AllCare Foot & Ankle Center: Podiatry

As the very foundations of your body, your feet, quite literally, carry an enormous amount of responsibility. Not only do they support your weight, they’re in charge of moving you through the world. To accomplish all of this, your feet rely on balance, wherein each component functions together smoothly. So when a condition like flat fleet throws this balance off, the effect doesn’t

necessarily stay local and often causes problems up through your major joints, including your ankles, knees, and hips, even reaching your back.

Here at All Care Foot & Ankle, our aim is to help our patients in Arlington, Texas, regain the proper balance in their feet. allowing them to navigate their worlds without pain. If you’re experiencing back, hip, or knee pain, and you can’t figure out why the answer may lie at your feet.

Here’s a look at why flat feet may be behind your musculoskeletal discomfort and, more importantly, what we can do about it.

What exactly are flat feet?

The term flat feet refers to a lack of arch support in your feet. There are many reasons this occurs, including, failure of your arches to ever develop. When you’re born, your feet are flat and your arches develop as you grow. For some, these arches never form, resulting in flat feet.

On the other end of the age spectrum, flat feet can develop as you get older. After years of wear-and-tear, the tendons that support your feet can begin to weaken, causing your arches to fall.

Flat feet don’t pose any serious problems for many, as their bodies compensate for the deficiency. For others, however, flat feet can lead to painful problems in their feet and ankles, which can have an effect on distant joints and their backs.

Everything is connected

Your musculoskeletal system is a fully integrated structure, and each section is connected by joints. Some are quite small, and others, such as your hips and knees, are large.

Since joints are where bones come together, any bone that comes in at an angle can offset the entire balance of the joint. And this is exactly what flat feet can do. That’s because without arch support, your feet tend to roll inward, causing overpronation. This, in turn, affects your gait and places excessive stress on your ankles and knees.

Your ankles can generally handle the change in balance since they can roll in many directions. Knees, however, are designed to bend forward and back, not side-to-side. When you overpronate, your knees are forced in a direction they’re not designed for.

With your knees functioning poorly, the impact may make its way on up to your hips, which need to compensate for the poor positioning of your knees.

And on it goes until it reaches your low back. Poor positioning of the major joints in your lower body ultimately reach your back and may cause dull, nagging pain — all because of flat feet.

Stepping in

If you’re experiencing pain in your knees, hips, and back, and have flat feet, chances are these issues are related. If that’s determined to be the case, we can take action with custom orthotics, which make up for the loss of support in your arches.

Orthotics can provide relief. With them, we can raise up your arches, causing everything in your lower body to line up more accurately, which should eliminate the discomfort in your joints.

For flat feet and all of your podiatric concerns, call or use the online booking tool on this website to set up an appointment with All Care Foot & Ankle.

That Pain in Your Knees and Lower Back Could Be Linked to Your Feet and Poor Foot Support!

If you’re experiencing lower back and/or knee pain, you’re definitely not alone. Actually, 80% of people have back pain at some point in their lives. According to the American Chiropractic Association, half of all workers experience back pain symptoms each year. Why are these pains so common?

Sometimes the cause of your lower back pain or knee pain is obvious such as when you experience a sports injury. In other cases, lower back pain may be due to structural issues in the lower back including disc degeneration, disc alignment issues or nerve impingement. It is important to see your doctors to get a diagnosis and get a treatment plan.

The culprit could also be your lack of foot support and/or poorly fitting shoes. How is this possible? Most commonly, knee pain comes from everyday exertions that put stress and strain on your knees and up the chain to your lower back. In the body, everything is connected so when one thing is off or weak, the related parts of the body have to do double duty to compensate and then those parts get tired and start to hurt. When you’re unable to maintain postural stability due to these issues or the related pain, your muscles and joints overwork, leading to more pain.

Let’s dig into the 3 main foot-related issues of lower back and knee pain. And, keep reading until the end where we reveal what simple adjustments can help solve for these issues and relieve your pain!

1. SHOCK & IMPACT

When you walk your feet strike the ground which can cause a jarring shock that travels up your leg and into your lower back, putting strain on weight bearing joints in your ankles, knees, and hips. High-impact activities like running can add 2-3 times your body weight of stress. Even simple everyday activities like walking down the stairs can add 3-5 times to your body weight in pressure and stress. Did you know that your knees are actually the largest joints in your whole body? It’s true—and because of this, they take quite a beating, especially from activities including running, jumping, standing, bending, kicking, or dancing which puts extra stress on the tendons and ligaments that support your knees and kneecaps.

2. POOR ARCH SUPPORT

Have you heard of the term, “Flat Feet” or do you know if you have them? People with “Flat Feet” often unknowingly walk on the sides of their feet and tend to have balance issues.  This causes misalignment up the ankle, knees and hips which puts extra stress on the knees, spine and lower back.

The way you walk is dependent on the shape of your feet and the shoes you wear. If you walk with neutral pronation, meaning that your foot rolls naturally 15% inward, your body is able to absorb the shock, and keep your ankles and legs properly aligned which makes you less prone to pain and injury. However, if you walk with an overpronation pattern (weight on the insides of your foot), or supination (weight on the outsides of your foot), this misalignment causes extra stress on your knees and back.

3. FOOT DEFORMITY

There is only a small percentage of the population who are born with foot problems. Foot deformities such as high arches, flat feet, hammertoe, claw toe, mallet toe, and bunions can be causing your back and knee pain. These deformities can change the way you walk which then changes the way the bones of all the other joints move with each other, wearing down the cartilage in your joints, and stressing the ligaments and tendons beyond their normal range.  If you think you may have a foot deformity, make sure to see a Podiatrist before trying any of our recommended solutions below in case there is a surgery or other treatment needed to fix an issue.

