Many people are familiar with an unpleasant situation when in the morning after sleep, pain is felt in the legs. In this case, the person will feel sleepy and full of strength.
When pains of this kind appear after a tiring day of work, long walks - this is natural. And what are the causes of pain in the legs after sleep and whether it is necessary to do something with it, only the doctor knows.
Causes of the phenomenon
Why not legs hurt after sleep, not everyone knows. Unpleasant sensations after awakening are associated with external or internal causes. The first include injuries, uncomfortable posture during sleep, excessive physical strain, uncomfortable shoes, or prolonged standing.
Internal causes include impaired circulation, overweight, pinched nerve endings, infectious diseases, and tissue inflammation.
The appearance of unpleasant pain can also be associated with diseases of internal organs or systems. In such a situation, it is necessary to seek medical help as soon as possible.
Pain in the calves, feet can be harbingers:
- rheumatism;
- arthrosis;
- arthritis;
- osteoporosis;
- varicose veins;
- fasciitis.
Such diseases during wakefulness may not show any signs. But after a long rest, when the body relaxes as much as possible, the pain worsens. Other signs of the disease may be present, such as swelling.
If the pain is felt in the calf muscles, then this may indicate pathologies of the cardiovascular system, blood stasis. As the blood flow becomes more active in the morning, the pain intensifies, signaling the presence of a problem.
Blood stasis is most often associated with physical inactivity. If a person spends a long time in a sitting position, the body does not have enough oxygen. Because of this, a lot of harmful substances are concentrated in the blood, which leads not only to the appearance of pain, but also to other unpleasant symptoms.
Why legs hurt after sleep, everyone needs to know. Unpleasant sensations in the calf area may indicate the presence of such diseases:
- hernia;
- scoliosis;
- displacement of the vertebral discs.
A burning sensation in the toe area can signal vascular related problems. In women, pain in this area often occurs due to wearing uncomfortable shoes.
If unpleasant sensations occur only in the foot, then this may be a sign of circulatory disturbance, nerve damage or gout. Heel pain often occurs with flat feet. In addition, this will signal the presence of an inflammatory process in the muscles - plantar fasciitis. Pain in the feet may be associated with osteoporosis. In this way, the body can signal the excess weight of the host.
Such symptoms manifest themselves in many ways and it is only by sensations that it is difficult to determine the disease causing them. This is the prerogative of the doctor.
Signs of various diseases
Since unpleasant sensations in the legs after awakening can be harbingers of many diseases, it is necessary to consider the main ones.
If your legs hurt after sleep, the causes may be as follows.
Varicose veins
Women are most susceptible to this disease and pathology is manifested by severe pain in the legs after sleep. Cramps are possible at night.
Veins will be visible on the skin, transforming into painful cords of a violet hue. The greatest danger is varicose veins of the deep veins, since in the initial stages it is difficult to diagnose. In addition, leg muscles ache after sleep, burning sensation in the extremities and other unpleasant sensations can occur.
If the disease is detected at the beginning of development, then, as a rule, conservative treatment will be sufficient. In later stages, surgery is likely to be required.
Arthritis
The reason your feet hurt after sleep can be arthritis. With this disease, both large joints (thigh, ankle, knee) and small feet and fingers can be affected. Pain most often appears in the morning or after a heavy load. Even after resting, these unpleasant symptoms do not go away.
The temperature may also rise, as the joints are sore. Perhaps redness of the skin. In a severe or advanced case, joint deformation will begin. If your legs hurt after sleep, but you need to disperse in order for the unpleasant signs to go away, then this is just talking about arthritis beginning.
Treatment must be carried out in a timely manner at the beginning of the development of the disease. So it will be possible to get rid of the disease using conservative methods: painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs. In the advanced stage, it may be necessary to replace the joint with a prosthesis.
Rheumatism
This disease is also the reason why the legs may feel discomfort in the form of pain in the legs. It is considered quite dangerous, since not only joints, but also internal organs are affected.
The greatest burden falls on the heart. The disease develops against a background of streptococcal infection - a transferred sore throat.
With rheumatism, severe inflammation of the joints occurs. In addition to pain, there is swelling, pain during palpation. The change occurs on the ECG, which indicates that there is a malfunction in the work of the heart muscle.
The danger of rheumatism is associated with its complications. It is difficult to treat. Treatment should be started as early as possible in the hospital.
Osteoporosis
This disease is also the reason that the heels of the legs hurt in the legs after sleep. Pathology most often develops in women during the menopause. Since the body lacks hormones, changes in the structure of bone tissue occur, and its density decreases.
The danger of the disease consists in frequent fractures, healing with difficulty. Radiography will help to identify the disease. And to determine how much tissue density has decreased, densitometry is recommended.
Tendinitis
With this disease, calves of the legs hurt after sleep. Tendonitis is an inflammation of the tendons. It develops with injuries, infections, impaired immune systems, local inflammatory processes.
Symptoms will be as follows:
- redness;
- swelling;
- pain
- degenerative tissue damage;
- crunching, cracking while trying to move a foot.
If the disease is detected in a timely manner and treatment is started on time, then using only conservative methods, a complete restoration of the tendons is possible. With the advanced form, surgical intervention is required.
Heel spur
With it, there may also be discomfort in the legs after sleep. The most common problem appears in older people. The main causes of occurrence: flat feet, excessive load on the feet, traumatic injury. Symptoms: unbearable heel pain. They can appear at any time of the day.
To diagnose the disease using radiography. In the treatment, surgical methods are used, since with the help of conservative therapy it is impossible to get rid of the growth.
