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  HomeWellness and Pain  |  Articles by: wellnesspain
Charlie horses causing a woman to sit mid-run and massage her calf and lower leg in the street.
Author wellnesspain Categories Leg Pain

Charlie Horses

Charlie Horses: Risks, Prevention, and the Right Treatment

Charlie Horses is a common name for muscle spasms, where they can feel like your muscles have tightened up and locked down from involuntary contractions.

Even lying down or sleeping can trigger back of leg cramps at night. It’s painful and can happen suddenly. Calves and quadriceps are the most commonly affected muscles by these types of intense leg cramps, although they can occur in any muscle. In addition to the feet, arms, and abdomen, they can also occur in the hands.

It’s not clear what causes a Charlie Horse, but several factors can contribute to them, including dehydration, a lack of electrolytes (including potassium and magnesium), muscle fatigue, stretching a muscle too far, cold weather, taking certain medications (such as diuretics), and some medical conditions (diabetes, kidney disease, etc.). You can also trigger a Charlie Horse by not stretching enough, exercising in high temperatures, not getting enough magnesium or potassium in your diet, and having a spinal cord injury.

One fact is for sure: The best treatment for leg cramps at night is in reach.

 

Your Risks, Health, and Relationship to Charlie Horses

A pain management specialist or doctor is not needed unless you have Charlie Horses with weakness, numbness, vomiting, diarrhea, or severe sweating (which can cause dehydration). Physical exams and questions about your medical history will be done by your pain management specialist or doctor.

Those with diabetes or thyroid, liver, or nerve disorders tend to suffer from Charlie Horse activity more frequently, as do older adults, athletes, pregnant women, overweight or obese people. There are also several medical and health risk factors leading to back of leg cramps at night, according to a study at the National Library of Medicine, published in 2021:

  • Being diabetic.Type 1 diabetics experience muscle cramps around 60 percent of the time. About 80 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes have this condition.
  • Chronic renal failure.Muscle cramps in the legs are especially common in individuals with chronic renal failure.
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).There is a 95 percent chance that people with ALS will experience muscle cramps.
  • Having a baby.Pregnant women are more likely to experience muscle cramps at night, especially if they are pregnant.
  • Over 60 years old.Over 60 percent of Americans suffer from nocturnal leg cramps.

Nonetheless, there’s a smart way to treat your bad calf cramps at night.

 

Treatment and Prevention: The Best Paths Forward

Areas on your lower extremity that are impacted by Charlie Horses can benefit from simple stretching. Put your weight on the affected leg and bend your knee slightly if you have a Charlie Horse in your calf or back of your thigh (hamstring). Put your foot up against your head while seated or lying down.

Hold onto a chair and bend the knee of the affected leg if you have a cramp in the front of your thigh (quadriceps). Pull your foot upwards toward your buttocks. When you lie down, lift your foot, bend your ankle, and point your toes toward your shin to get relief. It loosens the tightness by causing the injured muscles to move in the opposite direction of the contracted muscles.

The muscles can also be relaxed with a massage, epsom salt bath, or heating pad. Ice packs or over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or naproxen may also be helpful.

Try relaxing your foot muscle when it tightens up to treat foot cramps. Additionally, ibuprofen can be taken over-the-counter to ease any remaining pain.

In most cases, muscle spasms resolve themselves on their own. Heat applied to your cramp — especially back of thigh cramps at night — can help ease the pain, as well as ice after the heat.

The best treatment for a Charlie Horse, however, is prevention. By drinking plenty of water, stretching before and after exercise, and avoiding cramps at night, you can prevent them. Wear comfortable, supportive shoes, eat magnesium, potassium, and calcium-rich foods, and adjust your exercises as needed. See what the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommends for calf stretches, hamstring stretches, and quadriceps stretches.

 

Additional Cures for Charlie Horses and Night Cramps

Those suffering from Charlie Horses can also benefit from vein ablation, massage therapy, acupuncture, or IV hydration.

Using vein ablation, varicose veins can be treated in a non-invasive manner. Heat, radiofrequency, or chemicals are used to close the vein after a thin catheter is inserted into it. About an hour is usually required for the procedure to be performed outpatient.

A vein can be ablated using laser or radiofrequency energy, helping cure back of leg cramps at night. Laser ablation uses a laser to heat the vein, causing it to close. Varicose veins can be effectively treated with laser ablation and radiofrequency ablation. It depends on the size and location of your varicose veins, as well as your preferences, as to what type of ablation is best for you.

The benefits of massage therapy include the increase in blood flow to the affected muscle, which helps to relax the muscle and reduce pain. Scar tissue and adhesions can also contribute to a Charlie Horse when they are not broken up by massage therapy. Stretching the affected muscle can also help relax it and reduce pain with a deep tissue massage. Firm pressure is used to break up scar tissue and adhesions. In contrast to trigger point massage, myofascial release massage uses gentle pressure to release tension in the fascia, which surrounds your muscles.

 

Acupuncture Therapy and IV Hydration

A Charlie Horse can also be treated with acupuncture therapy. According to some studies, acupuncture reduces the frequency and severity of a Charlie Horse in people with chronic bad calf cramps at night. It’s not fully known how acupuncture relieves the problem. Acupuncture points have been found to relax muscles and reduce pain when stimulated. Inflammation and pain may also be relieved by acupuncture therapy by improving blood flow to the affected area.

Lastly, IV hydration does not directly eliminate a Charlie Horse, but it can reduce its pain and discomfort by increasing fluid and electrolyte levels. Muscle contractions can be prevented by fluids lubricating the muscles and joints. A muscle’s function relies on electrolytes like potassium and magnesium. In dehydration or electrolyte depletion, muscles can contract.

 

Origin and Meaning: Describing Leg Cramps

A Charlie Horse — and the plural “Charlie Horses” — is believed to have originated in the United States in the late 1800s, although its origin is unclear. Several theories exist about the origin of the term. It’s believed that the term originated from the name of a baseball player named Charley Radbourne.

In the 1880s, Radbourne pitched for the Boston Beaneaters. During games, he was known to get daytime leg cramps, which can lead to back of leg cramps at night. Newspaper reporters used the term “Charlie Horse” to describe Radbourne’s leg cramp one day.

It may also be derived from the name of a horse that pulled groundskeepers’ carts in baseball parks. It was common for these horses to get leg cramps from being overworked and tired. In reference to the horses, these cramps became known as a “Charlie Horse.”

The term may have been derived from a horsefly that bites horses, according to another theory. As a result of their ability to cause leg cramps in horses, a horsefly of this sort is called a “Charlie Horse.”

It’s now common to refer to back of thigh cramps at night as a “Charlie Horse,” no matter what the origins of the term are. As well as in informal settings, it’s used in medical settings as well. A leg cramp can also be called a muscle cramp, a muscle spasm, a calf cramp, a shin splint, a night cramp, and a writer’s cramp.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of options for treating Charlie Horses are available at Wellness and Pain. We offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can keep you free of problems by providing lifestyle education and home care advice to help you avoid and manage issues, quickly relieving the inhibiting lifestyle conditions when complications arise.

At Wellness and Pain, we personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances to relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

Keep reading to learn more of what what you can do about leg cramps and charley horses.

Leg cramps at night causing a woman dressed in pajamas to wake up and massage her leg in bed.
Author wellnesspain Categories Leg Pain

Leg Cramps at Night

Don’t Let Leg Cramps at Night Keep You Up

Leg cramps at night can occur at any age, but they are most common among older adults, women, pregnant women, dehydrated individuals, and those with certain medical conditions such as nerve damage and muscle fatigue.

The most common cause of bad calf cramps at night is aging. Nearly every adult over age 50 experiences a leg cramp at least once every two months, and one-third of people over 60 will suffer one every two months.

Night leg cramps can be caused by a variety of factors, but there is no one definitive cause.

 

Dehydration and Leg Cramps at Night

Leg cramps at night are almost guaranteed as a result of dehydration. The muscles may be more susceptible to cramping as a result. Dehydration can also cause an imbalance in sodium levels in the blood, which can also cause muscle cramps.

During dehydration, your body pulls water from your muscles. The muscles can become more susceptible to cramping as a result. Dehydration can also cause electrolyte imbalances.

In order for muscles to function properly, electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium are needed. Muscle cramps while sleeping can occur when these electrolytes are out of balance.

Blood can also become thicker when dehydrated. Bad calf cramps at night can also occur as a result of this reduced blood flow to the muscles. It is important to stay hydrated if you are experiencing night leg cramps, and you should also stay hydrated throughout the day, especially with water. Coconut water or sports drinks may help replace the electrolytes your body needs.

 

The Enigma Behind Low Levels of Electrolytes

An electrolyte is a mineral that conducts electricity — and its function and level is highly correlated to leg cramps at night. In addition to contraction and relaxation of muscles, they perform a variety of other functions in the body. It is possible to get muscle cramps when electrolytes are low in the body.