Solutions to Ease Your Lower Back and Knee Pain

You’ve now learned more about how misshapen feet, lack of support, postural instability, and the shock of continued impact can be the root of your lower back and knee pain. So, let’s talk about how to make easy adjustments to give your feet the support, shock absorption, and alignment they need so your body can feel good!

Dr. William Scholl’s expertise in shoes, combined with his medical background, allowed him to develop many of the innovative solutions available today that help people be active, comfortable, and pain free all day long.

Adding Dr. Scholl’s orthotics for back pain or orthotics for knee pain to your shoes can help you walk with better alignment, provide immediate pain relief, absorb shock, correct for imbalances, and support your feet for more comfort while walking and at rest.

Something else to consider is what shoe you’re putting the inserts in. You’ll want to choose supportive shoes that properly fit. Some shoes even come with a removable insole which you can replace with an orthotic. The right orthotic will help distribute your weight evenly, absorb shock at impact to prevent this trauma from traveling up to your knees and lower back, and support your foot arches to increase stability and reduce those extra motions that can aggravate your lower back muscles. So, once you address the problem at its source, you can ease your pain all day, every day!

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What Causes Hip, Knee, And Back Pain?

A worker with back pain.

The quick answer is our bodies are connected by muscles, ligaments, nerves and bones acting as building blocks to our bodies. Ligament stability, muscle strength, joint mobility and the ability of the nerves to operate without irritation or blockage are vital to normal function. Due to the back, knee, and hip connection, back pain can be a result of numerous orthopedic problems.

Back Pain

The lower back area is made up of vertebral bodies, discs that act as “shock absorbers.” At each vertebral level, spinal nerves exit from the spinal cord on either side. Specifically, in the lower back, they supply both lower extremities. Low back pain can cause problems that involve nerve irritation or compression can lead to hip and knee pain. Certain muscles of the low back also attach to the hip, and issues with these muscles can lead to back pain and hip pain together.  It also is not uncommon to have back pain with knee pain as well.  When your low back is hurting, you could change the way that you walk which could cause your knee and hip to start hurting.  Sometimes the knee injury occurs first.  Then due to an abnormal gait pattern, the hip or the low back will become painful. To learn more about how to stretch your lower back, please go to this article: STRETCH

Hip Pain

Weakness of the muscles in the hip can reduce pelvic area support and cause back pain. Increased internal rotation of the femur can lead to knee pain. Hip pain can also originate from a tightness of the iliotibial band due to an irritation of the bursa. Restrictions in the hip joint mobility can cause hip pain and affect the back and knee to do a change in mechanics. Tightness of hip flexors at the front of the hip can affect the position of the lower back and sacroiliac joints. It is common to have knee and hip pain together at the same time.  Your physician or therapist will help determine the cause and develop a treatment plan for both conditions.  Hip pain and dysfunction can certainly cause knee and low back pain.

Knee Pain 

Tightness of the iliotibial band can manifest as hip problems and cause pain to the outside of the knee. Tightness to the rectus femoris muscles, a muscle responsible for straightening the knee, can cause both hip and knee problems.  Some patients may have hip and knee pain together.  It is especially important to be evaluated by an orthopedic specialist, so that the origin of the pain can be identified. Knee pain and dysfunction can certainly cause hip and low back pain.  

A Physical Therapy evaluation is essential for your therapist to assess how all these factors interrelate and address the problem effectively.  The low back, hip and knee can cause pain and it is important to find the cause so that all areas can be treated.  If you want to make an appointment, call (904)JOI -2000.

If you want to learn more about hip pain, go to: https://www.joionline.net/trending/content/hip-pain

JOI and JOI Rehab are now offering Telehealth Appointments and ASAP Fracture and Injury Appointments. 

By: Ehren Allen, DPT, COMT

Lower back and foot pain associated with more severe knee osteoarthritis symptoms — ScienceDaily

A new study found that patients with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee who also have pain in other joints were more likely to experience greater knee pain. Specifically, pain in the lower back as well as foot pain and elbow pain on the same side as the affected knee were associated with more severe knee pain.

Full details appear in the December issue of Arthritis Care & Research, a journal published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology.

Knee OA is the leading cause of disability in the U.S., with nearly 4.3 million adults over age 60 having the symptomatic form of the disease according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A study by Helmick et al. published in Arthritis & Rheumatism reported 59 million people have low back pain, which is the most common cause of lost work time among individuals less than 45 years of age and the third most common cause among those 45 to 65 years of age.

The current study team led by Pradeep Suri, M.D., from Harvard Medical School, New England Baptist Hospital, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts used data provided by individuals from the Osteoarthritis Initiative — a multicenter population-based observational cohort study of knee OA. A subgroup of 1,389 participants, ages 45-79 years who had symptomatic knee OA in at least one knee were included, with patients also asked to identify pain in the lower back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle or foot. Researchers used the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) to measure the level of pain of patients in the study on a scale of 0 to 20 with lower scores representing less pain and stiffness.

Results indicate that 57.4% of participants reported having pain in their lower back. Participants with low back pain had a mean WOMAC pain score of 6.5, while those without pain in their lower back scored 5.2. Researchers found that low back pain was significantly associated with an increase in the WOMAC knee pain score, with similar associations demonstrated in all other individual joint locations that were studied. Those models analyzing pain locations simultaneously show only low back pain, and ipsilateral foot pain and elbow pain were significantly associated with a higher knee pain score.

