Legs hurt during menstruation, usually due to changes in the hormonal levels of the female body during this period. The cause may also be vegetative-vascular disorders. Having determined the provoking factor of discomfort, the doctor will prescribe an adequate treatment regimen.
How long have you had this pain syndrome?
- Several days (26%, 1,057)
- First day (21%, 865 Votes)
- Several months (13%, 514)
- Week (10%, 414)
- Several weeks (9%, 384)
- About a month (8%, 344)
- Chronic form (6%, 256)
- About a year (6%, 227)
Total voters: 4 062
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Consult a doctor!
The site provides reference information . Adequate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is possible under the supervision of a conscientious doctor . Any medications have contraindications. Consultation with a specialist and detailed study of the instructions is necessary! Be sure to make an appointment with your doctor .
Causes
Menstruation indicates the readiness of a woman’s body to conceive a child. In the most favorable case, they begin almost unnoticeably. But this does not always happen. Many women have to go through quite unpleasant moments, including leg pain. Sometimes this fits within the framework of physiological processes based on hormonal changes, and there are other situations associated with deviations from the norm. The latter include:
- Algodismenorrhea.
- Inflammatory diseases.
- Pathology of the venous system.
- Polyneuropathy.
- Joint diseases.
Pain in the lower extremities is directly related to menstruation or is observed in parallel, being a sign of concomitant pathology. Each case is individual, and only a doctor can determine the origin of unpleasant symptoms.
If your legs hurt during or before menstruation, you should consult a specialist. The reason should be sought in hormonal, vascular or other changes in the body.
Prevention
Prevention measures include:
You should definitely watch your excess weight. There is no need to adhere to strict diets, but nevertheless the diet should be balanced.
It is recommended to give up smoking, alcohol, and not drink coffee and tea in large quantities. Before the onset of menstruation, you should reduce the amount of fluid you take so as not to provoke swelling.
Symptoms
Any deviations in the state of the body must be identified with the identification of the main signs and provoking factors. It is the subjective symptoms that occur during menstruation that cause a lot of suffering to women. Pain in the legs may have the following characteristics:
- Aching, pulling, squeezing.
- Weak, moderate or quite strong.
- Localized in the thighs or lower legs, along the back or front surface.
- Disturbs periodically or almost constantly.
- They appear at various intervals: during menstruation, before or after menstruation.
- They intensify with walking and exercise, or have no connection with external factors.
But you should pay attention to other symptoms that may be present in a woman and can help in determining the cause of pain in the lower extremities.
Physiological processes
Sometimes even a completely healthy woman can have pain in her legs. This is due to hormonal changes that occur during menstruation. In the middle of the cycle, the level of progesterone increases, which dilates the vessels of the uterus, affecting other organs. In particular, the veins of the pelvis and lower extremities are susceptible to it. As they expand, they accommodate more blood, which can cause heaviness in the legs and swelling.
Pain in the lower extremities sometimes accompanies the establishment of the menstrual cycle in girls during puberty. In this case, there is an imbalance between the growth of the musculoskeletal system and reproductive function, which affects the blood supply and innervation of the tissues of the pelvis and lower extremities. But with the establishment of menstruation and regular sexual activity, the pain goes away.
When wondering about the cause of pain in the legs associated with menstruation, one must first consider the possibility of physiological changes in the woman’s body.
Algomenorrhea
A menstrual disorder characterized by painful periods is called algodismenorrhea. It can develop primarily (functional) or against the background of anatomical changes in the genital organs. But despite the origin, the complex of symptoms will be the same:
- Pain in the lower abdomen of a cramping nature.
- Unpleasant sensations spread to the lower back, groin area and thighs.
- Headaches and dizziness.
- Bloating, nausea and even vomiting.
- General weakness, irritability.
Algomenorrhea can lead to decreased ability to work and significantly reduce the quality of life. Therefore, it is not only a medical, but also a social problem.
Inflammatory diseases
Quite often, the menstrual cycle is disrupted due to inflammatory diseases that affect a woman’s genital area. The most common pathology of the uterine appendages is adnexitis (salpingo-oophoritis). At first, the disease develops as an acute process, but subsequently becomes chronic. In this case, you will be bothered by pain in the lower abdomen, which radiates to the legs or lumbar region. Physiological discharge may change and discomfort may be felt during sexual intercourse.
