on the joints.
Additionally, misaligned joints can lead to diminished tissue between the bones. Much like arthritis, damaged or diminished tissue between the bones in the big toe can cause pain. This is due to the fact that joint tissue acts as a barrier between bones so that they dont come into direct contact. When they do contact or joints are not properly aligned, pain can occur.
What Treatments Are Available
Healing begins with self-care and nonsurgical strategies . The goal is to correct the problem, restore function, and prevent re-injury.
Self care: Sciatica often resolves with rest, ice or heat, massage, pain relievers, and gentle stretches. Reduce muscle inflammation and pain using an ice pack for 20 minutes several times a day during the first 48 to 72 hours. Thereafter, a warm shower or heating pad on low setting may be added to relax the muscles. A short period of bed rest is okay, but more than a couple of days does more harm than good. If self-care treatments arenât working within the first couple of days, see your doctor. .
Medication: Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen, can bring relief. A muscle relaxant may be prescribed for spasms. If pain is severe, an analgesic may be prescribed that can be taken with the NSAID or muscle relaxant.
Steroids can reduce the swelling and inflammation of the nerves. They are taken orally tapered over a five-day period or by injection directly into the painful area . Steroids may provide immediate pain relief within 24 hours.
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When Should People Seek Medical Care For Leg Pain
People often decide to seek care after an injury based upon their ability to stand, bear weight, and walk. This is often reasonable however, if there is concern that a bone is broken or there is significant swelling to a joint, one should seek medical care in an urgent manner. A swollen joint is never normal. One important reminder: Just because the leg can move does not mean that it is not injured.
In most other situations, leg pain has a gradual onset and patients seek medical attention when the pain begins to interfere with their daily lives. Often, leg pain is a part of a larger collection of symptoms and is not evaluated independently.
However, when leg pain begins suddenly, it should be a cause for concern and one should seek medical care urgently. This is especially the case if the leg is warm and swollen and deep venous thrombosis is of concern, or if the leg is pale and cool and an arterial clot is a consideration.
If back and leg pain occurs with episodes of increased muscle weakness, falling, or changes in bowel or bladder function, this may signal an emergency involving the spinal cord called cauda equina. Access medical care immediately.
Children who develop leg pain and begin to limp or who develop a fever and a limp should be seen immediately for evaluation.
What Is The Best Pain Relief For Ra Foot Pain
While theres no known cure for RA, there are medications that a doctor can prescribe to manage the symptoms. They include:
- Biologic Response Modifiers like golimumab, adalimumab, and tocilizumab
- Corticosteroids like prednisone
- Disease-modifying Anti-rheumatic Drugs like leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine
- Over-the-counter NSAIDs
If the medication does little to prevent or, at the very least, slow down joint damage, surgery to repair these joints may be recommended. The procedure may involve:
- Joint fusion
- Synovectomy removal of the inflamed joint lining
- Tendon repair
- Total joint replacement
Other remedies for RA foot pain relief may involve physical and occupational therapies to help keep the affected joints flexible. It may also involve the use of assistive devices to avoid straining painful joints.
If you suffer from MS, RA or gout and are experiencing foot pain, weve got your back!
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What To Do If You Think You Have Pain Due To Gout
The good news is that there are effective medications to treat gout, Dr. FitzGerald says. In some mild cases, gout can be self-managed with lifestyle changes, such as weight loss if needed and eating fewer high-purine foods .
However, many people with gout should be on a preventive medication to lower uric acid levels and stop flares from occurring. According to the 2020 gout treatment guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology, uric acid-lowering medication is recommended for people who:
- Have two or more gout flares a year
- Have gout tophi
- Have evidence on X-rays of joint damage due to gout
The guidelines, of which Dr. FitzGerald is a coauthor, recommend a treat-to-target strategy, which means treating gout with medication until a target uric acid level is reached.
Unfortunately, gaps in quality care for gout continue to persist and many patients do not take uric acid-lowering medication, which can leave people suffering the intense and persistent pain of gout without relief. This is why it is important to seek medical care if you experience pain that you think could be gout, Dr. FitzGerald stresses.
Gout can be diagnosed several ways, including:
- Removing fluid from the joint to identify urate crystals.
- Using ultrasound to identify several common characteristics of gout, such as collections of crystals in or around joints.
- Using dual-energy CT to detect urate crystal deposits in cases that are more advanced.
Using Shoes With High Heels And Arent Adequately Cushioned
Wearing high-heeled shoes shifts your body weight and the center of gravity, forcing you to hunch forward at the hips. On the other hand, footwear without cushioned insoles contributes to transferring the impact of steps to the hips or back. These events can lead to stretching of the hip and the knee muscles alongside the sciatic nerve, resulting in irritation and compression.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Gout
Any joint can be affected by gout, but it usually affects joints towards the ends of the limbs, such as the toes, ankles, knees and fingers.