Additionally, researchers determined that having more than one pain location, regardless of the site, was associated with greater WOMAC knee pain score. In participants with four or five pain locations the severity of knee pain was even higher. “Our findings show that pain in the low back, foot and elbow may be associated with greater knee pain, confirming that symptomatic knee OA rarely occurs in isolation. Future studies are needed to determine whether treatment of pain occurring elsewhere in the body will improve therapy outcomes for knee OA,” Dr. Suri concluded.

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Knee, Back & Hip Pain

Video: Can Foot Function Cause Knee Pain?

Many people have chronic, lingering pain in their hips, knees, low back, shoulders and neck and that has not responded to traditional treatment.  If you are in this group, there may be a connection between the pain you are experiencing and the way your feet function.

The knees, back and hips are the areas most often affected by abnormal foot mechanics or asymmetry in your gait.   Below are just a few examples of the many mechanical abnormalities of the foot that can lead to pain in other parts of your body:

Knee Pain and Your Feet

A number have studies have shown that in some patients knee pain is directly related to how feet function. Correcting abnormal foot function may help relieve knee pain.

The knee is is made to bend only in one direction—with the knee facing straight forward.  When the foot rolls in too much (over-pronates), however, the leg rotates in toward the opposite leg.  This causes the knee to function while pointing inward.  In this position each step you take will put stress on the knee.  If your knee pain is due to your foot mechanics, shoe changes, over-the-counter arch supports or custom orthotics can be a very effective way to relieve your symptoms. You can learn detailed information about knee pain and your feet here.

Back Pain and Your Feet

In a 1999 study of patients with low back pain, gait abnormalities were detected in all patients.   Eighty four percent of the patients studied experienced improvement with the use of custom foot orthotics.  All of the study participants had not responded to standard treatments which had included spinal manipulation, physical therapy, therapeutic injections and/or surgery. 1Dannenber, Guiliano.  1999.  Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

Video: How Supporting Your Feet Can Help Cure Back Pain

Leg length discrepancy (LLD) is a problem we commonly see that causes back and hip pain.  Depending on the problem, treatment may be as simple as a lift or may require an orthosis. Learn more about back pain and your feet here.

Hip Pain and Your Feet

There are fewer studies relating hip pain and foot function but we certainly see that abnormal foot function, particularly excessive pronation can cause hip pain.  The video below goes over the relationship between hip pain and foot function in detail. If you have hip pain that has not responded to other treatments we can help you determine if your foot function is playing a role.

Solution to Back, Hip and Knee Pain

Critical to relieving your pain is evaluating and treating the subtle gait abnormalities found to be a common yet untreated cause of chronic musculo-skeletal complaints.  Drs. Huppin and Hale have specialized training in biomechanics, a branch of medical science dealing with human motion and posture.  They will evaluate you both dynamically (while moving) and statically (while at rest).

GAIT ANALYSIS WITH SLOW MOTION VIDEO

To diagnose many of these chronic and functional problems, we have a video gait analysis system in our office.

We use a treadmill and four video cameras to record you as you are walking.   Gait analysis will help identify abnormal mechanics that may be causing pain.   If abnormal, a very important aspect of your treatment will be the prescription of functional foot orthotics.  Orthotic therapy helps correct your movement and relieve the pain in your aching muscles and bones.

CUSTOM FOOT ORTHOTICS

Foot orthoses function in several ways to reduce pain in your knees, hips and back. The key is that each foot functions differently and our detailed examination and gait analysis will allow us to determine the best orthotic prescription for each persons mechanical abnormality.

FootChair Adjustable Arch Orthotic

However, if you are not able to obtain a custom orthotic we suggest the FootChair Podiatrist Designed Orthotic with adjustable arch height. The arch can be adjusted for maximum support and comfort via pads that can be inserted under the cover.

SHOES

Shoes that offer the correct support for your foot are an integral part of any biomechanical treatment plan. We will provide you with recommendations of appropriate shoes for your foot type and a list of shoe stores with personnel trained in proper fitting.

GETTING STARTED

If you are experiencing knee, hip or back pain call to schedule an evaluation in our Seattle office to determine if your pain is affected by the mechanics of your feet.

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A tight ankle can cause foot, ankle, knee, hip, back pain. – Green Mountain Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine

Do you have hip pain, knee pain, or foot ankle pain?  Are you having a hard time resolving it?  Can’t figure it out.  Well guess what.  Your problem may be tight ankle or limited dorsiflexion…and it is often missed, by even the most skilled health care professionals.

We see many people who have unsolved back pain, SI joint pain, hip pain, knee pain, and foot ankle pain.  And often times the root of the problem is not where the pain is located.  Pain is deceiving.  Pain is often times located in the joint above or below the problem joint and is a result of compensation.   Confusing?

Well, I will try and explain it.  It is like a chain.  When one link is stuck then the link above and below that stuck link have to move more.  If the ankle is tight or stuck, then many times your heel raises up off the ground too early while walking or running.  When the heel rises off the ground, then the ball of your foot and your achilles now has to absorb the weight of your body.  Too much force over time can lead to damaged tissue at your achilles and foot, such as plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, mortons neuroma, tarsal tunnel, bunions…etc.