An electrolyte’s role in muscle function can be summarized as follows:

  • The movement of fluids in and out of cells is regulated by potassium. Muscle contraction and relaxation can also be controlled by it.
  • Muscle contraction and relaxation are also facilitated by magnesium. As well as regulating nerve function, it also helps to improve blood flow.
  • In order for muscles to contract, calcium is necessary. As well as strengthening the bones, it helps to keep muscles healthy.

As you can see, muscles may be unable to contract and relax properly if electrolytes levels in the body are low, with cramping resulting. In this case, treatment for nighttime leg cramps should be explored. Muscles can also be more sensitive to pain when electrolytes are low. Cramping can become more painful as a result.

Muscle fatigue can also be caused by low electrolyte levels and may result in muscle cramps while sleeping.

 

Leg Cramps at Night from Nerve Damage

Nerve damage that interferes with signals sent to your muscles can cause leg cramps at night. Because they’re damaged, they cannot send the correct signals.

Nerve damage can prevent nerves from sending the signal to relax muscles. Muscles can contract involuntarily due to this, resulting in cramps. Muscles can also become more sensitive to pain when they suffer nerve damage. Intense cramps can result from this.

Nerve damage can also cause chronic muscle fatigue. Consequently, bad calf cramps at night are more likely to occur.

Even worse: Diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD), spinal stenosis, and sciatica are some of the conditions that can cause nerve damage and leg cramps at night. Cramping can result from diabetes damage to the nerves in the feet and legs. As a result of PAD, the arteries in the legs narrow, which in turn reduces blood flow to the muscles and causes cramps. Spinal Stenosis (When the spinal canal narrows) can compress nerves. This effect can also lead to cramps.

We wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t mention sciatica. It causes pain that radiates down the leg from the lower back, caused by pressure on the sciatic nerve, which can also cause cramping.

 

A Deeper Analysis of Muscle Fatigue and Cramping

Muscle fatigue can cause leg cramps at night. This makes the muscles more prone to a slew of other conditions. And unfortunately, they can last all night, in the worst of cases. Fatigue also makes muscles less able to contract and relax. There is a possibility this will result in a muscle cramp as well.

In fact, muscle fatigue increases your chances of experiencing tightness or cramping. Nerve pressure can cause bad calf cramps at night.

Muscle fatigue also increases the likelihood of knotting and muscle cramps while sleeping. It’s also possible for these knots to exert pressure on the nerves, resulting in cramps. As a result of fatigue, muscles are less likely to relax as easily when stretched.

 

Stretching the Muscle for Leg Cramps at Night

Stretching can often prevent leg cramps at night. As a result of stretching, the muscles loosen up and become more flexible, which prevents them from becoming tight or cramping. However, that’s not the entire story.

Stretching muscles can also worsen muscle cramps. In this case, stretching can make it more difficult for the muscle to relax, due to its already contracted state. The best thing you can do if you have a leg cramp is to relax your muscles. You can use a gentle massage or heat to relax the affected muscle. If the muscle is not too painful, you can stretch it.

You should consider exploring treatment for nighttime leg cramps if the cramp is severe or does not go away after a few minutes. Having cramps could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

Nonetheless, the following tips will help you prevent bad calf cramps at night:

  • Make sure you stay hydrated. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially water. Dehydration can cause muscle cramps.
  • Make sure you eat a balanced diet. Eat a balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Electrolytes are important for muscle function, so these foods are good sources.
  • Regularly stretch your legs. It’s beneficial to stretch the muscles in order to loosen them and make them more flexible. Doing this can prevent muscle cramps.
  • Don’t sit or stand for long periods of time. Leg muscles can become cramped after sitting or standing for a long time.
  • Make sure you wear comfortable shoes. A tight pair of shoes can cause cramps in your legs, as they tend to put pressure on the muscles.

 

Try These Too!

In addition to these above remedies for muscle cramps while sleeping, you can also try:

  • Not drinking alcohol and caffeine before bed. These substances can cause dehydration and cramping.
  • Gently stretching the muscle. You can also apply heat or gently massage the muscle.

 

Talk to a Specialist About Leg Cramps at Night

Talk to your doctor about ways to reduce your risk of leg cramps at night — especially if you’re taking medications that can cause them. You may experience leg cramps if you are taking certain medications, such as diuretics or statins.

Underlying medical conditions, such as vessel insufficiency, may be the cause of your cramps. This is especially true if you suffer from frequent or severe leg cramps. An expert in pain management usually only needs a brief consultation and diagnosis before performing vessel ablation, sclerotherapy, or another minimally invasive procedure.

The best course of action is to see your doctor if you suffer from bad calf cramps at night on a regular basis or if they become severe enough to make walking or standing difficult. Your doctor will most likely ask questions about your medical history, medications, and recent changes in your activity level. As well as asking about your diet, they might also ask how much fluid you consume daily.

Seek emergency medical attention if a leg cramp lasts more than 10 minutes or is unbearably painful. Additionally, it could be poisonous or infectious if the cramping occurs after touching substances. Leg cramps are usually not a cause for concern and occur occasionally. Exercise or long periods of sitting may cause them. Pregnancy and aging may also increase them.

Gentle stretching and massaging of the muscle can relieve the pain from muscle cramps while sleeping. You should consult a doctor if you experience leg cramps regularly or if the cramp lasts for a long time. You shouldn’t hesitate to seek treatment for nighttime leg cramps. The condition could be a sign of an underlying health condition.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of options for treating leg cramps at night are available at Wellness and Pain. We offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can keep you free of problems by providing lifestyle education and home care advice to help you avoid and manage issues, quickly relieving the inhibiting lifestyle conditions when complications arise.

At Wellness and Pain, we personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances to relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

Keep reading to learn more of what what you can do about leg cramps and charley horses.

An x-ray visualization of someone who needs knee injections for pain, as they're holding their knee in pain.
Author wellnesspain Categories Knee Pain

Do Knee Injections for Pain Really Work?

We can expect joint pain to increase as we age, whether through competitive sports or just aging — which is why knee injections for pain remain such a hot topic these days. It’s time to look for an alternative to over-the-counter pain relievers when joint pain interferes with your life.

However, another option is searching for the best non-surgical treatment for knee pain.

 

What are Knee Injections for Pain?

You can receive knee injections for pain directly into your joints or ligaments and tendons surrounding them. Inflammation can be reduced, pain can be managed, and supporting structures may be healed by these treatments.

Rather than being viewed as a standalone best treatment for knee joint pain, injections should be considered a means to an end. In order to achieve results, you must also do physical or occupational therapy.

It doesn’t matter if you have pain in one joint due to an injury or just wear-and-tear, or if you have osteoarthritis in multiple joints. You can receive injections for joints throughout your body, including your knees, hips, shoulders, ankles, sacroiliac joints, and facet joints. The economic burden of osteoarthritis in U.S. adults is estimated at $188 billion, with 27 million adults suffering from it in at least one joint.

 

When Injections are the Best Option

You should begin knee injections for pain by getting adequate rest, exercising regularly, and eating well. A pain management specialist or doctor will consider injections if every attempt has been made to maximize your health through other avenues and you are still experiencing pain.

Joint injections should be discussed with your doctor in an honest and thoughtful manner. The cost of this treatment is usually not covered by insurance. Due to the fact that some of these injections are still experimental and not FDA-approved, insurance coverage may not be available. You should talk to your doctor about your options before paying out of pocket.

Are you exploring other options, especially those covered by insurance? Do you think surgery would be better for you? In terms of recovery, what are your expectations? All of these questions are relevant when you’re searching for the best non-surgical treatment for knee pain.

 

Five Types and What You Should Know

The type of knee injections for pain your doctor recommends will depend on your needs. Corticosteroids and autologous cells are among the injectables available.

 

An injection of cortisone

As a first-line treatment, you will probably receive a cortisone shot or steroid injection — which happens to be the best way to relieve knee pain for so many patients out there. Inflammation and pain are quickly reduced by cortisone shots in many patients, but they do come with some precautions. You may experience side effects from steroids throughout your body over time, due to their toxic effects on cartilage in your joints. They might be useful for quick fixes. Another plan needs to be developed on a long-term, repeated basis. It is common for insurance companies to cover cortisone shots. Depending on the severity of the injury, relief may last for a long time. You will only feel the effects of steroids for about three months if you have chronic, long-term pain.

 

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and cell therapy

Injections of PRP involve taking your blood, isolating and concentrating the platelets, and injecting billions of platelets into your joint, ligament, or tendon. Cell therapies are injectables that use your own cells and tissues, such as bone marrow or fat. Your joint, ligament, or tendon is carefully injected with the cells after they have been collected, cleansed, and injected. In many patients, cell therapies have reduced chronic inflammation, and research suggests that they may stimulate a healing response over time.