Fasciitis
Pain will bother the heel. The causes of unpleasant sensations, as a rule, are two: overweight and uncomfortable shoes.
Injuries
They also cause unpleasant sensations in the limbs, and the feet also hurt after sleep. This is typical not only for adults, but also for children. Injuries can be different: bruises, sprains, tears. If injuries to joints or tendons are suspected, consult a doctor.
First aid for trauma: apply ice to a sore spot and take an anesthetic. Treatment is usually carried out at home using conservative methods. Only in exceptional cases is an operation necessary.
Why legs hurt after sleep in a child
The main cause of pain is associated with the so-called growth syndrome that occurs at the age of 4-7 years. During this period, the bones and ligaments of children grow unevenly, not keeping up one after another.
They press on the capsule of the joints and discomfort occurs. If pain is associated with this symptom, then they most often appear in the shin, calf and ankle joints. There will be no temperature and lethargy.
If the disturbing joint turns red, it is painful for the baby to move his leg, a rash appears and symptoms of intoxication of the body are noticeable, it is urgent to show the baby to the doctor. If there are no noticeable signs of the disease, the baby feels well, then it is worth calming down not only to the parents, but also to the baby. You can stroke a sore leg, make a light massage. Make the child a warm bath by adding sea salt or foam with a relaxing aroma if there is no allergy.
If the pain is very worrying, and the child cannot calm down, it is recommended to use ibuprofen-based ointments.
A child during a period of intensive growth can be helped using these recommendations:
- Revise your daily routine. Important rest.
- More often to be in the fresh air.
- Moderate physical activity.
- In the diet, increase the amount of fresh fruits, vegetables and dairy products.
- Maintaining a friendly atmosphere in the family.
Also, the situation when a child has a sore leg after sleep in the morning can occur for other reasons:
- Orthopedic pathology. Violation of posture, scoliosis, flat feet, congenital pathologies of the hip joints. Since there is a shift in the center of gravity, the maximum pressure falls on the legs.
- Chronic foci of infection: caries, adenoiditis, tonsillitis.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- Endocrine pathologies: diabetes mellitus, adrenal gland diseases.
- Blood diseases:
- Tuberculosis.
- Cardiopsychoneurosis. At the same time, headaches, discomfort of the heart area, a feeling of lack of air will also be present.
- Congenital pathology of the cardiovascular system.
- Anomaly of connective tissue. Children with such abnormalities can be sick with varicose veins, scoliosis, flat feet, curved posture.
- Injuries, bruises.
- Leukemia.
- Still's disease.
When the baby’s legs hurt in the morning, the child should be shown to a pediatrician, hematologist, neurologist and orthopedic traumatologist.
Which doctor to contact
First of all, it should be determined what caused the appearance of unpleasant pain in the legs after sleep. Based on this, it will be clear which specialist will be able to help in this situation and send for the necessary examination.
If there is a problem, and there is no answer to the question of why the legs hurt in the morning after sleep, then the situation may be associated with rheumatism. You should contact a rheumatologist, family doctor, vertebrologist, cardiologist.
Arthritis, arthrosis, osteoporosis are treated by orthopedists, traumatologists and rheumatologists. The first experts also carry out the therapy of fasciitis.
The problems associated with varicose veins can be eliminated by phlebologists or surgeons.
Alternative methods of treatment
If pain in the legs after repeatedly occur, you can use the recipes of traditional medicine:
- Rubbing the legs with chestnut tincture. The course of treatment is 2 weeks. It’s easy to cook. You need to take 50 g of chopped chestnut and pour it with 500 ml of vodka. Insist for 2-3 weeks in a dark place and then begin to use as directed.
- Broth of linden and mint. Can be added to the foot bath. A liter of hot water will need 15-20 g of linden and a few mint leaves. This procedure is also effective for varicose veins. It can be carried out daily.
- Compress with ice relieves puffiness. Pieces of ice should be wrapped in a towel and a compress applied for several minutes to the affected area.
- Homemade balm. For its preparation you will need 30 ml of vegetable oil, 10 drops of peppermint, eucalyptus, lemon or tea tree oil. All components should be mixed thoroughly. Apply the product to the affected area 2 times a day with light massaging movements.
- Honey compress. For him, it is necessary to melt the honey in a water bath. The resulting fluid is spread on the legs and wrapped tightly. It is advisable not to remove such a compress all day.
Prevention
Sports in which there are exercises for the legs will help prevent the appearance of such unpleasant symptoms. Such varieties include swimming, ice skating, skiing, cycling, long walks. Such physical activity will help maintain the muscles of the legs in good shape and, accordingly, will prevent the appearance of pain in the legs after sleep.
To prepare joints and muscles for an active day, it is enough to do a 15-minute gymnastics for legs after waking up.
Massage is an excellent preventive method. It is convenient to do in the evening, which will relieve fatigue in the legs and relax. Baths with the addition of essential oils will also be useful and effective.
Baths with sea salt are effective for relaxing your legs. At the bottom of the tank, a layer of river pebbles can be laid and massaging movements as if rolling stones in feet. This simple way will normalize blood circulation.
Conclusion
If you experience pain in the legs after sleep, you should consult a doctor, since such sensations can indicate serious diseases, especially if the pain syndrome manifests itself repeatedly. You should not expect when the pain goes away on its own, however, as self-medication is also unacceptable.
Only a qualified specialist will be able to determine the true cause of the ailment, make the necessary appointments. If in the legs after sleep appear in a child, it is important to monitor the condition of the baby and, in the slightest doubt, consult a doctor. In no case should you ignore such a state.