Tight ankles or limited ankle dorsiflexion can also lead to problems above the joint.  For instance, when you run, and the tight ankle does not dorsiflex enough to allow the knee to propel forward, then the knee will start to track inward.  See photo.  When the knee starts to track inward it can cause too much force at the shin, knee as well as the hip and low back.  So yes, your tight ankle can cause back pain, SI joint pain, hip pain, knee pain, shin splint pain, and foot ankle pain.   Sound crazy?  Not to us.  We see it all the time.

Fix the tight ankle and fix the problem.

If you have unsolved low back, SI joint pain, hip pain, knee pain, shin splint pain and foot ankle pain, then please watch our little video to help you better understand the possible cause of your problem.  And please give us a call 861 6700 or email if you have any questions or concerns.

Hope this helps,

Green Mt Rehab Gang

Foot Pain? New Study Says Look at Hip and Knee, Too, for Complete Diagnosis

New York, NY—September 19, 2017

A study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) and Harvard Medical School suggests new guidelines may be in order for evaluating and treating lower extremity pain. Investigators set out to determine if there was a relation between foot pain and lower extremity joint pain, and they found a significant association between foot pain and knee or hip pain.

“Our overall goal was to provide practitioners with evidence-based guidance for evaluation and options for treatment for their patients,” the researchers wrote in their paper, which appeared in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.

“The study shows that a physician evaluating a patient for foot pain should also ask about possible hip or knee pain, and vice versa, so we can address all of a patient’s issues. In medicine, many times it comes down to ‘what does your MRI look like or what does your x-ray look like?’ But it’s really important to conduct a thorough medical history and physical exam,” says Brian Halpern, MD, a sports medicine physician at HSS and study co-author. “A comprehensive orthopedic evaluation may prompt a broader treatment strategy and possibly a referral to another specialist. “

“Studying the interaction between the knee and the foot, or the hip and the foot is very important because it’s a kinetic chain,” says Rock G. Positano, DPM, MPH, director of the Non-Surgical Foot and Ankle Service, Joe DiMaggio Sports Medicine Foot and Ankle Center at HSS. 

The kinetic chain, the notion that the body’s joints and segments have an effect on one another during movement, can play a key role in pain. “The foot is the first part of the body that makes contact with the ground. Its primary function is a shock absorber. If the shock-absorbing capability of the foot is somehow altered or minimized, it’s going to affect other body parts,” Dr. Positano explains.

“The foot is also the foundation of the body,” he adds. “If the foundation is not sound, it could have a deleterious effect on the joints above the foot and ankle, namely the knee and the hip.”

In the population-based study, investigators analyzed information from a database of 2,181 people who had participated in the NIH-funded Framingham Foot Study between 2002 and 2008. “Access to this rich database was indispensable to test our hypothesis that there was a relation between foot pain and hip or knee pain,” explained Howard Hillstrom, PhD, director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at HSS and co-investigator of the Framingham Foot Study. “It would have been very difficult to organize such a large study from scratch.”

Participants completed a questionnaire evaluating foot pain, pain location (including side of pain) and severity. They also indicated whether they had experienced pain, aching or stiffness in the hip or knee and specified the side of any reported pain. In the study, 16% of participants reported bilateral foot pain, 6% right foot pain only and 5% left foot pain only. Slightly more women than men reported foot pain.

Researchers found that foot pain was associated with bilateral and same-side knee pain in men and women. For example, men with right foot pain compared to those with no foot pain were five to seven times more likely to have pain in their right knee or in both knees.

Foot pain was also associated with hip pain on the same side in men. In women, bilateral foot pain was associated with hip pain on both sides, on the same side or on the opposite side.

A theory that may explain study results looks at how an individual modifies his movements and postures when experiencing pain. This can result in malalignment and other problems, and the challenge for physicians is to develop a treatment plan to address all issues, according to the study authors. “The correlated and compensatory posture and movement theory¹ may explain how multi-joint arthritis develops, as well as other abnormalities and associated pains that can result from overuse or trauma to one or more structures in the kinetic chain,” the researchers wrote.

They went on to state that the findings “advocate for a change in the paradigm of how patients with lower extremity pain should be evaluated clinically… In a world where medical imaging has come to the forefront of patient diagnoses and care, these results remind health care providers that the basic physical examination and patients’ history remain important in identifying pain and related patterns in patients. “

Dr. Positano notes that it is also up to patients to be proactive, making sure they discuss all orthopedic issues they may have during the doctor visit. 

[1] Riegger-Krugh and Keysor, JOSPT. 1996

90,000 Why legs hurt: causes and treatment

Phlebothrombosis

The next disease is phlebothrombosis, in which blood clots appear in deep veins

. The blood clot is fixed on the vascular wall of the vein and over time it simply blocks the blood flow (partially or completely). It is through the deep veins that the main outflow of blood from the lower limb occurs, therefore, in addition to pain, swelling of the entire leg (lower leg and thigh) appears. The following signs are also possible:

• bursting severe pain;
• sensation of coldness in the lower limbs;
• general weakness;
• the temperature rises to 37.5.

If these symptoms appear, you should immediately consult a doctor to avoid complications.

Obliterating atherosclerosis

Obliterating atherosclerosis is a disease that refers to the arteries. Through the arteries, blood moves from the heart and supplies the lower limbs. When plaques appear in the vessels, characteristic manifestations of the disease appear. One of the symptoms is pain in the calf muscles, which occurs when the patient travels a certain distance.A person has to stop in order for the muscles to recover and fill with blood. Only after resting can a person continue on his way. This is because the plaque is in the lumen of the artery and prevents blood from reaching the muscles.