 

Injections of knee gel

The fluid inside your joints is made up of hyaluronic acid, a thick substance similar to hyaluronic acid in gel injections. Gel injections may be covered by some insurance plans, but only in the knee (or sometimes in the shoulder). If you have mild to moderate arthritis, knee gel injections work well for most knee pain. There is usually a six-to-twelve-month period of effect. Gel injections are often used if you have tried other treatments like medication, exercise, or steroid injections without success — and still remains a best treatment for knee joint pain for many.

 

Getting a prolotherapy injection

The aim of prolotherapy injections is to relieve joint, ligament, and tendon pain using concentrated sugar water (dextrose). The injections may reduce the pain associated with osteoarthritis and chronic injuries of the tendons and ligaments, such as ankle sprains. They are rarely covered by insurance. Especially for knee arthritis and tennis elbow, prolotherapy has some strong research evidence.

 

A newer category of injectables

orthobiologics is made from your own blood or tissue. Orthobiologics has not been proven to restore missing tissue, and such products are not FDA-approved for treating arthritis or other joint disorders, but some studies suggest that it may promote healing in tissue. This treatment targets arthritic joints and chronic tendon problems pretty much anywhere on your body, and is not usually covered by insurance.

You may have arthritis in your ankles, hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, and wrists. It does not matter if it’s a tennis elbow, a hamstring injury, an Achilles injury, or tendinopathy of your hip — pain management specialists are able to handle it all. Especially in cases of sacroiliac (SI) joint pain, orthobiologic injections can be helpful. Spinal intervertebral joints connect your pelvis with your lower spine. A sprained SI joint ligament can be very responsive to regenerative injection treatment, as the ligaments that link over your bones can easily be sprained.

 

Knee Injections for Pain and The Cortisone Experience

It’s rare to experience an allergic reaction when you receive knee injections for pain. However, as with any treatment, there can be side effects, such as flushing and headaches with cortisone injections. Injection sites can also develop fat necrosis (divots in the skin) and hypopigmentation (pale skin).

Blood sugar levels can also temporarily rise. This usually lasts for a week or so.

The experts are careful about how often they inject because repeated injections can injure tendons. It is recommended to space them out over a period of three months. Pain management specialists and doctors usually won’t inject more than three times around a tendon.

Infection is another possible risk. The skin should be clean before you give the injection, and you should use a good sterile technique. A surgical site infection is more likely to occur if you have surgery on that area too soon after an injection, since the steroid suppresses the immune system. An injection of cortisone into a joint within two months of surgery is not recommended by most total joint surgeons.

 

The Cortisone Experience

There are fewer risks associated with cortisone injections than with oral steroids. The latter can increase weight, cause osteoporosis, and cause diabetes if used long term. Weight gain is not caused by cortisone injections, which do not cause systemic problems.

Since injections are usually the best non-surgical treatment for knee pain for many patients, it’s possible to receive them every month, depending on the condition being treated and the location where they are administered. It may be recommended that you only receive a few injections within one year if you have other conditions.

Athletic trainers and orthopaedic sports specialists should always be consulted before injecting professional athletes during their season. Yet, the need for constant injections may not be necessary for weekend warriors, knitters, or pianists. Your best way to relieve knee pain all depends on what your pain management specialist or doctor says.

 

Takeaways and Practices to Remember

Generally, the difference between these types of knee injections for pain is their duration. With a steroid, you’ll feel better in a month. Patients who receive platelet-rich plasma or prolotherapy may find they feel better for months or years afterward.

It is important to trust your doctor when it comes to joint injections, since false advertising and hype are prevalent. For your specific diagnosis, ask your doctor how long you might experience pain relief. Make sure you ask your doctor or clinic about their safety protocols before receiving the best non-surgical treatment for knee pain.

Last but not least, make sure you’re a true participant, both before and after the injection. Prepare yourself physically and mentally. Your procedure and rehab should be as effective as possible if you’re investing in yourself properly.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of options for knee injections for pain are available at Wellness and Pain. We offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can keep you free of problems by providing lifestyle education and home care advice to help you avoid and manage issues, quickly relieving the inhibiting lifestyle conditions when complications arise.

At Wellness and Pain, we personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances to relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

 

A visualization of sciatic pain as a man holds his lower back while standing from his desk.
Author wellnesspain Categories Sciatica

Sciatic Pain & Your Spine: How Acupuncture Can Help

An inflamed, compressed, or irritated sciatic nerve root causes sciatica, also known as sciatic pain. There is pain radiating down the legs and into the buttocks caused by the sciatic nerve. Spinal stenosis, a herniated disc, or bone spurs are the most common causes of this condition.

 

Several Types of Sciatic Pain

Symptoms of sciatic pain differ depending on whether one or both legs are affected and how long they last. There are four types of sciatica: Acute, chronic, alternating, and bilateral.

Both sides of the sciatic nerve originate from the lower spine and travel through the pelvis and buttocks. Afterwards, the nerve passes along the back of each upper leg before splitting into branches that reach the knee and at the feet. While the pain starts in nerve roots located on either side of the lower spine, it then spreads through the nerve that runs along each leg from the buttock to the foot.

An uncomfortable and common condition, sciatica is also known as sciatic nerve pain. Approximately 40 percent of the general population is affected at any given time. A type of pain that can profoundly affect daily life, sciatica can be very annoying. This is why acupuncture and back pain are so frequently researched these days, due to a strong healing correlation.

 

The Sciatic Nerve

A nerve originates from the L4 vertebra, the L5 vertebra (top of spine), and the sacrum, which is the triangle-shaped bone just below the vertebrae. Afterward, the sciatic nerve splits and runs through each thigh. There can be shooting pains down the sciatic nerve when any of these nerves are irritated.

  • Acute sciatica. In sciatica, an acute onset is defined as a recent onset with a pain duration of four to eight weeks or less. Oftentimes, it responds to at-home treatment and does not require medical attention.
  • Chronic sciatica. The pain associated with chronic sciatica lasts more than eight weeks and is persistent. It is possible that at-home treatments will not provide relief. Choosing the best treatment should be determined by a healthcare professional.
  • Bilateral sciatica. Both legs are affected by bilateral sciatica at the same time. A disc or vertebral degeneration may cause this extremely rare condition.
  • Alternating sciatica. Sciatica that alternates between both legs is known as “alternate sciatica.” Despite being rare, sacroiliac joint degeneration may cause this type of sciatica.

However, before focusing too much on sciatic pain in your legs, know that the underlying issue stems from your spine. This is one reason acupuncture for chronic back pain has become such a popular treatment for so many patients today.

 

The Source of Your Sciatic Nerve Problems

In light of the fact that the sciatic nerve originates in the L4 and L5 vertebrae, along with the sacrum, this can lead to a variety of symptoms and types of sciatic pain. When sciatica originates in the L4 nerve root, the pain usually travels down the outer part of the thigh, around the knee, and down the inner aspect of the leg. As well as on the inside of the leg, it can also occur on the outside.

L5 pain is likely to radiate down the side of the leg and the back of the thigh if it is coming from the nerve root. Big toe pain can extend all the way to the top of the foot.

According to many doctors who study acupuncture and back pain, the sacral nerve may be the source of your sciatic nerve pain. An individual usually feels pain along the back of their leg and on the outside of their foot.

There are several things that can cause sciatica, such as a herniated disc, bone spurs, collapsed vertebrae, infection, tumor, mass in the pelvis, or cysts which pinch the lumbar nerves. Acupuncture treatment for back pain is usually one of the best treatments available.

 

Insights on Herniated Discs and Sciatic Pain

Sciatica and sciatic pain are most commonly caused by a herniated disc. Disc tears or cracks can pinch the sciatic nerve when they bulge into the spinal canal. Some people suffer from pain for a much longer period of time before resolving their symptoms.

In the spine, discs act as cushions between bones. Pain, weakness, or numbness can be caused when a disc is pushed out of place and tears into the outer layer of the spine.

Herniated discs can cause no symptoms, but sometimes their pain is so severe that surgery is needed. As part of this pain management protocol, doctors identify a patient’s specific needs (such as the source of their pain) through an assessment, and they then create a personalized set of exercises that target posture, sleep modifications, and other advice to improve alignment and pain. Acupuncture and back pain specialists have been studying these issues — along with appropriate treatment and protocol — for decades.

Even healthy people can develop disc protrusions. Nearly one-third of healthy 20-year-olds have disk protrusions, according to a famous study. A herniated disk affects almost every second person without low back pain as they age, and up to 43 percent at the age of 80. There are even more disk bulges at the age of 80, with 84 percent.

You should realize that even if your MRI scan does show a bulging or protruding disc, these findings are completely normal. An MRI scan alone cannot explain pain because it is a complex phenomenon. Acupuncture for chronic back pain can usually solve many of these sophisticated spine problems, depending on the patient.

