You may experience leg pain while sleeping or when you are awake. Usually, the condition gets better as muscle relaxes in almost ten minutes. But a feeling of soreness or tenderness remains for at least a day. Different problems are associated with leg pain when lying down but not standing. The most common are spasms or charley horses causing involuntary leg muscle contractions. This disorder is typically found in women and individuals above 50.
Moreover, an increased frequency of calf muscle cramps at night may lead to difficulty sleeping. It is suggested that a pain specialist in Dallas be consulted to diagnose any associated medical reason for leg pain when lying down but not standing.
Causes Of Leg Pain When Lying Down
There are numerous possible causes for your leg pain at night. These causes may range from simple to serious levels. Following are a few of them
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Prolonged Standing On Hard Surfaces
Suppose Standing in a static position on a concrete surface during job hours. In that case, it will reduce the cushioning effect of softer surfaces like modern floorboards and old-fashioned outdoor grass. Standing statically on harder grounds for shorter durations has minimal impact on your body, which leads to excessive strain on the lower trunks( body muscles, feet, joints) over several hours.
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Gout
Leg pain associated with gout usually occurs at night. It appears when there is an excessive overnight buildup of uric acid crystals in your joints. Consequently, your body will tell you something wrong is happening in pain. Expert providers can’t identify the reasons behind this sudden uric acid crystal buildup, but possible causes are as follows:
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- Decrease in the body’s temperature
- Breathing changes
- Drop in cortisone levels
- Increased dehydration
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Peripheral Artery Disease
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) accounts for a circulatory disorder with increased blood flow towards extremities, commonly including the legs or feet, because of blocked arteries. The decrease in blood circulation leads to leg pain involving one or both legs, generally in the calves. You may also experience pain if you participate in physical activity, which disappears when you stop.
As leg pain typically persists along the activity, you may also experience throbbing leg pain when lying down at night. If the pain initiates at night time, it is an indication that the PAD is worsening rapidly. There may also be a blockage in the lower extremities of cities’ arteries, called critical cal limb ischemia. Atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of PAD. It is observed when fat and cholesterol bodies, also called plaque, also called plaque, build up throughout the arteries. Plaque storage in the arteries leads to the thickening of blood vessels, restricting blood flow, which is one reason for heart attack or PAD.
PAD may also end in serious complications like limb amputation or death.
Although the exact factors causing atherosclerosis are not clear, many healthcare experts and scientists claim that plaque build is due to these factors:
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- Overweight
- Aging
- Cardiovascular disorder
- Increased cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Increased blood pressure
- Smoking
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Varicose Veins
The primary target of your veins involves blood pumping. Standing or sitting for long durations leads to decreased blood circulation, which is responsible for varicose veins, ending in leg pain.
When you pass through this condition, your veins are enlarged, swollen, and twisted, generating an ugly worm-like structure on your thighs, feet, and legs. It is due to the vein’s improper working efficiency. Over time, leg pressure may increase due to weakness of leaky valves and vein walls, causing leg aching at night.
Home Remedies For Leg Pain
Different leg pain relief approaches can relieve your discomfort as muscle cramp hits, including:
- Movement
- Stretching
- Massage
- Applying a cold or hot press
- Over-the-counter pain relief
Treatment
The treatment approaches for leg pain when lying down but not standing vary according to the leading causes. Here are some of the most common treatment options followed by pain management in Dallas:
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Lifestyle Changes
Making specific lifestyle modifications can facilitate reduction in leg pain. Such modifications include routine exercises, healthy weight maintenance, and ignoring prolonged durations of sitting or standing.
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Medications
According to the underlying causes of the leg pain, your expert provider may suggest medications like pain relievers, muscle relievers, or blood thinners.
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Physical Therapy
Physical techniques can guide to improve circulation, strengthen muscles, and decrease pain. Your physiotherapist may recommend certain exercises and therapies to improve your leg pain.
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Surgical Intervention
In a few cases, surgical treatments may be required to treat the ongoing cause of the leg pain. This may include procedures like angioplasty, stripping or stenting.
Positive mental behavior, regular exercise, and a rapid return to work are essential elements for rehabilitation. If everyday job responsibilities are difficult to perform initially, advanced(light or restricted) movements may be suggested for a decided time.
Prevention Is Mandatory To Avoid Recurrence
- Proper techniques for lifting and avoiding sitting in the same posture for prolonged periods.
- Practicing good body postures during movements like sitting, moving, standing, and sleeping
- Regular physical exercises with strengthening activities and stretching
- A human-friendly and ergonomic work area
- Maintaining a good and balanced nutritional diet, healthy body weight, and normal body mass
- Practicing Stress management and relaxation techniques.
- Avoid smoking