Hernia and osteochondrosis

The most common cause of pain in the lower extremities is osteochondrosis or hernia of the lumbosacral spine. When a patient develops a hernia or osteochondrosis, shooting or bursting pains are felt.They go from the lumbosacral region, pass through the buttock and go down along the back of the thigh, passing to the entire lower limb.

Painful sensations can be of a shooting character. In this case, there is a very pronounced severe pain, which intensifies at night. It can also be accompanied by convulsions, information and numbness in the lower extremities.

With frequent pain in the legs, it is recommended to consult a doctor and not self-medicate. The specialist will diagnose, study the symptoms and determine what exactly is the cause of such pain.A professional examination will help prescribe the correct treatment to avoid complications.

What to do if lower back pain radiates to the leg

05/16/2019

What to do if lower back pain radiates to the leg

Acute lower back pain radiating to the leg usually indicates compression or damage to the nerve roots, which can be caused by pathology of the spine or its injuries. In some cases, this symptom is associated with diseases of the internal organs.This ailment requires compulsory medical advice.

Causes of pain

Most often, lower back pain radiating to the leg is caused by diseases of the spinal column. Many of these pathologies are characterized by the so-called reflected pain, when discomfort occurs not only in the affected area of ​​the spine, but also in other areas:

• buttocks;
• legs;
• hip joint;
• abdomen;
• other parts of the spine.

The reflected pain is due to compression of the nerve roots and blood vessels. Due to the compression, the nerves transmit “wrong” signals, and painful sensations appear in healthy organs and parts of the body.
One of the main factors leading to lumbar pain is improper exercise. Also, chronic diseases of the spine can be exacerbated due to physical inactivity or the frequent adoption of forced postures (work in an incline, etc.), pressing clothing, lack of sleep and unbalanced nutrition.

Severe lower back pain radiating to the legs requires comprehensive diagnostics and mandatory medical supervision. Self-medication attempts can only aggravate the patient’s condition. In the absence of treatment, pathologies of the spinal column progress and cause even more severe destruction of cartilage and vertebrae, damage to nerves and blood vessels, up to paralysis. Other diseases that may accompany this syndrome are also very dangerous and without treatment lead to serious consequences. For example, a similar condition sometimes occurs with duodenal ulcer, tuberculosis infection and kidney disease.

What pathologies may cause reflected pain in the legs?

Diseases of the spine, in which there is pain in the lower back, radiating to the left or right leg, can be:

• deforming;
• degenerative-dystrophic;
• inflammatory.

1. In deforming diseases, the anatomy of the spine is disrupted, respectively, the muscles around it, as well as internal organs, are displaced.Contrary to popular belief, various types of curvature of the spinal column (scoliosis, kyphosis and lordosis) can appear at any age, especially in people with a sedentary lifestyle. With deformity of the spine, the load on the body is distributed unevenly, which is why one leg “works” more than the other, an excessive load falls on its joints, from which soreness appears in the knee, hip, and foot. In untreated cases, spinal curvature can be eliminated with exercise therapy and other conservative treatment methods
2. In degenerative pathological processes, the vertebrae are often displaced and the height of the intervertebral discs decreases.A common disease such as osteochondrosis can cause soreness in the legs. With arthrosis, osteophytes are formed – sharp bone growths that injure nerve roots, blood vessels and muscle tissue. These diseases are chronic in nature, but in the early stages they can be successfully treated with therapeutic methods
3. Pathologies of an inflammatory nature, for example, arthritis, can also lead to reflected pain in the legs. This disease also requires mandatory medical supervision, since inflammation can lead to tissue necrosis or sepsis.

What to do if a nerve is pinched in the lower back and extends to the leg?

Invalid:

1. to get physical activity, try to “stretch”;
2. take a very cold or hot bath;
3. to do non-professional massage.

To relieve the condition, it is necessary to take off the pressing clothes, take anesthetic (diclofenac, ibuprofen, “Ketorol”) and lie down, and there should be no drafts in the room. A warm bath can help relieve excessive muscle tension.After improvement of the condition, be sure to get medical advice.

Diagnostics and treatment

If you have pain in your lower back and legs, you need to see an orthopedist, therapist or neurologist for help. After examining the history and examination, the doctor will prescribe diagnostic tests for you. It could be:

• roentgen;
• MRI, CT;
• blood and urine tests;
• electromyography;
• ultrasound of internal organs;
• and other procedures.

Laboratory tests and various types of examinations protect the patient from misdiagnosis. For example, sometimes with pyelonephritis for the first few days, only the lower back on the right hurts and gives it to the leg. In such a situation, only a comprehensive examination will allow to correctly determine the cause of painful sensations.

If the pain in the lower back, which radiates to the leg, is caused by diseases of the spine, then, as a rule, conservative treatment methods are used to treat it:

• taking medications;
• physiotherapy;
• medical gymnastics;
• massage;
• acupuncture;
• and other procedures.

On the basis of the general scheme, an individual treatment plan is developed for each patient: medications, types of effects during manual therapy, and a set of therapeutic exercises are selected.

Medicines, coupled with physiotherapy, help to quickly improve the patient’s condition:

• eliminate pain syndrome;
• eliminate inflammation and excessive muscle tension;
• restore the tissue of intervertebral discs, stop the growth of osteophytes;
• to normalize blood circulation;
• improve the quality of sleep;
• return to normal mobility.

Physiotherapy helps restore healthy anatomy of the spine and correct load distribution, eliminates compression of nerve roots and blood vessels, strengthens the muscle corset and helps restore mobility.