 

Sciatica and Neurological Symptoms

Sciatic pain may be accompanied by neurological symptoms when the sciatic nerve is compressed. Symptoms that may come with this condition include:

  • Your thigh muscles are weak. The thighs may appear weak when brought together and the thigh muscles are affected.
  • You experience muscle weakness in your legs and feet. There may be weakness when bending the knee or pointing the foot upwards and/or downwards if the leg muscles are affected. Walking may be difficult due to these issues, resulting in foot drop. Walking on tiptoes or rising from a sitting position may also be difficult.
  • You feel numbness. The sciatic nerve may not allow nerve impulses to pass through, resulting in loss of sensation. In most cases, numbness affects the side of the calf, the heel, the sole, or the top of the foot.
  • You experience paresthesia. Due to improper nerve conduction, an abnormal sensation is felt on the skin. You may experience tingling, tightness, pins-and-needles, or crawling sensations in your thigh or leg back.

It’s more common when the sciatic nerve is compressed that neurological symptoms result in reduced function of the affected leg, a situation that acupuncture and back pain doctors can directly address.

 

Sciatic Pain Treatment for Suffering

Surgery for sciatic pain should be the last resort unless it’s urgent or an emergency. The problem may require a variety of surgical options, but biportal endoscopic spine surgery is usually the best option for relieving pressure on the nerves.

Sciatica surgery has often been found to provide relatively little pain relief compared to non-surgical options after just a few months. After a full year, most patients do not experience significant pain relief.

Considering the pain associated with sciatic nerve pain, finding effective relief is crucial. It is often worse to suffer from leg pain, also known as radiculopathy, than from back pain. The sensation is usually felt in one leg and can be unbearable. It is often compared to a toothache type of nerve pain.

Sciatic nerve pain can be relieved with several home remedies, exercises, and conservative approaches. The best thing you can do for your pain is to try all non-surgical modalities, unless your injury necessitates an emergency visit.

Sciatic nerve pain can be treated with anti-inflammatory medications, nutrition changes (as recommended by your doctor or nutritionist), and stretches and exercises performed with a physical therapist, including core and trunk stability exercises.

Acupuncture treatment for back pain can also be integrative — and if the pain happens to be very severe or debilitating, epidural injections may be an option.

 

Acupuncture Therapy Cures a Variety of Ailments

Often, acupuncture and back pain therapy can help with a lot of health problems, including sciatic pain. It’s usually used for chronic (long-term) pain like arthritis, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, knee pain, headaches, migraines, sports injuries, jaw pain, sinus congestion and facial pain, neuropathy, and menstrual cramps.

Your body may need a number of treatments, depending on how severe your condition is. Most patients have an appointment once a week. Some people get treatment more often, while others get it less frequently. Our acupuncturists can recommend the right schedule for each patient.

The exact healing mechanism behind acupuncture therapy isn’t fully understood, but it’s thought to involve a combination of things. One of those things is the release of endorphins, which relieve pain. Stimulating the nervous system is another, which can also help regulate mood, pain, and other bodily functions. It also helps you relax and relieve stress.

Although acupuncture for chronic back pain treatment is generally safe, make sure you find a licensed acupuncturist in your state. It’s not uncommon for patients to endure side effects, especially since needles can cause mild pain or soreness. Certain patients can also experience bruising, dizziness, lightheadedness, and nausea.

A professional acupuncturist can help, as tailored and customized treatment plans are known to provide the best solutions. There are a variety of health problems acupuncture therapy can treat, and it’s usually very safe and effective.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of options for sciatic pain are available at Wellness and Pain. We offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can keep you free of problems by providing lifestyle education and home care advice to help you avoid and manage issues, quickly relieving the inhibiting lifestyle conditions when complications arise.

At Wellness and Pain, we personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances to relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

A woman massaging her bulging veins while sitting on the edge of her bed.
Author wellnesspain Categories Circulation

Bulging Veins: Treatment, Specifics, & Details

Consult a vein specialist as soon as you notice the pain from bulging veins or other venous issues. In addition to leg swelling, cramping, itching, and fatigue, they can also assess your vein symptoms.

As well as making recommendations on when to receive vein treatment, they can also offer advice. In order to achieve the best health outcomes, early intervention is usually recommended.

You can also receive minimally invasive, office-based vein treatments to alleviate symptoms and reduce health risks such as blood clots and ulcers — all by searching for and discovering the best doctor for varicose veins.

 

Before Treatment for Bulging Veins, Ask These Questions

Your vein specialist will conduct a physical examination, order imaging tests as necessary, and review your medical history before making personalized treatment recommendations for bulging veins.

Your center for varicose veins should be able to answer any questions you have about their personal medical background, the health of your veins, or any recommended treatments.

Here are some questions to ask your vein specialist:

  • During my recovery, what can I expect?
  • Is there a way to prevent vein problems in the future?
  • Treatments have many benefits, but what are they?
  • In what ways can I be treated?
  • Do you perform vein treatments for a long time?
  • What is the pain associated with vein treatment?

Chronic venous insufficiency specialists are here to answer all of your most pertinent questions.

 

Varicose and Bulging Veins vs. Spider Veins

Because veins are responsible for carrying blood that is low in oxygen to the heart and lungs, bulging veins are a health issue that needs to be addressed. Pools of blood can bulge these veins when this system fails.

Varicose veins are bulging veins that appear on the surface of the skin, and they are often accompanied by other symptoms such as aching, heavy, and tired limbs. The thighs and legs are the most common places to find them.

They can also be found deeper beneath your skin’s surface. Due to damaged valves in varicose veins, more blood is held at a higher pressure than normal. A swollen leg and tired, achy feeling are caused by this extra pressure.

A ruptured vein may cause an ulcer on the skin in rare cases. A blood backup can also cause blood clots and vein infections if varicose veins are left untreated. The numbness in some patients’ legs can prevent them from detecting leg injuries because of varicose veins. Searching for the best doctor for varicose veins should be your priority.

It’s possible that varicose veins are more common in some families, which means they are inherited. Varicose veins are caused by increased vein pressure. In addition to being overweight or obese, being older, being female, inactive, having leg injuries, smoking, or taking hormone replacement therapy, there are several other factors that may increase blood pressure.

 

Spider Veins

It is also common to see smaller veins on the surface of the skin that look like a spider’s web with many fine, short lines. Foot, ankle, calves, and thigh sprains are the most common, but they can also occur on the face.

It is possible for both types of veins to occur in men and women at any age, but women who are of childbearing age or older are more likely to suffer from them. A person’s risk of developing spider veins or varicose veins is also increased if they come from a family with these disorders. Various studies have examined whether varicose veins increase the risk of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), or peripheral artery disease (PAD).

Varicose veins can be reduced or eradicated with a treatment plan designed by a doctor for veins in legs.

 

Selecting a Vein Specialist

The process of choosing a vein specialist can be intimidating for some patients, even though treatment for bulging veins can quickly reduce your suffering. Below are some suggestions on how to choose the best doctor for varicose veins, including what qualifications to look for in a vein specialist or doctor, along with why it is important to visit an accredited facility for treatment.

An expert in vein care may be able to provide you with excellent care. It is imperative that a specialist’s entire team is highly skilled, extremely experienced, and unfailingly compassionate. Together, you and your provider should strive to alleviate your pain and discomfort and improve your quality of life.

Choosing a professional center for varicose veins should be based on several factors. Additionally, they consider softer skills like trustworthiness and compassion, as well as medical expertise.

 

Training and Experience to Treat Bulging Veins

A varicose vein specialist specializes in diagnosing and treating bulging veins and related problems, including spider veins, varicose veins, venous stasis ulcers, and deep vein thrombosis. Although varicose veins and spider veins are rarely treated by vein surgery, vascular surgeons also treat venous conditions.

The treatment of vein disease is the specialty of a vein specialist. We might find it helpful to discuss what this entails in order to better understand what this means. Following medical school, students typically complete an internship followed by a residency. In order to practice medicine, they must pass a state licensing exam.

In addition to this, some doctors may choose to specialize in a very particular field, such as chronic venous insufficiency specialists — which requires additional medical training. Board certification involves demonstrating a mastery of advanced knowledge and skills. This is done through written, practical, and other criteria once a physician has completed medical school and postgraduate training. Physician specialists in the United States are certified by more than 24 boards.

Despite having received medical training, there is no doubt that real-life experience can hone doctors’ skills further. Ask a vein specialist how long they have provided vascular treatment and care. This will help you determine how much experience they have.

A doctor for veins in legs — one who has experience — usually believes in being fully transparent about their experience up front. To learn more about the unique backgrounds and qualifications of providers, you should be able to easily view their individual profiles.

 

Accreditation, Facilities, and Practice

Before providing quality care for bulging veins, medical facilities must receive accreditation. Hospitals and imaging facilities that perform vascular testing undergo evaluation. Then, they receive accreditation for a period of time.