If inflammation is left untreated for a long time, it provokes the proliferation of connective tissue and the appearance of adhesions in the fallopian tubes, which can cause infertility.
Pathology of the venous system
Considering the influence of female sex hormones on the vascular wall, it can be assumed that pain in the legs associated with menstruation is a sign of venous insufficiency and impaired blood outflow. This often occurs with varicose veins or thrombophlebitis of the lower extremities. And women have to deal with the following symptoms:
- Heaviness in the legs, worse in the evening.
- Swelling of the legs and feet.
- Visible expansion of superficial veins, the appearance of “nodes”.
- Trophic changes in the skin.
Thrombophlebitis is characterized by inflammation of the vein wall, which means that the pain will be much more pronounced, and a strip of redness will become visible on the skin. In the same place you can feel a dense cord - this is the affected vessel.
Polyneuropathy
Sometimes it happens that your legs hurt not only during menstruation, but also at other times. Then you should look for reasons that have no connection with the menstrual cycle. Similar conditions include polyneuropathy, which is a common pathology in patients with endocrine-metabolic diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, etc.). First, the distal (lower) parts of the limbs are affected, and then the process rises higher. In addition to persistent and rather intense pain in the legs, there are other neurological symptoms:
- Skin numbness, tingling, burning, “pins and needles.”
- Decreased sensitivity.
- Changes in reflex reactions.
- Muscle weakness.
During the examination, the doctor pays attention not only to the manifestations of neuropathy, but also takes into account the signs of the underlying disease.
Joint diseases
Pathology of the joints of the lower extremities can occur in women at any age. Even degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis, often develop during the reproductive period of life. And pain in the legs sometimes coincides with menstruation. But at the same time they are associated with movements and physical activity. In addition, the clinical picture will include other symptoms indicating pathology of the musculoskeletal system:
- Swelling and redness of the skin over the joints.
- Limitation of movement in the knee or hip area.
- Joint pain on palpation.
Thus, if your legs hurt during menstruation, you need to undergo a medical examination. The doctor will determine why pain occurs in a particular patient. It is possible that this discomfort is temporary, as it is associated with physiological processes. But we cannot exclude other causes that are within the framework of pathological disorders that require timely detection.
Many people can experience pain and discomfort in their legs. This process can be periodic or continuous. There are many reasons that cause pain in the lower extremities. One of the factors influencing the occurrence of pain in the legs is hormonal changes in a woman’s body during her life. Why women? Because, according to their reproductive function, the body goes through a menstrual cycle every month, during which different changes and sensations are observed.
Why do your legs hurt during your period: causes of pain in the joints and veins
For many women, menstruation is accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and lower back. Some people come to gynecologists with complaints, saying that their legs hurt during menstruation. Discomfort may appear at the end of the cycle and continue with the onset of menstruation.
Can your legs hurt during your period?
Patients of different ages experience pain in the lower extremities during menstruation. People come to gynecologists with complaints:
- mothers with daughters during puberty;
- women of reproductive age;
- women during premenopausal changes.
Unpleasant sensations arise due to changes in hormonal levels. Some women have mild pain in their legs, others complain that they cannot walk because of the pain; they feel it even during a period of rest.
Symptoms of leg pain during menstruation
Depending on the causes of pain in the legs, the severity of the symptoms changes. Patients may complain of nagging pain or a feeling of aching. Unpleasant sensations are concentrated in the area of the ankle joint, knees, and hips.
Pain is caused by natural physiological changes that occur in the body, or by diseases of blood vessels, joints, and neurological disorders.
Joints hurt during menstruation
Joint pain is one of the symptoms of severe dysmenorrhea. With this diagnosis, severe pain simultaneously occurs in the lower abdomen, lower back, and vegetative and emotional disorders appear.
To determine the reasons why joints hurt before menstruation, you need to undergo a comprehensive examination. During menstruation, discomfort may increase in patients suffering from degenerative changes in joint tissue. It is necessary to pay attention to the following accompanying symptoms:
- pain on palpation;
- swelling, redness;
- mobility impairment.
In some patients, joints begin to ache even in the absence of diseases. Discomfort is caused by an excess of prostaglandins, a lack of endogenous opiates in combination with a low pain threshold. This is a manifestation of premenstrual syndrome.