All clinics of the “Hello!” are located close to metro stations, which is important for patients who experience pain when walking. The use of modern diagnostic equipment, a high level of qualifications and professional responsibility of doctors, the latest methods of treatment and rehabilitation allow you to quickly recognize the causes of pain and develop the most effective treatment plan for each patient.

90,000 ⚡ What is the reason for lower back pain radiating to the leg ➡ origin and treatment methods ⚕

⚡ One of the most common problems is severe pain below the lower back, which radiates to the leg and hip. This symptom most often occurs after the age of 35. Can be especially unpleasant when you move, walk, and even when you sleep

There is a strong connection between what you feel in your lower extremities and what happens in your lumbar spine, pelvis and hips. Pain emanating from the lumbar spine or pelvis can cause numbness, weakness and tingling in the legs .

Why does back pain radiate to the leg?

You should not start self-treatment without understanding what the causes of back pain are. It can be caused by an injured part of the spine, swelling or swelling that puts pressure on the nerve endings.

Painful sensations are in the area of ​​the thigh, buttocks, lower leg and even the foot – it depends on which nerve endings are being impaired.

The main pathological conditions include :

• osteochondrosis, in which the wear of the intervertebral disc progresses;
• lumboischialgia, in which pain occurs from overloading the muscles of the lumbar region;
• spondyloarthrosis in the facet joints of the spine;
• sciatica, which is a lesion of the sciatic nerve;
• lumbarization, characterized by an increase in the number of lumbar vertebrae;
• sacralization, in which the 5th lumbar vertebra fusion with the sacrum.

Also, the problem may arise against the background of intervertebral hernia, stenosis of the spinal canal, with diseases of internal organs that are located at the same level with the lower back . To understand what causes such symptoms – diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, urinary tract, kidneys, gynecological inflammation, swelling, ectopic pregnancy or problems with the spine, requires diagnosis .

Pain symptoms

Pain is acute, aching, pulling or another type, aggravated by certain body positions or movements.

Based on the signs, the following can be assumed:

1) Drawing pain in the lower back on the right radiates to the leg, upper part and thigh. Often occurs with disc protrusion, intervertebral hernias of the lumbar spine, spinal cord tumors, inflammation of the gluteal muscles, inflammation of the sciatic nerve.

2) Severe lower back pain radiates to the legs and back of the foot, sometimes affecting the entire back of the leg and the lumbosacral back. Occurs against the background of spasm of the piriformis muscle at the point of exit of the sciatic nerve. With a strong compression of the sciatic nerve, inflammation of the sciatica develops and atrophy of the gluteus muscle on one side is possible.

3) Sharp pain in the lower back on the left radiates to the leg, acute pain in the lower back radiates to the outer part of the thigh. Occurs with intervertebral hernia, tunnel syndrome, compression of the external skin nerve of the thigh (Meralgia). It is accompanied by numbness, burning sensation, goose bumps, tingling sensation, weakness of the thigh muscles, pathologies of the hip joint.

4) Pain in the lower back, radiating to the front surface of the legs and thigh. Occurs against the background of inflammation of the femoral nerve, intervertebral hernias, after surgery on the lower abdomen, limitation of mobility. Often accompanied by loss of knee reflexes, sensitivity, muscle weakness, difficulty in movement.

5) Pain in the lumbar spine radiates to the leg and knee. Occurs against the background of orthopedic disorders of the hip joint, oncological diseases of the genital organs in women, diseases of the prostate gland in men, fractures of the pelvic bone, neuralgia.

How to determine the cause of pain radiating to the leg

The first stage – you need to visit a doctor if you need to undergo a diagnosis and get a correct diagnosis, establish the cause of this symptom and only then start treatment.

Most of these pains are caused by diseases of the musculoskeletal system , especially degenerative lesions of the spinal discs. But do not forget about other equally dangerous diseases and pathological processes that cause this symptom.Wherever the pain manifests itself, in the lower back, in the back, in the leg – is not a normal and not a natural state of a person and it must be treated .

Methods for the treatment of back pain

When treating low back pain that radiates to the leg, it is imperative to take into account the diagnostic conclusions of examinations, which only a doctor can prescribe and determine, after a complete history is taken: ultrasound, MRI, CT and other diagnostic methods.

Drug treatment is used to eliminate pain.Physiotherapy exercises and training on simulators help to deal with problems of the musculoskeletal system.

After completing the course, it is imperative to maintain physical activity, adhere to a correct lifestyle. It is necessary to control body weight and include foods necessary in the diet to avoid pathological processes in the body. The attending physician will tell you more about this.

Prevention of the development of diseases of the spine

This is the best way to prevent and stop the development of diseases of the spine.

• physical activity : sufficient physical exercise, at least 3 hours per week, to provide muscle support;
• proper nutrition : balanced nutrition with the presence of foods containing minerals and vitamins (calcium, magnesium, vitamin D, B vitamins, etc.), if your food does not contain a sufficient level of vitamins, use vitamin complexes;
• smoking : try to break the habit, as smoking leads to bone loss;
• alcohol : excessive alcohol consumption affects the absorption of calcium by the body, insufficient calcium affects the development of osteoporosis;
• body weight control : monitor your weight, relieve your spine and legs from carrying heavy loads in the form of your weight;
• reception of chondroprotectors : protection of intervertebral discs from destruction of cartilaginous tissue (prescribed only by a doctor).

And probably the most important thing, be sure to bring any treatment of injuries, diseases to the end, follow the prescriptions and recommendations of doctors and be healthy!

