When Leg Pain Requires Surgery: 3 Signs to Watch Out For

To many people, pain is just a fact of life. However, pain that interferes with your quality of life is not something you should simply accept. Leg pain can prove especially devastating as it can keep you from getting the exercise you need to stay healthy or even simply from walking where you need to go. However, it’s difficult for many people to identify when they have a minor, chronic problem or when there’s something more serious afoot. But if you ignore a more serious problem, you could be allowing greater damage to your leg.

When it comes to pain, it’s better to be overly cautious than overly lax. If you’re nervous about surgery, don’t let your fears stop you from speaking with a surgical specialist. It’s possible there are non-surgical options to manage your pain and keep any damage from progressing, but if you would really benefit from surgery, you need to know as soon as possible so you can prevent further damage and pain. Speak with a doctor is you suspect there’s something serious going on with your leg that might require surgery – and leave it to the experts to decide if that’s the best course of action for you.

Frequent Cramps

Cramps in your legs may be associated with a vascular problem in which your muscles aren’t receiving adequate blood flow. Blood, and the oxygen and nutrients it delivers, must be circulated for healthy, pain-free tissue. If your blood vessels are thick and rough instead of smooth, blood has more difficulty circulating throughout your body, and your legs, being quite far from your heart, may be the first area that experiences the cramps due to inadequate circulation. Over time, these cramps may be an indicator of permanent damage to your tissues and muscles. Angioplasty and stenting are two options your surgeon may recommend to improve the blood flow in your legs.

Non-Healing Wounds

If you injure yourself on your thigh, calf, ankle or foot and the wound seems to be taking an abnormally long time to heal, it could be because there isn’t enough blood flowing through your legs to properly form clots to heal your wound. If you’re already experiencing leg pain on a frequent basis, or any odd leg sensation, such as numbness and tingling, and you have a wound on the lower body that won’t heal, speak with a doctor or go straight to a surgeon specialist as soon as possible. Fast action is needed not only to avoid an infection and get the wound healing, but also to determine the underlying causes and improve the blood flow in your legs before there’s further damage.

Decreased Hair Growth

Paying attention to the hair on your legs might be the last thing on your mind when you’re experiencing frequent leg pain, but it can be another indicator of inadequate blood circulation. Watch for thinning leg hair, or if you shave your legs, pay attention to how quickly it takes to grow back and how thick it is when it does. If the hair is taking longer and is thinner, it may be a sign your leg pain is the result of a serious vascular condition.

After a few days or weeks or recovery, you’ll likely need physical therapy following leg surgery. However, while you’ll need to take it easy for a while, eventually, you’ll be able to walk, stand and sit pain-free. Surgery may be a last resort, but it’s often the most effective – or only way – to stop pain.

About the Author: Phil Raasch is a health and living blogger and a nurse from the Florida area. He recommends anyone experiencing leg pain find surgical health experts to discuss treatment.

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