Doctors often hear from patients that their lower leg is swollen, 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. With regards to the name of the lower part of the leg - the foot. Slightly higher is the ankle. If you experience numbness, itching or swelling in this area, it is recommended to consult a therapist. This is a generalist who will help determine the nature of the discomfort in the lower leg. The foot can be disturbing for many reasons. The most likely ones are described below.
Neuropathy
This term refers to a pathological process characterized by disruption of nerve cells. The most common causes of neuropathy in the lower leg are:
- Intoxication of the body caused by poisoning with drugs or toxic compounds.
- Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Various kinds of injuries that were not healed in the past.
- Hypercooling.
- Metabolic disorder.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Pathologies of an infectious nature.
- Multiple sclerosis.
If the lower part of the leg goes 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 increases at night.
- Decrease in sensitivity, up to its complete loss. The patient may not feel anything while touching the skin of the foot.
Numbness in the lower leg can be either partial or complete. If this symptom occurs, you should consult a doctor. It is important to know that pathology is easily treatable only at an early stage of development.
The treatment regimen for a disease directly depends on the root cause of the disease. But medical treatment is always complemented by massage, exercise therapy and reflexology.
Osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine
In persons with this pathology, the lower part of the legs becomes permanently numb. In some cases, paresthesias are localized only in the fingers, mainly in the little finger.
In osteochondrosis of the lumbar spine, numbness is the result of compression of nerve fibers. In this case, immediately after waking up, discomfort, as a rule, is absent. It appears after a few hours, and over time, its intensity increases. By evening, the sensitivity of the feet may disappear completely.
How to understand that numbness is caused by osteochondrosis? The specific symptom is a normal pulse measured at the ankle arteries and no blanching of the skin.
Treatment of pathology involves taking medication, taking a course of physiotherapy, as well as adjusting the diet and diet. Ignoring an unpleasant symptom does not pose a danger to life, but against the background of numbness, muscle cramps are often disturbing.
Atherosclerosis
This is a disease that is accompanied by a narrowing of the lumen of the blood vessels. On the walls of the latter there is a deposition of atherosclerotic plaques, consisting of "bad" cholesterol. If the focus of the pathology is located in the abdominal region or the femoral artery, swelling of the lower legs occurs.
In the first case, at the initial stage of development, the disease 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 the meal.
- Meteorism.
- Constipation or, conversely, diarrhea.
- Disturbance of appetite (up to its loss).
- Weight loss.
- Hypertension.
- Kidney failure.
- Not only the feet are swollen, but also the face.
Femoral artery atherosclerosis is characterized by the following symptoms:
- Intermittent claudication.
- No pulse in the ankle.
- Thinning of the skin. Under it, you can easily see the capillaries.
- The condition of nails worsens.
- 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 warning signs can lead to gangrene.
The main reasons for the development of pathology are the following factors:
- Genetic predisposition.
- A lifestyle that does not imply physical activity.
- Pathologies of the endocrine system.
- Unbalanced diet.
- Violation of the functioning of the nervous system.
- Smoking.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- High blood pressure.
Treatment is aimed at lowering the level of "bad" cholesterol in the blood. The patient needs not only to take medication, but also to give up established habits, that is, not to smoke and eat in accordance with the requirements of a he althy lifestyle.
Diabetes
This is an incurable pathology that can lead to various complications. Foot numbness is one of them. Why does it occur? Blood vessels experience increased stress and cannot deliver the necessary amount of oxygen and nutrients to the lower extremities. ExceptIn addition, the death of nerve cells occurs 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 influence the rate of disease progression:
- A lifestyle that does not imply physical activity.
- Excessive sweating around feet.
- Pathologies of the joints and bones of the lower leg.
- Diseases of the blood vessels.
- All kinds of injuries.
- Wearing too tight shoes.
- Flat feet.
To relieve the patient from numbness in the lower legs, doctors prescribe vitamins, anticonvulsants, as well as a course of physiotherapy.
Onychomycosis
This term refers to a pathological process in which the nail plates and skin 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.
- Using the same household items. Intrafamilial infections are often diagnosed after all members step on the same bathroom rug, for example.
Contributes to the infection weakened immune system. In addition, the body's defenses may not be able to cope with their task in the presence of other pathologies.
Symptoms of foot onychomycosis:
- Skin peeling.
- Change in the color of the affected nail.
- Severe itching.
Treatment involves antifungal therapy.
Scabies
The causative agent of pathology is a tick. It is quite easy to become infected with scabies, it is enough to 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 pathology is localized on the foot, the lower part of the leg itches very much. At the same time, the itching is so unbearable that the patient begins to injure the skin in an attempt to get rid of the painful symptom. Over time, you may notice small furrows and rashes.
Treatment of pathology is the local use of anti-scabies. Regardless of the location of the focus of pathology, they must be applied to the entire body.
Dyshidrosis
This is a disease of a non-infectious nature, the course of which is accompanied by the appearance of blisters filled with pathological fluid under the skin of the feet. At the initial stage of the development of the pathology, the rash is often absent, there is only itching, but it is so unbearable that the patient scratches the soles.
As time goes by, more and more bubbles form under the skin. They subsequently burst, and weeping ulcers remain in their place. Then they disappear too. The skin flakes, thickens, becomes rough and cracked.
Causes of plantar dyshidrosis:
- Pathologies of the thyroid gland.
- Food allergy.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Stress.
Treatment of pathology involves taking antihistamines and local use of glucocorticosteroids.
Physiological factors
Sometimes itching, numbness and swelling of the lower legs are not signs of this or that disease. Discomfort can also occur for the following reasons:
- Staying in one position for a long time.
- Tired after walking in high heel shoes.
- Hypocooling of the feet.
- Lack of vitamins, macro- and microelements in the body.
In addition, unpleasant symptoms often occur during pregnancy.
In conclusion
Swelling, itching or numbness in the lower legs are uncomfortable sensations 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 speci alties.
