Doctors often hear from patients that their lower leg is swelling, numb or itchy. These conditions can develop under the influence of a large number of provoking factors. In some cases, they indicate the development of a pathological process in the body. Regarding the name of the lower leg - the foot. Ankle is located a little higher. If numbness, itching, or swelling occurs in this area, it is recommended to consult a therapist. This is a specialist of a wide profile who will help establish the nature of the discomfort in the lower leg. A foot can be disturbing for many reasons. The most likely ones are described below.
Neuropathy
This term refers to a pathological process characterized by a malfunction of nerve cells. The most common causes of lower leg neuropathy:
- Intoxication of the body caused by poisoning with drugs or toxic compounds.
- Frequent use of alcohol-containing drinks.
- Diabetes.
- Various types of injuries that were not cured in the past.
- Hypothermia.
- Metabolic disorder.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Pathologies of an infectious nature.
- Multiple sclerosis.
If the lower part of the leg is numb, you need to listen to your body. The following symptoms indicate the presence of foot neuropathy:
- Painful sensations. In the daytime, they are not pronounced, their intensity intensifies at night.
- Decrease in sensitivity, up to its complete loss. The patient may not feel anything while touching the skin of the foot.
Numbness of the lower leg can be either partial or complete. If this symptom occurs, consult a doctor. It is important to know that pathology is easily treatable only at an early stage of development.
The treatment regimen of the disease directly depends on the root cause of the disease. But drug treatment is always supplemented by massage, exercise therapy and reflexology.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar
In persons with this pathology, the lower part of the legs is constantly numb. In some cases, paresthesia is localized only in the fingers, mainly in the little finger.
With osteochondrosis of the lumbar numbness is a consequence of compression of nerve fibers. Moreover, immediately after waking up, discomfort is usually absent. It appears after a few hours, and over time its intensity intensifies. By evening, the sensitivity of the feet may completely disappear.
How to understand that numbness is caused by osteochondrosis? A specific symptom is a normal pulse, measured on the ankle arteries, and the absence of blanching of the skin.
Treatment of pathology involves taking medication, undergoing a course of physiotherapy, as well as adjusting the diet and diet. Ignoring an unpleasant symptom for life is not a danger, but against the background of numbness, muscle cramps are often disturbing.
Atherosclerosis
This disease, the course of which is accompanied by a narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessels. Atherosclerotic plaques consisting of “bad” cholesterol are deposited on the walls of the latter. If the focus of the pathology is in the abdominal or femoral artery, swelling of the lower legs occurs.
In the first case, at the initial stage of development, the ailment is not accompanied by severe symptoms. As the disease progresses, the following clinical manifestations occur:
- Pain in the abdomen. They are spilled and appear shortly after a meal.
- Flatulence.
- Constipation or, conversely, diarrhea.
- Violation of appetite (up to its loss).
- Weight loss.
- Hypertension.
- Renal failure.
- Swell not only the feet, but also the face.
The following symptoms are characteristic of atherosclerosis of the femoral artery:
- Intermittent claudication.
- Lack of pulse in the ankle.
- Thinning of the skin. Under it, you can easily see the capillaries.
- The condition of the nails is getting worse.
- Swelling of the foot and ankle. In severe cases, it can rise to the hip joint. The swelling is soft and cool to the touch.
- Headache.
Ignoring anxiety symptoms can lead to gangrene.
The main reasons for the development of pathology are the following factors:
- Genetic predisposition.
- A lifestyle that does not imply motor activity.
- Pathology of the endocrine system.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Impaired functioning of the nervous system.
- Smoking.
- Diabetes.
- Increased blood pressure.
Treatment is aimed at lowering the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood. The patient needs not only to take medicines, but also to abandon established habits, that is, not to smoke and eat in accordance with the requirements of a healthy lifestyle.
Diabetes
This is an incurable pathology that can lead to various kinds of complications. Numbness of the feet is one of them. Why does it arise? Blood vessels experience an increased load and cannot deliver the necessary amount of oxygen and nutrients to the lower extremities. In addition, nerve cells die and, accordingly, the transmission of impulses stops. Against the background of these processes, the sensitivity of the foot decreases.
First, the toes go numb, then the entire ankle. The following factors affect the rate of progression of the disease:
- A lifestyle that does not imply motor activity.
- Excessive sweating in the feet.
- Pathologies of joints and bones of the lower leg.
- Diseases of the blood vessels.
- Various kinds of injuries.
- Wearing too tight shoes.
- Flat feet.
To relieve the patient from numbness in the lower legs, doctors prescribe vitamins, anticonvulsants, and a course of physiotherapy.
Onychomycosis
This term refers to a pathological process in which the nail plates and skin integuments are involved. Itching of the lower legs is the earliest symptom of the disease.
The main causes of the development of pathology:
- Visiting public places (for example, saunas or baths), walking in them without shoes.
- Use of the same household items. Intra-family infections are often diagnosed after all members, for example, step on the same bath mat.
Contributes to infection weakened immunity. In addition, the body's defenses may not cope with its task in the presence of other pathologies.
Symptoms of onychomycosis of the feet:
- Peeling of the skin.
- Discoloration of the affected nail.
- Severe itching.
Treatment involves antifungal therapy.
Scabies
The causative agent of pathology is a tick. It is quite easy to get scabies, just put on the patient’s shoes or walk barefoot on the floor where the pathogen remains. In addition, using other people's towels is also unsafe.
If the focus of the pathology is localized on the foot, the lower part of the leg itches very strongly. The itching is so unbearable that the patient begins to injure the skin in attempts to get rid of the painful symptom. Over time, you can notice small grooves and rashes.
Treatment of pathology is the local use of anti-scabies. Regardless of the localization of the focus of the pathology, they must be applied to the whole body.
Dyshidrosis
This disease is non-infectious in nature, the course of which is accompanied by the appearance under the skin of the feet of the vesicles filled with pathological fluid. At the initial stage of the development of pathology, the rash is often absent, there is only an itch, but it is so unbearable that the patient combs the soles.
Over time, more and more bubbles form under the skin. They subsequently burst, and in their place remain ulcers. Then they disappear. The skin peels, thickens, becomes rough, cracks form on it.
Causes of plantar dyshidrosis:
- Pathology of the thyroid gland.
- Food allergy.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Stress.
Treatment of pathology involves the use of antihistamines and local use of glucocorticosteroids.
Physiological factors
Sometimes itching, numbness and swelling of the lower legs are not signs of a disease. Discomfort can occur for the following reasons:
- Long stay in one position.
- Fatigue after walking on high-heeled shoes.
- Hypothermia of the legs.
- Deficiency in the body of vitamins, macro- and microelements.
In addition, unpleasant symptoms often occur during pregnancy.
Finally
Swelling, itching, or numbness of the lower legs is an uncomfortable sensation that can occur for many reasons. The most likely are the following: neuropathy, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, dyshidrosis, osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, scabies and onychomycosis. Physiological factors cannot be ruled out. For an accurate diagnosis, it is recommended to consult a therapist. This specialist will carry out diagnostic measures, find out the nature of the disease and refer, if necessary, to doctors of other specialties.