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region

Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region

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Osteochondrosis of the lumbosacral region

It occurs extremely often, both in men engaged in hard physical labor, and in women sitting at the table or at the computer.The peculiarity of this disease is the age of patients from 30 to 50 years.

First of all, patients are concerned about pain in the lumbar region, sacrum, and lower extremities. Lower back pain is called lumbodynia, pain in the lower back and extremities is lumboischialgia, pain only in the limbs is sciatica. Outside the period of exacerbation, the pain is aching, dull. It increases with movements in the spine, with a prolonged forced position of the trunk. After resting in the supine position, the pain decreases and subsides. If the patient lifts a weight, and sometimes just after an awkward movement, hypothermia, a stressful situation, the pain intensifies, becomes strong.

Muscle tension arises in the lumbar region. The body tries to keep the affected segment of the spine motionless with the help of muscle tension. Sometimes a curvature of the spine (scoliosis) occurs in the lumbar region. This is also a consequence of muscle tension. Movement in the lumbar spine is sharply limited. Sometimes the patient cannot sit because of the pain, turn in bed.

During an exacerbation of the disease, the patient maintains a forced posture, which reduces pain.Depending on the affected nerve root, a decrease in sensitivity is found in those areas of the skin that this root innervates. There is dryness of the skin of the diseased limb, peeling, the skin may be bluish.

Examination reveals scoliosis in the lumbar region or a decrease in lumbar lordosis (bending of the spine in the lumbar region with an arc back), muscle tension in the lumbar region in the form of a roller, pain when pressing on the spinous processes of the affected vertebrae. If you press on the patient’s head or shoulders, pain occurs in the lumbar spine.

To clarify the diagnosis, X-rays of the lumbar spine are taken in two projections. Herniated discs are not visible on the radiograph, since it is soft tissue and it is transparent to X-rays, therefore, in such cases, computed and magnetic resonance imaging is performed.

Among the non-root (reflex) manifestations of lumbar osteochondrosis, there are lumbago, lumbodynia and lumbar ischalgia.

Lumbago (“lumbago”) – acute intense pain in the lumbar region that occurs suddenly during heavy lifting, coughing, sneezing. Many sufferers may show a pain point. On examination, a sharp limitation of the movements of the lumbar region, smoothness of lordosis, moderate tension and soreness of the muscles in this area are found.

Lumbodynia – subacute or chronic dull aching pain in the lumbar region. It occurs after physical exertion, prolonged stay in an uncomfortable position, cooling, ARVI, etc. e. The pain is dull in nature and increases with physical exertion, bending, turning the body, after a long stay in a standing, sitting or walking position. Reveal flattening of the lumbar lordosis or reflex lumbar kyphosis (“hunched over”), limitation of movement, slight pain of the paravertebral (paravertebral) points in the lumbar region.

Lumboischialgia – pain in the lumbar region, radiating to one or both legs.

The following forms are distinguished:

– muscle tonic.Tension (spasm) of the lumbar muscles predominates,

– change in the lumbar bend, a sharp restriction of movement in the lumbar spine;

– vegetative-vascular. A combination of pain of a burning character with numbness of the leg, especially the foot, a feeling of heat, cold or chilliness in it is characteristic. Unpleasant painful sensations occur when moving from a horizontal position to a vertical one;

– neurodystrophic. The pain is burning and usually worse at night. Thinning of the skin, hyperkeratosis of the feet (thickening of the skin on the feet), sometimes ulcers appear on the leg;

with discogenic lumboischialgia, combinations of muscular-tonic form with neurodystrophic or vegetative-vascular with neurodystrophic are possible.

Lumboischialgia is manifested by a number of clinical syndromes:

piriformis syndrome. It is located under the gluteus maximus muscle, carries the thigh to the side and rotates the foot with the toe out. Reflex tension in the muscle is usually caused by irritation of the first sacral root.With her spasm, the sciatic nerve is clamped, and the patient is disturbed by pain along the back of the gluteal region, which necessarily radiates along the back of the thigh and, depending on the severity, can reach the popliteal region. After sitting, pain tends to get worse (especially when driving) and decrease after getting up and walking for a short time. In addition, the pain may worsen with long standing or long walking. With a spasm of the piriformis muscle, the patient usually does not lame, it can begin only with severe pain syndrome, when it just hurts to move the leg;

Sacroiliac periarthrosis syndrome is manifested by pain in the lower lumbar spine (not only the spine), usually as a transverse “painful band” that includes the upper half of the sacrum.Aching pain, sometimes resembles articular;

coccygodynia is characterized by recurrent aching pain, which is localized in the coccyx region. The pain increases with prolonged sitting (especially on a hard chair), with hard physical work and during menstruation. In more than half of cases, pain radiates to the sacrum, rectum, perineum, and also to the right or left thigh. Sometimes it is difficult to raise the legs. In women, it is observed 2.5 times more often than in men;

Periarthritis hip syndrome (pericoxarthritis) develops first in the connective tissue near the hip joints, and then in the joint itself.In the initial period, pain is projected into the lower back, sacrum or groin, and sometimes into the ankle or heel. Some patients complain of increased fatigue when walking, they cannot run. In the future, it is not possible to squat down due to pain in the hip, there is difficulty in climbing a high step;

peroneal nerve canal syndrome. Patients are worried about aching unsharp pain in the middle and lower part of the leg and along the outer-upper edge of the foot. More often there is numbness of the skin on the outer surface of the lower leg, less often along the outer edge of the foot.The pain is profound and sometimes turns into itching. On examination, compaction and hypotrophy of the muscles on the lower leg, foci of neurofibriosis in the upper part of the muscle (dense plaques up to a penny in size) are determined. With exacerbation of lumbosacral radiculitis, the pain is localized in the antero-outer part of the lower leg, anew in the lower back;

calcano-achillodynia develops when the hernia of the roots of the fifth is compressed

lumbar and first sacral vertebrae. Patients complain of pain in the heel, occasionally pain in the Achilles tendon.Sometimes the pain gets worse at night. On examination, mild soreness in the calcaneus, slight thickening (swelling) and soreness of the Achilles tendon are determined. This syndrome can be similar to heel spurs.