Without modern state-of-the-art equipment, even the best doctor for varicose veins would find it difficult to provide leading-edge vein treatment. It’s important doctors consider the latest techniques and technologies. This way patients can receive treatments that are as minimally invasive and as comfortable as possible.

Real-time ultrasound imaging should guide some minimally invasive office-based vein treatments, including endovenous laser treatment.

 

Find a Caring Doctor for Bulging Veins

Location is an important factor to consider when choosing a specialist to treat your bulging veins. Most likely, you will require several appointments. These include an initial consultation, the actual treatment, and follow-up care if necessary. It is convenient for many patients to choose a provider with a network of treatment facilities.

When making health-related decisions, trusting your doctor and the center for varicose veins that the doctor works at is crucial. You should be able to discuss a range of treatment options and receive specific recommendations from the vein specialist you choose. Your doctor will consider a variety of factors when making recommendations. These factors include your health history, medical imaging, lifestyle, and other related factors.

The expertise of vein specialists with extensive medical training and treatment experience has already been demonstrated. A vein specialist can evaluate your vein health, provide personalized treatment recommendations, and provide ongoing care to prevent additional problems. Consider seeking a second opinion if you are uncomfortable with a recommended treatment.

For your unique situation, you’ll need chronic venous insufficiency specialists who can work individually with you. It is impossible to find a vein treatment that is right for everyone. A quality doctor will evaluate your symptoms, discuss your options, and determine the best fit for your needs. Besides caring about you as a patient, they also care about you as a person.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of options for bulging veins are available at Wellness and Pain. We offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can keep you free of problems by providing lifestyle education and home care advice to help you avoid and manage issues, quickly relieving the inhibiting lifestyle conditions when complications arise.

At Wellness and Pain, we personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances to relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

A man treating swollen feet by sitting on his bed and massaging his feet and toes.
Author wellnesspain Categories Foot Pain

Treating Swollen Feet: Underlying Issues

A variety of issues can cause swelling in your lower extremities on occasion, forcing you to look for a solution for treating swollen feet. If it’s hot outside, you may have even experienced swollen feet and ankles after a long day of walking or standing.

However, being on your feet for too long may not be the only cause of feet swelling, ankle swelling, or leg swelling — called “edema.” Ankle swelling after sitting all day is also a possibility for many patients, in this camp.

 

Treating Swollen Feet from Venous Insufficiency

Blood builds up in your legs when your veins aren’t functioning properly, causing venous insufficiency and making many victims search high and low for answers to treating swollen feet. Gravity exerts the entire weight of the blood volume in our bodies on the veins in our legs, as humans stand on two feet.

As a result of our veins’ valves, the force of gravity is counteracted in our veins in order to maintain a low blood pressure and allow blood to return to our hearts. We can develop incompetent vein valves over time, allowing blood to flow backwards when they are no longer working properly — imposing painful ankle swelling at the end of the day.

There are a variety of symptoms associated with venous insufficiency, including swelling, varicose veins, leg pain or cramping, red, weepy, hard skin (called “lipodermatosclerosis”), or slow-healing wounds or ulcers.

It may be necessary to modify your lifestyle, such as losing weight and moving around a lot to keep your blood flowing. The use of compression therapy – including socks, stockings, athletic sleeves, wraps, or complex pneumatic machines – can also be helpful. In all cases, the key is that they apply pressure in a graduated manner so that ankle pressure is greater than knee pressure. There are also surgical treatments available.

 

Some Common Conditions

Common conditions such as varicose veins can lead to chronic venous insufficiency. Another possibility is when something damages the valves inside the veins, such as deep vein thrombosis. With time, the veins become weaker, making it harder for the heart to pump blood. There is a possibility that tiny valves in the veins will fail. The resulting blood pooling causes pain, swelling, and other circulation problems in the lower extremities.

Varicose veins do not always lead to chronic venous insufficiency. Women, people with high blood pressure, people with a family history of chronic venous insufficiency, people who have deep vein thrombosis in their legs, and people who spend a lot of time standing or sitting tend to suffer from this condition. If your ankles swelling after standing all day feels real and looks real, it probably is real — and the pain you’re suffering from can testify to this unfortunate fact.

 

Don’t Rule out Blood Clots and DVT

Having a blood clot in your veins can prevent your blood from flowing normally, also causing you to look into treating swollen feet. Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms deep inside the veins in the legs.

Additionally to swelling, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) causes pain and tenderness over the vein, as well as redness of the skin. As a result of DVT, blood cannot drain efficiently from the leg, and pressure builds up in the veins, forcing fluid into the surrounding tissue. By plastering the valves open, DVTs can cause long-term issues with blood flow, even after the initial clot dissolves, besides obstructing blood flow.

An embolism can become life-threatening if a DVT breaks loose and travels to the lungs. Medications can break up clots before they cause further damage, so see your doctor as soon as possible if swelling with redness or pain happens. The painful phenomenon of your ankle swelling after sitting all day can occur repeatedly because of blood clots or DVT.

 

Lifestyle Factors and Treating Swollen Feet

In addition to medical conditions, leg swelling can sometimes be prevented by treating swollen feet with lifestyle modifications. A salt-free diet, for example, can reduce the risk of fluid retention.

Keeping your blood flowing can also be achieved by reducing the amount of time you sit. Sedentary behavior should be avoided at all costs. Remember to move frequently during long plane or car rides, as well as during your workday.

 

Other Possibilities to Get Checked

Symptoms of chronic liver disease include fluid accumulation in the legs and abdomen, yellowed skin (jaundice), redness on the palms of the hands, and pale stool. In all of these, you’ll typically want to look into treating swollen feet. Additional diagnoses and help.

In a similar fashion, kidney disease can be accompanied by swelling in the lower extremities, fatigue, frequent urination, and difficulty concentrating. Talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing these symptoms.

Your legs, ankles or feet may also experience a backup of blood. In addition to chest pain, shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing, fatigue or a fast heartbeat, heart disease can also lead to other symptoms. If you experience any of these, contact your physician. Seek emergency medical attention if symptoms are severe. The condition of ankles swelling after standing all day affects all sorts of individuals. It can be caused by a variety of issues.

However, during pregnancy, most women experience ankle and foot swelling. Blood flows to the heart from the abdomen, which is the final destination of the blood before it reaches the uterus, when another human is in the uterus. As a result of this compression, the vascular system can become swollen, since hormonal changes during pregnancy affect the vascular system.

When blood pressure is dangerously high during pregnancy, preeclampsia can cause excessive swelling. Also, contact your doctor if you experience severe headaches, blurred vision, abdominal pain, or incontinence.

 

Vessel Ablation for Treating Swollen Feet

For a broad portion of the patient population who want to properly fix their painful situation, treating swollen feet comes down to vessel ablation. Vessel ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that seals or closes veins using heat or laser energy. This procedure can treated varicose veins, spider veins, and venous insufficiency.

The two main types of vein ablation are radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and laser ablation. Doctors use a small probe to destroy unhealthy veins using radiofrequency ablation (RFA). In the presence of radiofrequency energy, the probe heats up the vein and collapses it. A laser beam heats up and collapses the vein with laser ablation.

Patients receive the majority of vessel ablation procedures on an outpatient basis. Doctors typically perform the procedure simply under local anesthesia, but they may also use general anesthesia. It is possible for the patient to experience pain, bruising, and swelling after the procedure. The symptoms usually disappear on their own within a few days. They are nothing compared to the pain endured with ankle swelling after sitting all day.

Vessel ablation helps treat varicose and spider veins. In turn, this helps to treat venous insufficiency. Minimally invasive procedures are less risky than surgery. They may be a good option for those who are not good surgical candidates or who wish to avoid surgery.

Furthermore, it’s an easy procedure that can be completed on the same day. This means you can go straight home and relax. A few days after surgery, most people can resume normal activities. Results usually last for a long time.

 

Get the Right Treatment You Need

Treating swollen feet should be a priority if you are experiencing any of the issues above. However, there are proactive changes you can make as well. The pain may persist until you see a doctor, because swelling (also called “edema”) is a sign of deeper underlying problems, like heart failure, deep vein thrombosis, kidney disease, or liver cirrhosis.

Identifying the cause of ankle swelling, as well as in your feet, is extremely important. Over the long run, swollen feet can even lead to heart failure. Healthy lifestyle adjustments include:

  • Maintaining or increasing physical activity levels. It is important to seek the advice of a physician if you want to create and adhere to a healthy exercise routine. Excess body weight and high blood pressure may also be addressed by exercising, as well as the heart.
  • Stress should be managed where possible. Meditation, therapy, and journaling are some methods for managing stress. Emotional crises can worsen heart failure symptoms for people with the disease.
  • Dietary salt reduction. Processed foods, such as potato chips and prepared meals, contain high amounts of sodium. It is important not to eliminate all sodium from the diet, since the body needs some sodium to function. The recommended sodium intake per day is less than 2,300 milligrams.
  • Don’t drink or smoke. People who smoke, or want to quit, should limit or avoid alcohol consumption.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of options for treating swollen feet are available at Wellness and Pain. We offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can keep you free of problems by providing lifestyle education and care advice to help you avoid and manage issues. This is to quickly relieving the inhibiting lifestyle conditions when complications arise.

We personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances. We can relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

As mentioned earlier, we have some easy procedures you can try today!

A close-up of someone holding their bruised knee that may require swollen knee treatment.
Author wellnesspain Categories Knee Pain

Swollen Knee Treatment for Tired and Heavy Legs

Many factors can lead to painful fluid building up in your knee joint, leading several patients to seek swollen knee treatment. Trauma — such as a sports injury — or health conditions such as arthritis or extreme leg swelling are the most common reasons.

When your knees or legs feel heavy, rest and over-the-counter medications can be used to treat most cases at home. But in many cases, a well-thought-out and planned treatment of swelling legs and knees by a pain management specialist is the smart course of action.

 

Swollen Knee Treatment: What’s the Swelling All About?

When your knees swell, there’s a buildup of fluid in or around your joints, which usually leads those suffering to get swollen knee treatment. Runner’s knee, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, post-traumatic arthritis, bursitis, gout, growing pains, and heaviness in legs are usually the causes.

Located between your thigh bone and shinbone, your kneecap joint is the largest joint in the body. There is also cartilage, muscle, ligaments, and nerves in your knees.

If your legs feel heavy as well, just know that both knee and leg swelling can be caused by anything that damages or irritates your knee. Knee swelling can occur if you’ve injured your knee or have a health condition that damages the tissue around it. All in all, swollen knees cause pain, stiffness, redness, or a feeling of warmth or heat.

With rest and over-the-counter medicine, you can treat most causes of knee swelling at home, but a sports injury or trauma should be treated by a health care provider or pain management specialist. Whenever your knee is in severe pain or if you can’t move it, see an expert immediately.

 

Swollen Knee Treatment Options and Therapy

Swollen knee treatment options — such as massage therapy, movement training, and physical therapy — can also improve mobility, ease pain, and prevent further damage. You may be able to get relief from sharp knee pain or even cure it.

Physical therapy can strengthen and increase flexibility of the muscles around your knee, which will improve its function. Mobility and function can also be improved by routine exercises. Just make sure to avoid overstraining the knees when exercising them.

In cases of severe knee pain or if your legs feel heavy, consult a knee acupuncture specialist when other treatments fail to relieve your issues. Ongoing chronic or acute pain episodes can develop when pain lasts for more than a few months. The length of time chronic pain lasts is usually much longer than you’d expect.

If either of these situations apply to you, seek the help of a pain management specialist for diagnosis and treatment. In developing a customized plan for a healthier and happier you, no matter who you consult, your exact condition and circumstance should always be taken into account.

 

A Different Kind of Treatment

Nonetheless, don’t discount knee pain acupuncture for treatment of swelling legs and your knee — altogether. It can reduce knee pain, improve function, increase range of motion, decrease inflammation, improve sleep, and enhance your overall well-being. There are energy channels throughout the body known as “meridians” that connect. A needle insertion triggers the release of endorphins, which relieve pain in a natural way. Acupuncture can improve your life, mobility, and health. As a complementary therapy to physical therapy and exercise, acupuncture has been shown to be highly effective in treating pain and extreme leg swelling.

Typically, a series of 30- to 40-minute treatments are required. The needle’s insertion is usually painless. A mild pricking sensation may be experienced by some patients. Symptoms such as tiredness or soreness often subside within hours after treatment. With this established method, pain can be effectively and safely treated. To treat knee pain with acupuncture, you must consult a qualified acupuncturist. A proper consultation should be conducted before you begin treatment.

 

Common Causes of Swelling: Swollen Knee Treatment

Knee swelling is classified as “traumatic” or “non-traumatic” by health care providers, pain management specialists, and those offering swollen knee treatment. An injury usually causes traumatic knee swelling.

ACL tears (Anterior Cruciate Ligament), MCL tears (Medial Collateral Ligament), meniscus tears, hyperextended knees, sprains, bone fractures, dislocations, and Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS) are the most common causes of knee swelling. The very latter occurs when nerves and bone are invaded by pain within soft tissues surrounding the kneecap.

Knee swelling caused by arthritis is usually non-traumatic. Swelling can be caused by degenerative arthritis (Osteoarthritis) and inflammatory arthritis (such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriatic Arthritis). Non-traumatic knee swelling can also be caused by autoimmune disorders, infections, bursitis, and tendinitis.

Be sure to rule out water-on-the-knee if you’re experiencing pain. Inflammation of the knee, commonly known as knee effusion or water-on-the-knee, can result from a variety of factors, such as a traumatic injury or a chronic disease like Rheumatoid Arthritis. It’s important to seek medical advice if you experience new, sudden or worsening swelling in your knee. These may result in complications. You should seek medical attention if you have a fever, are unable to put weight on your knee, or cannot feel a pulse below the knee.

 

Another Reason to Seek Medical Attention

If your legs feel heavy, the cause of your swollen knees might be chronic venous insufficiency. This is evident by extreme leg swelling. These conditions may require treatment for swollen legs, in addition to your knees. When blood is pumped through your body, it flows back to your heart through your veins, and it is pumped upward against gravity. Blood does not flow backward through your veins since your veins and circulation are protected by valves on the inside. The vascular valves in your legs provide a very important function as they circulate blood back to your heart.

When vessels stretch, those valves cannot function as efficiently. The accumulation of blood and waste products in your legs can make them heavy, tired, and swollen. Vein valves may not function properly if they’ve lost elasticity over time, leading many patients to look into treatment of swelling legs.

 

Swollen Knee Treatment: Alleviating Pain at Home

Depending on the type of swelling and pain you have, your swollen knee treatment will look and feel different. Immediately seek medical attention if you have been injured.

The swelling in your knees, caused by non-traumatic injury, can initially be treated at home. Keep your knees healthy by avoiding sports or activities that cause stress. Pain and inflammation can be relieved with over-the-counter pain relievers or acetaminophen. If you take pain relievers more than 10 days in a row, you should talk to your pain management specialist or health care provider.

Here are some helpful tips when your knee is in pain or when your legs feel heavy:

  • Whenever possible, elevate your knees and legs above the level of your heart.
  • The best thing to do when you have an injury is to rest. While your knee heals, don’t overuse it.
  • To reduce swelling, wrap an elastic bandage around your knee for compression purposes.
  • For 15 minutes at a time, apply ice packs wrapped in a thin towel around your knee.

You may be recommended further at-home treatment and advice if you have a specific injury or health condition. It’s possible you might need crutches, a brace to hold your knee in place, physical therapy, or even corticosteroids (anti-inflammatory medicine) to treat your knee pain or extreme leg swelling.

 

When Surgery is an Option

The majority of people who experience knee swelling or need swollen knee treatment don’t need surgery. However, you may need a knee arthroscopy to repair damage inside your knee if swelling is caused by a torn ligament or meniscus.

When arthritis makes your daily routine difficult or impossible, your doctor may recommend a knee replacement (arthroplasty). If other treatments fail to relieve your symptoms, your provider will usually recommend surgery.

You can discuss your recovery time and expectations with your doctor or surgeon if you need knee surgery — and how it all relates to the rest of your body when your legs feel heavy.

 

Prevention is Important: Swollen Knee Treatment

Make sure you wear protective equipment when participating in sports or other physical activities so you won’t have to go through swollen knee treatment in the future. In cases of knee pain, do not “play through the pain.”

After intense exercise, allow your body to rest and recover. Also, before exercising or playing sports, stretch and warm up, and cool down and stretch afterward.

Trauma and injuries should be treated by a healthcare provider. When non-traumatic swelling doesn’t improve with at-home treatments in a few days, consult a provider. When you experience severe pain, or you cannot move or use your knee — or if you’ve been involved in an accident or a fallen-from-height incident — visit the emergency room immediately.

If your swollen knee is related to extreme leg swelling, you can reduce your risks and make healthier lifestyle choices. These measures include getting routine massages, taking cold baths, avoiding tight clothing, avoiding smoking, staying routinely active through each day, and exercising. Additionally, it involves eating healthier, keeping your leg muscles toned, elevating and resting your legs, making sure you get enough sleep, and wearing compression socks or stockings.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of options for swollen knee treatment are available at Wellness and Pain. Here, we offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can keep you free of problems. We provide lifestyle education and home care advice to help you avoid and manage issues. Additionally, we quickly relieve inhibiting lifestyle conditions when complications arise.

We personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances to relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

Learn more about your swollen leg treatment options.

An elderly woman receiving diabetic leg pain treatment in a doctor's office.
Author wellnesspain Categories Uncategorized

Diabetic Leg Pain Treatment: Six Proven Remedies

Diabetic leg pain treatment aims to reduce pain, improve circulation, and prevent further nerve discomfort. High blood sugar levels cause diabetic neuropathy, which causes direct nerve damage in the legs.