Pulling legs before period
Pulling sensations often occur in teenagers. Their appearance is due to changes occurring in the body. Bones and muscles grow quickly in adolescence, the vascular and nervous systems do not keep up with their development. Nerve endings become more sensitive, react more strongly to all stimuli, and the effect of prostaglandins becomes more pronounced.
Women of reproductive age may come to the gynecologist with complaints that their legs ache before menstruation. If the pain affects the lower back, abdomen, nausea, weakness, and dizziness appear, the doctor can diagnose dysmenorrhea.
Pulling sensations often appear in patients with chronic adnexitis. Sluggish inflammation of the appendages provokes the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen, which radiates to the lumbar area and lower extremities. Limbs also hurt in women prone to swelling.
Aching legs before menstruation
The feeling of aching muscles and joints on the eve of menstruation is rare. The legs of women whose pelvic bones have diverged excessively before childbirth or whose vertebrae have shifted during pregnancy are severely painful. A change in the shape of the skeleton provokes compression of blood vessels and nerve endings. With the onset of menstruation, the body's sensitivity increases under the influence of hormones.
A feeling of aching legs occurs in women suffering from degenerative changes in the spine. When nerve endings in the sacral region are pinched, the limbs begin to ache. The pain spreads to the thighs and legs.
Thigh hurts during menstruation
Most often, women feel pain in the projection of the uterus and appendages. Some patients come to the gynecologist with complaints of discomfort in the groin and thighs.
They appear on the first day of menstruation or a few days before their start. The spread of pain to the entire lower part of the body is characteristic of dysmenorrhea.
If these complaints appear, you must first exclude diseases of the joints, blood vessels, and neurological disorders.
Why do my legs hurt during menstruation?
It will be possible to find out the reasons why your legs hurt during menstruation after a comprehensive examination. The appearance of painful sensations can be caused by physiological or pathological reasons.
To establish the exact cause, it is necessary to check the reproductive organs, blood vessels, joints, and determine if there are any problems with the spine or inflammation.
Legs may hurt after childbirth or surgery.
Physiological causes of leg pain before menstruation
Patients with severe premenstrual syndrome often come to gynecologists with complaints that their legs drag during menstruation. The doctor has the right to assume that the appearance of pain is caused by PMS if, during the interview, it turns out that before the woman’s period:
- irritability increases;
- appetite increases;
- taste preferences change;
- swelling becomes visible.
Important! Physiological pain is caused by tissue stretching, which arose due to swelling of the limbs.
Under the influence of hormones, the veins of the legs expand, this leads to a feeling of heaviness and distension.
During the period of preparation for menstruation, the body actively produces prostaglandins necessary for the contraction of the myometrium. Their concentration in the blood increases, blood vessels spasm, and ischemic conditions develop. Hemodynamic barriers are broken, oxygen starvation develops in the cells, so pain increases.
The occurrence of physiological pain is typical for girls in adolescence. In the absence of diseases of the reproductive organs and joints, the discomfort goes away within 1-2 years from the start of menstruation. The hormonal levels are normalized, the imbalance between the development of the musculoskeletal, vascular, and nervous systems disappears.
During premenopause, your legs begin to hurt due to hormonal changes. If such a symptom appears before menopause, you need to make sure there are no diseases of the cardiovascular system or joints.
Pathological causes
To determine the reasons why your legs hurt before menstruation, in the first days of menstruation, gynecologists conduct a visual examination, a two-handed examination of the uterus, and refer you for an ultrasound. Pain may appear due to chronic adnexitis, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and other diseases of the reproductive system.
In the absence of problems with the reproductive organs, the legs begin to hurt due to the progression of vascular diseases and the musculoskeletal system:
- osteochondrosis;
- thrombophlebitis;
- arthritis;
- strangulated intervertebral hernia;
- tumors;
- degenerative, inflammatory diseases of the joints;
- venous insufficiency.
Attention! Legs hurt in patients with diabetes.
Endocrine disease leads to weakened immunity and the appearance of polyneuropathy.
When to see a doctor
Feeling that their lower extremities periodically hurt, women begin to take painkillers and use ointments. Self-medication leads to the progression of the underlying disease, which causes pain.
If your legs hurt periodically, the discomfort increases during menstruation or before it begins, you should consult a gynecologist. If there are no problems with reproductive health, you will need to consult a phlebologist, neurologist, endocrinologist, rheumatologist, traumatologist, and other highly specialized specialists.
