Whenever we develop a painful condition, many of us will almost immediately ask ourselves a few key questions. Why did this pain occur? What does it mean? When will it go away?
If we can’t answer these questions ourselves, we then tend to turn to Google or our healthcare providers for answers. So, in this post, we’ll talk about the common issue of pain on the side of the leg. After reading this post, you should have a better idea of why this pain occurs and what can be done to address it.
Causes of Leg Pain
Leg pain comes in many different types. For instance, you may experience leg pain due to sore muscles after you finish a difficult workout. Alternatively, you might have pain in the leg after someone bumped into you with their grocery cart while you were at the store.
But these causes of leg pain are fairly straightforward, and they tend to resolve on their own, without intervention. In fact, if you rest for even just a few days, these conditions will almost completely disappear, leaving you feeling as good as you did before you experienced them in the first place. In this section, we’ll take a look at a few common leg pain issues that have less clear causes and which tend to stick around for a long time.
Meralgia Paresthetica
Some people will develop numbness and pain on the outside of the leg with no clear cause. In some cases, this is due to an issue known as meralgia paresthetica, also known as lateral femoral cutaneous nerve entrapment.
The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve, unlike many other nerves, provides only sensory feedback to the brain. This means that this nerve is solely responsible for sensation, specifically on the outside of the leg. When it is pinched, or entrapped, it is unable to convey this info to the brain, often leading to pain, aching, and numbness on the outside of the thigh.
Generally, this condition occurs in pregnant women or people who are very overweight. The extra weight of the pannus, or the stomach, places excess stress on the nerve in question. Once the extra pressure is removed (when the baby is born or when the person loses weight), the symptoms will usually resolve quickly.
Sciatica
Sciatica refers to an issue with the sciatic nerve, the largest nerve in the body. This nerve runs from the low back down to the toes.
Interestingly, sciatica can present in many different ways. Some people with sciatica will experience low back pain, leg pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or simply pain on the outside of the leg.
Sciatica tends to respond well to specific forms of exercise and treatment options such as chiropractic care. By loosening up tight segments of the spine, chiropractors can often reduce the tension on this nerve, giving it room to heal. In turn, this leads to less pain and dysfunction over time.
Chiropractic Care for Pain on the Side of the Leg
Your chiropractor can help with virtually any cause of leg pain. By manipulating specific areas of the spine, these professionals loosen up stiff joints and muscles, allowing the spinal cord to better interact with the rest of the body. As a result, the injured areas in question are able to better recover.
Are you experiencing pain on the side of the leg? Is it nerve pain, aching pain, or something else entirely? No matter what kind of leg pain you’re experiencing, your chiropractor can help. The professionals at Keystone Chiropractic, the Noblesville chiropractors, are here for all of your health needs. Book your appointment with us now!