Osteochondrosis of the fourth and fifth lumbar intervertebral discs is most often manifested. To carry out the correct treatment, an accurate diagnosis of the affected nerve root, partial or complete damage to those nerves that are formed from the roots of the lumbosacral plexus is necessary.

Further development of untreated osteochondrosis leads to compression and inflammation of the roots – radiculitis of the lumbosacral region begins. Radicular syndromes in case of damage to the roots of certain vertebrae, see the section “Lumbosacral radiculitis”.

In case of exacerbation of pain in the lumbar region, bed rest is prescribed for 3 days. To reduce pain, pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, voltaren, oxytene, xefocam, nimesulide, etc. ) are prescribed.), diuretics (furosemide), venotonics (aminophylline, troxevasin, anavenol), B vitamins, nicotinic acid, trental. Then walking with crutches to unload the spine, dry and underwater traction with weights can be prescribed. Paravertebral novocaine blockade and blockade with long-acting glucocorticoids (pain relief around painful vertebrae) are performed.

Physiotherapeutic treatment is prescribed (ultraviolet irradiation, diadynamic and sinusoidal currents, electrophoresis of medicinal substances, laser therapy).Physiotherapy is mandatory, and complexes have been developed both for the stage of exacerbation and after the acute pain subsides.

Spa treatment (radon, hydrogen sulphide, iodine-bromine baths in climatic resorts) gives a good effect.

Operations are prescribed if the patient fails to relieve pain by conservative methods for a long time, with the development of urination and defecation disorders, with paresis (weakened function) of the muscles of the lower extremities.The disc herniation is removed, the spinal segment is strengthened.

Physical education should be systematic and regular. Only in this case, you can count on the maximum positive effect. In this case, it is necessary to take into account your capabilities, state of health, level of fitness and recommendations of the attending physician.

Exercises to restore mobility of the lumbosacral spine:

– Kneeling, put your palms on the floor. Inhale and slowly raise the straightened right arm and left leg at the same time.Hold this pose for 5-7 seconds. Breathing is arbitrary. Do the same for the left arm and right leg.

Purpose of the exercise: to hold out in this position as long as possible, gradually bringing the time to 1-2 minutes.

– Kneel by the chair, put outstretched arms on the seat. Take a deep breath, draw in your abdominal muscles and arch your back. Exhale, relax, arch your back. Perform 8-10 times.

– Kneel down, rest your palms on the floor. Inhale and slowly, without taking your hands off

floor, turn the body to the right.Exhale, return to starting position. Repeat this exercise for the left side. As the stiffness decreases, increase the amplitude of the bends to the sides.

All these exercises help only if they are performed systematically, and not once from time to time!

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Treatment of crunch in the lower back in Kurkino

Do you often feel crunching and clicking in your lower back? Do you feel like your back is literally falling off? This symptom is a warning sign of the development of a certain disease.

Experts at the Freedom of Movement Medical Center will help determine the exact causes of crunching and clicking in the lumbar spine. There is no need to endure pain, which, in the absence of qualified assistance, will only grow.

The main causes of crunching and clicks in the spine

The characteristic sounds appear as follows: there is a small gap between the surfaces of the joint and the vertebra, where the synovial fluid is located. Thanks to this clearance, free movement of the spine and joint is ensured.Against the background of dystrophic changes, the pressure in the synovial fluid decreases, a characteristic crunch and clicks are heard.

Most common causes of clicks and crunching of the spine:

• protrusion – protrusion of the intervertebral disc beyond its healthy limits;
• herniated discs – provoke compression of the nerve roots, which puts pressure on the spinal cord in the lumbosacral region;
• curvature of the spine – sacral kyphosis or lordosis;
• osteochondrosis, when dystrophic changes occur in the tissues of the cartilage of the joints or intervertebral discs.

Symptoms accompanying a crunch in the spine

• aching type pain, which intensifies at night;
• muscle spasticity;
• reduction in muscle volume;
• increased pain symptoms during physical exertion;
• Shooting type pain syndrome.

When the lumbosacral region is affected, pains take hold of the sacrum area, can be given to the legs, the organs of the small pelvis.The most informative way to diagnose the causes of crunching and clicks in the spine is an MRI scan.

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Treatment of crunching and clicks in the lower back

For effective treatment of diseases that caused crunching and clicks of the spine in the lumbar spine, the following actions are recommended:

• massage;
• manual therapy;
• physiotherapy exercises;
• kinesiotherapy;
• physiotherapy exercises.

It is worth starting treatment with an appeal to the experienced specialists of the Freedom of Movement Medical Center. If you or your loved ones are worried about this problem, please contact us for advice by phone: +7 (495) 212-08-81. Experts operate with a set of unique author’s techniques, will help restore the stability of the spine and prevent recurrence of the disease in the future!

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