Diagnostics
To identify the cause of leg pain, doctors may prescribe:
- biochemical, general blood tests;
- MRI;
- hysteroscopy;
- Ultrasound;
- vascular research.
Each doctor selects examinations to verify the absence or presence of specialized problems. In addition to examination and manual palpation of the reproductive organs, the gynecologist gives a referral for an ultrasound scan. If tumors or cysts are detected, therapeutic and diagnostic laparoscopy may be prescribed.
In cases where knees hurt during menstruation, the doctor prescribes x-rays, arthrography, and diagnoses joint mobility. For venous diseases, ultrasound angioscanning, radiocontrast venography, CT or MRI are prescribed.
Treatment
Treatment tactics for patients with painful lower extremities are selected depending on the causes of discomfort. If pain is a symptom of PMS, medications that normalize hormonal levels help.
Doctors can select drug treatment aimed at improving the condition of the joints or increasing the tone of the veins. If necessary, sedatives, painkillers, and multivitamin complexes are prescribed.
Possible complications
Patients whose legs begin to hurt during menstruation should undergo a comprehensive examination. It is important to identify the underlying disease causing the pain. If the cause is not eliminated, the condition will gradually worsen.
Gynecological diseases in advanced form lead to infertility. Diseases of the joints and spine complicate life. Lack of treatment leads to impaired mobility of the limbs, and problems arise when walking. Due to impaired venous tone, blood supply to the extremities deteriorates.
Important! The severity of the consequences will be assessed after establishing the exact cause of the pain.
Preventive measures
You can prevent the appearance of painful sensations during menstruation if you monitor your diet and physical activity. Leg pain often begins in overweight patients. This is due to increased stress on the joints and a tendency to varicose veins.
Preventive measures also include:
- wearing comfortable shoes;
- contrasting foot baths;
- regular self-massage.
What matters is nutrition in phase 2 of the cycle. If you are prone to pain, you will have to give up alcohol, foods that cause swelling, and reduce the amount of coffee.
Conclusion
If you are faced with the fact that your legs hurt during your period, you should see a gynecologist. If there are no diseases of the reproductive system, you should undergo a comprehensive examination. This is necessary in order to promptly identify the cause of pain and eliminate it. The appearance of pain is caused by physiological or pathological factors.
Source: https://ginekola.ru/ginekologiya/menstruatsiya/bolyat-nogi-pered-mesyachnymi.html
Legs hurt in teenage girls
It is during puberty that girls begin to menstruate. This occurs from 10 to 11 years of age, which is considered a somewhat early period of maturity. That is, at this time there is rapid growth of skeletal bones and the muscular system. With the arrival of menstruation, biological age does not correspond to the functionality of the reproductive system, therefore, during menstruation, an imbalance of blood supply and tissue innervation occurs, which causes pain in the pelvis and legs.
During the onset of menstruation, a girl aged 13-15 years, with normal physiology of the body, may experience pain in the mammary glands, spine, lower abdomen, which often radiates to the sacrum and legs. Weakness of the muscles of the lower extremities, sweating and a feeling of numbness are sometimes noted at the time of menstruation, both in girls and women of reproductive age.
After the establishment of the menstrual cycle, as well as as a result of regular sexual activity and labor, pain in the legs during menstruation may be insignificant or stop altogether.
Treatment
When the diagnosis is made and it is determined why the legs hurt during menstruation, the doctor prescribes treatment. It must be comprehensive: medication, therapy with folk remedies, gymnastics or exercise therapy, the use of orthopedic materials.
With PMS, hormonal levels are normalized using medications of the same name - hormones. If there is such a need as the use of painkillers, neither the doctor nor the patient should neglect this. Treatment is strengthened with vitamin complexes.
To relieve pain and maintain veins and joints in normal condition, the patient is recommended to use compression stockings and insoles. Compression classes vary; it is recommended to consult a phlebologist.
Currently, in pharmacies you can find a huge number of different ointments and gels to relieve pain in the legs. They can be cooling, warming or analgesic. But a certain drug is prescribed exclusively by a doctor.
Leg pain in women of childbearing age
Often, during menstruation, women undergo a lot of inconvenience. Skin rashes and excessive sweating, swelling of the face and limbs and of course pain. Before menstruation, heaviness is felt in the chest, lower abdomen and legs. This is, as a rule, a physiological course, but can also be a consequence of pathological processes that worsen during critical days.