Signs and symptoms of gout include:
- severe pain in one or more joints
- the joint feeling hot and very tender
- swelling in and around the affected joint
- red, shiny skin over the affected joint
Symptoms develop rapidly over a few hours and typically last three to 10 days. After this time the pain should pass and the joint should return to normal.
Almost everyone with gout will experience further attacks at some point, usually within a year.
Read more about the complications of gout.
Why Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Cause Foot Pain
RA is an auto-immune disorder where the bodys immune system mistakenly attacks an individuals joints causing pain, inflammation, and swelling. When the condition affects the joints in the feet, the pain usually starts at the toes before spreading. This causes severe foot damage in the long term and eventually changes the shape of the toes and feet.
Other RA foot pain symptoms include:
- Constant soreness or aching in the feet especially after standing for long periods, running, or walking
- Increased temperature in one or more regions of the foot
- Pain or stiffness in the ligaments and joints of the whole foot
The severity of rheumatoid arthritis foot pain at night or in the morning ultimately depends on the flare-cycle and the degree of joint damage an individual already has. Many people with RA also report experiencing worse RA joint pain at night compared to during the day. This can be attributed to low levels of cortisol hormone, which is known to have anti-inflammatory effects.
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How Do You Treat Sciatica
Many people who experience sciatica get better within a few weeks or months using a functional approach to treatment without surgery.
Nonsurgical Treatment for Sciatica
If you suffer from sciatica its most likely started from a functional, mechanical problem in your spine. The initial aim of your treatment is to remove the irritation of the nerve, reduce inflammation in the area and improve the movement in your spine.
It is important to stop you aggravating the problem further by avoiding activities such as bending, lifting and prolonged sitting. In severe cases you will need painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication to help control the symptoms while the cause is removed. Initially stretching exercises are also an important part of your treatment.
The most important thing is that once your condition has stabilised your health care practitioner designs an individual treatment program and exercise regime to remove the underlying cause of your sciatica.
There is a broad range of treatment options available and sciatica generally responds best to a combination of the treatments below.
Spinal Manipulation and Mobilisation
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What Other Symptoms And Signs May Be Associated With Leg Pain
Depending upon the cause and the individual situation, symptoms of leg pain may have a wide range of presentation. People describe the pain in a variety of ways, including sharp, dull, heavy, aching, or burning. It may be constant or intermittent or made better or worse with activity or rest. There may be other associated symptoms, depending upon the cause.
People can often feel or palpate pain from muscles and joints, meaning that touching the area reproduces the pain. This may be difficult if the pain originates in one of the muscles deep in the buttock. An example is piriformis syndrome, where the piriformis muscle, one of the muscles that helps rotate the hip and located beneath the gluteus maximus, becomes inflamed and irritates the sciatic nerve that runs beneath it. Physical exam may not be able to confirm the diagnosis suggested by a history of increasing hip pain and sciatica with a normal back exam.
Pain also may radiate from its source to another location, sometimes confusing the patient and the care provider. For example, hip problems may initially present with knee pain this is especially true in children and it is important to look at the hip whenever a child limps or complains of knee discomfort. With some injuries and arthritic conditions, pain gradually resolves as the muscle or joint warms up during activity, but other times, the pain is worse with use.
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Can Calf Pain Be Prevented
Always stretch before and after you exercise to repair and strengthen the calf. Dont over exercise, and build up gradually if you are starting something new.
Drink plenty of water to avoid cramps. Magnesium supplements have been shown to prevent cramps in some people, especially pregnant women, although the evidence is not conclusive.
If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar levels under control to prevent diabetic neuropathy.
How Far Can Bunion Pain Go
Many people wonder if the pain they experience in their ankles, calves, or even thighs could be associated with bunions. So, how far can bunion pain go? Is leg pain caused by bunions, or could it be something else entirely?
In the early stages, bunion pain is almost always limited to the feet and toes. However, the extent of the pain will depend on the severity of your condition. If you have a small bunion that only causes minor stiffness and discomfort, its highly unlikely that the pain will extend to your ankles, calves, or thighs. However in severe cases, you may find yourself making accommodations in the way you walk to lessen the bunion pain and end up causing pain in your back, hips and legs.
Left untreated, bunions can lead to complications that can increase pain in the feet and legs. For example, bunions can cause the loss of the arch in the foot, misalignment of the toes, and chronic foot pain. These symptoms can subsequently lead to pain in the calves, as severe bunions can make it difficult to maintain normal motion of the feet and ankles. This, in turn, puts additional stress on calf muscles, which can cause moderate to severe pain over time.
In any case, you should always consult a doctor if youre experiencing unexplained pain or discomfort in any part of the body.
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