My legs hurt like they were in pain

Feeling pain should not be normal or something to endure with stoicism. Nor if it is felt in the legs and appears in a way similar to soreness. In most cases, it responds to physical activity of greater intensity than usual, although there are a variety of alternative causes that must be analyzed to apply the indicated treatment for each case.

Causes of muscle pain in legs: before and after training

Prior to analyzing the source of the pain on your own, it is advisable to see a medical professional and undergo the relevant diagnostic tests. However, there is a key parameter to differentiate the causes of discomfort: whether they occur before or after exercising.

Muscle overload

When the threshold of activity that the muscles are prepared to withstand is exceeded, one can suffer from overload. In this case, in addition to pain, you may notice stiffness in the affected muscle. If it is the first time that these symptoms appear, a total or active rest of 4 or 5 days, which can be complemented with massages and physiological creams, is enough to recover.

Laces

As already mentioned, high intensity training can damage muscle fibers, allowing the muscle to grow when these fibers recover. This process causes a feeling of soreness, which carries no risk to physical health and can be reversed with simple active rest.

Muscle contracture

For the same reasons as overload and soreness, a muscle contracture may appear. It is an involuntary contraction of the muscle that generates pain, inflammation and difficulty in mobility in the area while it remains. Sometimes, it can affect the surrounding muscle area and, if it occurs in a superficial area, it can express itself in the form of a lump.

Lack of minerals

Until now, underlying causes of training and physical activity have been mentioned. Although, there are also chemical causes, such as nutritional deficiencies. Insufficient levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium or sodium directly affect the muscle recovery and cause muscle cramps. A varied and healthy diet is the best ally to avoid a lack of minerals.

Muscle injury

It is one of the worst assumptions: muscle injury. The stinging sensation is a clear indicator of an injury, such as a muscle tear, and the severity will depend on the extent of the fracture. It is especially advisable to go to the physiotherapist and start the corresponding treatment. Unlike an overload, a superficial break can be noticed in the form of a groove.

Poor blood circulation

Lack of exercise or genetic problems can cause blood to return to the heart from the legs with difficulty. If the problem is not addressed in time and the circulation in the legs, you can suffer from pathologies such as varicose veins or, in the worst case, a venous thrombosis that can lead to a pulmonary embolism, even fatal. In the initial stages, poor blood circulation is expressed with a feeling of heaviness and swelling similar to soreness.

Reasons for leg pain without training

Poor blood circulation is only one example of the possible causes of leg pain unrelated to physical training. These causes are very varied and require evaluation by a medical specialist, since the symptoms can be more serious.

• In children and adolescents, due to bone growth.
• Arthritis or osteoarthritis.
• Pain in sciatica.
• Myositis, inflammation of the muscles.
• Tenosynovitis, inflammation of the lining of the sheath surrounding the tendon.
• Thigh abscess.
• Alterations in the spine, such as stenosis, spondylolisthesis or herniated disc.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Mononucleosis.
• Flu.
• Lyme disease.

What should I do if my legs hurt as if they were in pain?

When the sensation of pain similar to soreness persists for more than a week, it is necessary to see a doctor. Above all, if it prevents or creates difficulties in exercising or even walking. The health professional will determine what diagnostic tests should be performed and will be able to determine the treatment to follow. Beforehand, to rule out simple soreness, it is advisable to apply cold to the area. If the pain does not reduce considerably, it is not soreness.