Despite the lack of a cure for diabetes and feet pain, there are treatments that can help relieve the pain, including lifestyle modifications, medications, physical therapy, or surgery in some cases. A pain management specialist or your doctor can help you if you are suffering. You have a better chance of relieving pain and preventing nerve damage if you begin treatment as soon as possible.

 

NCV/EMG Options and Diabetic Leg Pain Treatment

You can determine whether you have muscular or nerve damage through Electromyogram (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) tests, both of which are often conducted simultaneously when you see a specialist for diabetic leg pain treatment.

Neuromuscular abnormalities can be detected using electromyography. An assessment of your muscles and the nerves controlling your muscles is performed during this diagnostic test. For muscles to contract or relax, these nerve cells send electrical signals. EMGs measure the electrical response of muscles to nerve stimulation. If you show signs of muscle or nerve problems, your doctor will order an electromyography test. Besides pinpointing the exact location of an injury, the test also measures the degree of muscle and nerve damage and can point to the extent of diabetic circulation problems.

Detecting nerve injury or dysfunction can also mean a NCV test is required. The procedure, also known as a nerve conduction test, measures the speed at which electrical signals travel through your peripheral nerves. Connecting the brain and spinal cord to the rest of your body is the peripheral nervous system’s job. These nerves assist in exercising your muscles and engaging your senses. Electrical signals are relayed faster and more rapidly by healthy nerves, whereas damaged nerves function less efficiently.

A pain management specialist can diagnose your condition based on the electrical signals within an EMG test, and your diabetes and feet pain can be targeted through a NCV test to determine whether you have damage to your nerve fibers or your myelin sheath, which shields your nerve cells from damage.

 

Orthopedic Choices and Diabetic Leg Pain Treatment

Lower extremity pain can be reduced or even completely eliminated with the right diabetic leg pain treatment. To treat orthopedic leg pain, you might need to rest, undergo physical therapy, take medications, or have surgery.

It’s possible to reduce pain, improve range of motion, and maintain muscle strength through physical therapy and rest. Inflammation and pain can be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and muscle relaxants as well. It’s always important to begin by finding the root cause of your diabetes and feet pain problem. Physical therapy, though, is very popular since it involves stretching and strength training, as well as hot and cold treatments. Leg strength and flexibility can be improved.

It’s also possible to reduce lower extremity orthopedic leg pain by eating a healthy diet and changing one’s lifestyle. Your legs can also benefit from rest and avoiding activities that tend to strain them. If you aren’t sure what treatment plan will work for you, consult your physician. Surgery is usually a last resort in most diabetes and leg circulation cases.

 

Trigger Point Injections and Diabetic Leg Pain Treatment

The clinical characteristics of a painful trigger point and unique methodology of trigger point injections usually determine whether that area of your body is active or latent — which is sometimes an overlooked diabetic leg pain treatment option. A trigger point that is active can cause pain even when the body is at rest.

To treat trigger points, pain management professionals use trigger point injections. A variety of conditions can be treated with these injections, including diabetic circulation problems and pain in your neck, back, shoulders, arms, myofascial pain syndrome, and even fibromyalgia.

There is no preparation required for trigger injections. It’s important to discuss your current medications, symptoms, and overall health with your provider before having a procedure. Corticosteroids and local anesthetics are two common types of medications. With injections lasting only a few minutes, local anesthetics numb the area, while corticosteroids reduce inflammation and pain.

A management specialist will likely inject medication into a trigger point manually. There’s a possibility you will experience some pain. It’s common to feel a burning or stinging sensation after the needle is inserted and medicine is injected. A brief increase in pain may occur if the needle tip touches the trigger point. However, directly tackling the problem area is crucial.

You may need an injection if over-the-counter pain medications, heat therapies, massages or physical therapy haven’t relieved your diabetes and feet pain.

 

Massage Therapy and Diabetic Leg Pain Treatment

There are many conditions that can be treated with massage therapy safely and effectively, which is why many diabetic leg pain treatment patients incorporate massages into their schedules. Lots of pain issues can be treated, including muscle pains, trapped body fluid, spasms, pain patterns, and surgery recovery.

Aside from improving tissue healing, massage therapy can strengthen your immune system, relax you before surgery, reduce stress and anxiety, reduce inflammation, increase blood flow, aid in weight loss, improve digestion, boost your metabolism, relieve constipation, and reduce cortisol (a stress-induced hormone). The benefits of massage therapy are numerous, especially when it comes to diabetes and feet pain.

Furthermore, it’s an alternative medicine that complements a wide range of conditions. The term “modality” refers to a specific type of massage therapy based on a particular set of techniques. Several different modalities are available, each with its own benefits for targeting diabetes and leg circulation.

 

Acupuncture Therapy and Pain Management

Diabetic leg pain treatment that incorporates acupuncture therapy amounts to injecting needles to stimulate your body’s natural painkillers and neurotransmitters (including endorphins) through a reaction, a rebalancing, or a release.

Acupuncture treatment isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to your diabetes and feet pain. Some patients feel a dull ache or mild pricking, while others don’t feel anything at all. A feeling of tingling, buzzing, warmth, or weight may be felt as well. After inserting needles, acupuncturists sometimes twirl or move them. There may be times when your sensation increases slightly.

People generally tolerate acupuncture well. If you experience pain, let your acupuncturist know. The needles may be adjusted or a different needle size or technique may be used to make the treatment more comfortable.

After acupuncture therapy, you may feel relaxed or energized. There’s usually a reduction in pain or other symptoms, which is perfect if you’re looking to decrease or even help cure your diabetic circulation problems and symptoms. People find acupuncture to be safe and effective, even though its effects vary from person to person.

 

IV Hydration and Diabetic Leg Pain Treatment

By boosting your body’s ability to absorb fluids and electrolytes through vitamin rehydration, IV hydration — also known as intravenous hydration — can speed up your recovery process as you go through diabetic leg pain treatment. Minerals and vitamins are used in vitamin rehydration therapy. Magnesium, potassium, sodium, vitamin C, and vitamin B12 are among the most common.

Rehydrating with IV fluids and electrolytes is a safe and effective way to replenish fluids and electrolytes. Fluids and electrolytes are delivered directly into the bloodstream through a needle or catheter inserted into a vein. The process can take a different amount of time for each person. A half-hour to one hour is usually the most time it takes.

Your body benefits from IV hydration in a number of ways, especially if you are simultaneously dealing with diabetes and feet pain. Furthermore, improving electrolyte balance — which is crucial for many bodily functions — helps replenish nutrients depleted by illness, injury, or other circumstances. It can boost your immune system, reduce inflammation, and improve your energy levels.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of options for diabetic leg pain treatment are available at Wellness and Pain. Here, we offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can keep you free of problems by providing lifestyle education and home care advice to help you avoid and manage issues, quickly relieving the inhibiting lifestyle conditions when complications arise.

We personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances to relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

Learn more about diabetes leg pain.

Author wellnesspain Categories Uncategorized

The Impact of Workplace Wellness: Why Trusting Experienced Surgeons is a Game-Changer

In today’s fast-paced, stress-filled work environments, employee health and wellness is a concern that needs immediate attention. As organizations strive to maintain productivity and growth, a comprehensive approach to wellness becomes essential. In this article, we explore the importance of workplace wellness and why it’s crucial to work with an experienced team of surgeons to ensure the best outcomes.

Workplace Wellness: An Essential Investment

Investing in workplace wellness programs is not just a moral obligation; it’s a strategic business move. Such initiatives have proven to boost employee morale, improve productivity, and reduce healthcare costs – a winning scenario for both employers and employees.

The Benefits of a Healthy Workforce

Increased Productivity: Healthy employees are often more productive. They can focus better, have more energy, and are less likely to take sick days.

Improved Employee Engagement: Wellness initiatives create a sense of camaraderie and positive corporate culture, leading to increased employee engagement.

Cost Savings: By promoting preventive healthcare, organizations can minimize the likelihood of costly health issues amongst their employees, thereby reducing healthcare expenditure.

Role of Experienced Surgeons

While wellness initiatives may start with small steps like introducing healthier food options or encouraging physical activity, comprehensive wellness screening is a vital component. Here’s where the role of experienced surgeons comes in.

Expertise: Professional surgeons bring their wealth of knowledge and expertise to the table. They can accurately diagnose potential health risks, allowing for early intervention and prevention.

Precision: Experienced surgeons provide precise screenings, consultations, and advice. They can help prevent misdiagnoses and ensure employees get the correct treatment if required.

Trust: Employees are more likely to trust and engage with wellness programs when they know that the people behind the scenes are highly experienced medical professionals.

