Leg pain has a wide variety of causes, and many treatments are different depending on the cause of the pain. Make sure to talk to your doctor if you’re experiencing leg pain so that you can discover its cause. Here are some effective leg pain treatments you should look into.
RICE
RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. When your leg pain is caused by an injury, use an anti-inflammatory, over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen to reduce pain and swelling. Rest and elevate your leg. Provide compression with elastic bandages or immobilize the injury with a cast. Compression stockings can reduce the pain from varicose veins.
Acupuncture
You can use acupuncture to treat leg pain caused by neuropathy, a type of nerve damage with a wide variety of causes, including diabetes and chemotherapy for cancer. Acupuncturists believe that a type of vital energy called Qi travels through everyone. By inserting thin needles into different areas of the body, they try to stimulate Qi and bring it into balance. Researchers have found that this treatment is effective, but they’re still not sure how it works. However, the Chinese have used it successfully for thousands of years.
Lifestyle Changes
Lifestyle changes like diet and exercise can help with the causes of leg pain by improving your overall health. For example, obesity puts pressure on the legs, which can cause joint pain, diabetes and varicose veins. You can also reduce pain by avoiding standing for long periods of time. Elevating your legs when sleeping or resting can also help with many conditions.
Laser Treatments
Doctors, like those from Anchorage, can use a laser to treat varicose veins by damaging them, causing scar tissue to form and close painful veins. Simple laser vein treatments take care of spider veins and varicose veins just under your skin. Most people need more than one treatment, and doctors usually schedule them every 6 to 12 weeks. Veins take time to heal, so they won’t disappear completely for about a year. However, you can go back to your normal routine immediately.
Endovenous laser treatment treats larger varicose veins with a laser fiber that’s passed through a thin tube or catheter into the vein. It’s less painful than surgery, and only local anesthesia or a light sedative is needed. Most people don’t need a second treatment and see great results.
Capsaicin
Capsaicin is a chemical in chili peppers that works by temporarily disabling the nerves that send pain signals. Patches and creams are available over-the-counter, and your doctor can give you a prescription with a higher concentration of capsaicin for more severe pain.
Remember that everyone is different. You may need to try more than one of these useful treatments to reduce your leg pain. Your doctor can help you find the best treatment for you.
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