Conclusion

Investing in workplace wellness isn’t just a beneficial decision – it’s a vital one. With a healthy team, your organization can thrive, increasing productivity and fostering a positive work culture. Partnering with experienced surgeons ensures you’re providing the best possible care for your employees, giving them the confidence to engage with wellness initiatives.

The time to prioritize the health and well-being of your employees is now. At Wellness & Pain, we’re here to support your journey towards fostering a healthier, happier workplace. Our team of experienced surgeons is ready to help you implement an effective wellness program that meets the specific needs of your organization.

 Contact us today to learn more about our services, or fill out this service inquiry form to get started. If you’re ready to schedule your first wellness event, visit our scheduling page to choose a convenient date.

Remember, a step towards workplace wellness is a leap towards success. Your employees are your most valuable resource – invest in their health today for a more productive tomorrow.

A visualization of buttock lower back pain radiating up a runner's buttock and lower back.
Author wellnesspain Categories Sciatica

Underlying Causes of Buttock Lower Back Pain

Buttock lower back pain is one of the most common types of pain, and it can easily radiate through nerves. There are millions of Americans who suffer from lower back pain every year, according to medical professionals — and much of this pain goes into the buttocks.

There is a close connection between the lower back and the buttocks that most of us overlook. Most of us don’t realize how bad our back and buttocks are until we begin experiencing pain in those areas. Sciatica pain and back pain are closely related medical conditions, and back pain is often the cause of sciatica pain. Your mind-numbing ache in buttocks and back of thighs is real.

Inflammation of the buttock area, numbness in the leg, pain in the upper leg, pain throughout the back of the leg, pain in the lower back, and pain in the buttocks are all symptoms of lower back pain and buttock pain.

 

Causes of Buttock Lower Back Pain

Bursitis, cysts, abscesses, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, arthritis, and vascular disease can all cause buttock lower back pain. However, for many victims, the problem turns out to be a herniated disk, degenerative disk disease, piriformis syndrome, or sciatica.

Sciatica isn’t a disease or condition — it’s a symptom. The pain radiates down your sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your buttocks and down each leg. A herniated disk or narrowed spine parts can cause sciatica, as well as an ache in buttocks and back of thighs.

Almost everyone has experienced pain in buttocks and legs at one point or another, but if it’s caused by sciatica, something’s amiss. Symptoms of sciatica include back pain that starts in the buttocks and runs down one leg. There are many types of sciatica pain, ranging from dull and achy to shooting and stabbing. In addition, you might experience numbness or tingling, which is often worse after sitting or standing for a long time, or when you cough.

A single episode might last for a few hours, or it can come and go for months at a time. Pain management specialists use your symptoms, severity, and duration to determine the root cause of your pain.

 

Your Sciatic Nerve and Buttock Lower Back Pain

No other nerve in your body is longer or larger than the sciatic nerve, which is usually the root cause of buttock lower back pain. Sciatica leg pain is one of the most common pain management issues for young, middle-age, and older people due to this muscle running down the backside of both legs.

Sciatic nerves originate in the lower back. They travel through the buttocks and down the back of the legs. Thighs, calves, feet, and toes are all served by portions of this nerve. In addition to affecting the sole of your foot and the outer and back portions of your lower leg, sciatica also impacts the back of your thigh. Your ache in buttocks and back of thighs is usually all connected. Muscles in your legs and knees are often affected as well.

As a result of its function, the sciatic nerve serves two main purposes. With its complex motor function, you can move your legs and feet, and with its sensory function, you can feel sensations within your legs. The sciatic nerve is an amazing tool in your lower extremities. You can bend your knee, extend your knee, rotate your thigh, point your foot, and flex your toes — all using the sciatic nerve.

 

Consult the Experts on Buttock Lower Back Pain

When you reach your 40s and 50s, you’re more likely to suffer from sciatica and buttock lower back pain since the conditions that cause it become more prevalent. Sciatica is estimated to affect 40 percent of all adults, although studies differ on how many times patients suffer from it throughout their lives.

In the United States, a notable number of people suffer from sciatica every year, making it one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders. Sciatica causes a high disability burden for individuals and a high health-related cost for society.

Workplace activity and occupational workload, such as lifting or carrying heavy objects, have been found to increase the risk of sciatica. Herniated lumbar discs are also associated with non-occupational lifting, especially with straight knees and a bent back. Risk factors for sciatica include work-related twisting of the trunk and exposure to whole-body vibrations. These include driving a car or operating a machine. Overweight and obese individuals, along with those who lift heavy objects and are exposed to whole-body vibration, appear to have the highest risk of hospitalization for sciatica. These groups also experiences a severe ache in the buttocks and back of the thighs.

The problem of sciatica remains very real for many workers who don’t work in physically demanding occupations. It’s possible for office workers or work-from-home professionals — even those who are physically fit — to suffer from bouts of sciatica and aching pain in buttocks and legs simply due to their sedentary jobs.

The best diagnosis is obtained through a physical examination, as well as a review of your medical history. Once sciatica is confirmed and the problematic area pinpointed, a customized treatment plan can be developed just for you.

 

What Causes Sciatica and Buttock Lower Back Pain?

Sciatica and buttock lower back pain can be caused by degenerative spinal arthritis, slipped discs, lumbar disc disease, and lumbar spine injury or trauma. A breakdown of these causes are as follows:

  • Spinal stenosis in the lumbar region.This comes as a result of narrowing within the spinal canal in the low back. This ache in buttocks and back of thighs is caused by radicular discomfort.
  • A healthy (or otherwise injured) disk that has herniated.A herniated disc of the lumbar spine, which compresses a nerve root, is one of the most common causes of sciatica.
  • Disk degeneration.Degenerative disk disease is the breakdown of cushions between the vertebrae.
  • Symptoms from spondylolisthesis.This happens when there is compression of a nerve root by one vertebrae sliding over another.
  • Other reasons for cause.A tumor, polyradicular neuropathy, or diabetic neuritis can also cause sciatica.

 

Additional Sciatica and Other Helpful Facts

In general, men and middle-aged adults are most likely to suffer from sciatica and buttock lower back pain. There is a threefold increase in sciatica among men compared to women. Although sciatic nerve pain can affect people as young as 20, it’s most common among middle-aged adults.

It’s also important for you to know that diabetes can cause pain similar to sciatica. Sciatica may be responsible for shooting leg pain if you have diabetes. The pain caused by diabetic nerves can be similar to pain caused by sciatic nerves, but they are not the same. An individual with sciatica may experience burning, numbness, and shooting pains in one or both legs as a result of peripheral neuropathy. However, leg pain caused by diabetes shouldn’t necessarily be attributed to sciatica. Find out what’s causing your pain. This way, your pain management specialist or doctor can prescribe a treatment plan that best suits you.

The way you walk can also be affected by sciatica, causing pain in buttocks and legs. For some patients, Antalgic Gait occurs when they adjust their walking to cope with sciatic leg pain. As a result of sciatica pain, antalgic gait develops when you adjust your stride length on the affected leg, resulting in a limp. Developing various walking patterns can aid in reducing sciatica pain. However, there are also alternative methods to effectively manage your pain, offering long-term relief. Consult a doctor or pain management specialist about addressing the underlying problem. It’s usually your low back and leg pain caused by sciatica.

 

Weather can Affect it too

It is also possible for sciatica to flare up during the colder months. In turn, this can cause an ache in your buttocks and back of thighs. Pain severity is strongly correlated with the weather. For people with chronic pain and particularly sciatica, the winter months are much more difficult. Due to decreased blood flow, muscles become tighter and tenser in the colder months. Conversely, in the warmer months, muscles tend to relax and become looser. If you live in an area that gets hit hard by snow and have to shovel a lot, you’re more likely to suffer from muscle strains and sprains as the cold weather stiffens your muscles. If you have sciatic pain (also known as radiculopathy) from snow shoveling, the pain may be exacerbated by an underlying condition, such as a herniated disc.

In most cases, sciatica does not require surgery. However, if severe symptoms aren’t treated, sciatica can cause major problems in the long run, such as terrible aching pain in buttocks and legs. Be on the lookout for neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, and tingling. Moreover, the most serious condition is loss of bowel and bladder control, which requires immediate medical attention. There may be a need for surgery if these symptoms are indicative of serious nerve compression. Call your doctor immediately if you experience these symptoms, as ignoring them could result in permanent nerve damage.

 

Wellness and Pain Can Help

A range of treatment options for buttock lower back pain are available at Wellness and Pain. We offer conservative treatments, routine visits, and minimally invasive quick-recovery procedures. We can assist you in maintaining a problem-free lifestyle by offering lifestyle education and home care advice. This will help you find quick relief from the discomfort in your buttocks and back of thighs.

At Wellness and Pain, we personalize patient care plans based on each patient’s condition and unique circumstances to relieve pain, improve mobility and mental space, and improve your overall health.

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Wellness and Pain accepts most major insurance plans. Here is a list of some of the major insurance plans we accept. If you do not see your insurance plan listed, please call our office to confirm.

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