Leg pain during menstruation can occur in women after childbirth or after a Caesarean section. Such symptoms can occur before your period begins, during its peak, or after it ends. This happens because after the birth of a child, the pelvic bones do not completely return to their original position, which somewhat changes the microcirculation and innervation of blood and nerve vessels. Also, some women report nagging pain in the lower back after childbirth, which intensifies during menstruation. The reason for this may be minor displacements and sprains of the ligaments in the sacral area, which bring pain and numbness in the legs.
Often, increased pain in the lower extremities during menstruation can be influenced by previous abdominal surgeries, injuries and spinal surgeries. In such conditions, the blood supply to large and small vessels is disrupted, as well as the function of nerve bundles, adhesions and thrombosis occur, which can negatively affect processes associated with the phases of the menstrual cycle.
What measures to take
Having decided why your legs drag during menstruation, it’s time to think about methods of combating it. There is no need to take painkillers and fight the symptoms, forgetting about the cause of the pain. Traditional methods of treatment will also be inappropriate here.
If the pain is severe or gets worse every day, then you need to go to the doctor. Since problems arise during menstruation, you need to contact a gynecologist. Only then will it be possible to go to other specialists if the gynecologist refers you to them.
After passing tests and ultrasound, doctors will be able to understand what problem needs to be dealt with. But it may not come to this if the gynecologist considers pain in the legs to be a normal reaction of the body to menstruation.
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Pain in the lower extremities in women over 50 years of age
Women, when they approach fifty years of age, lose their reproductive function. That is, the reproductive ability of the body gradually fades away and the woman begins premenopause. During this period, the menstrual cycle becomes irregular and menstruation becomes rare. Before their onset, women may feel false symptoms of the onset of menstruation, that is, pain in the head, back, abdomen and legs, but there is no bleeding. And in another case, nothing portends about critical days, and they come without any special symptoms. During menopause, periods may not appear for a whole year and then, if they finally do not appear, it means that postmenopause has occurred, that is, a complete absence of monthly female functionality. But at the same time, for some reason my legs continue to hurt or this unpleasant sensation appeared for the first time.
During the aging period, the work of all organs and systems of the body with less activity is considered a natural process. At the same time, wear and tear occurs on the cardiovascular, excretory and regenerative systems. As a result, blood circulation and metabolism are disrupted, which leads to the occurrence of many diseases. After the onset of menopause, the occurrence of pathologies is observed more often, or if they appeared earlier, their progression is noted.
Feelings of pain, heaviness, swelling, numbness and even cramps in the legs can occur in conditions such as:
- Sedentary lifestyle (long-term sitting or lying position, which causes blood stagnation in the lower extremities);
- Vitamin deficiency, diabetes mellitus, thrombophlebitis;
- History of difficult childbirth and gynecological operations;
- Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory processes in the joints leading to their deformation);
- Osteochondrosis of the spine (bone growths pinch the nerve bundles that supply innervation to the lower extremities);
- Infringement of the intervertebral nerves by a hernia or cyst;
- Peripheral circulation disorders of the lower extremities (Raynaud's disease);
- Atherosclerosis or multiple sclerosis (damage to blood vessels and nerve sheaths of the legs);
- Stroke;
- Neuropathy (damage and deformation of the nerve endings of the lower extremities);
- The presence of benign or malignant tumors, as well as previous injuries and operations.
For any cause of discomfort, maximum physical activity, a healthy diet (mainly live plant foods) and equalization of sleep patterns will always be helpful at any age. These simple steps will bring relief not only from painful sensations, but also improve your overall health.
Why legs hurt during menstruation is a problem that worries girls and women at different ages. The course of the menstrual cycle for each representative of the fair sex occurs purely individually. The number of days of the cycle, the scale of bleeding, and painful feelings on such days may vary. To understand why leg pain occurs during menstruation, it is necessary to examine the woman in detail.
general information
The main reason why legs go numb is hormonal changes. In this case, women complain that their lower extremities cramp, and a feeling of coldness or weakness appears. The main provocateur in this case is the menstrual cycle, accompanied by various changes.
In young girls
Menstruation occurs at 12-15 years of age. If this happens earlier, the skeletal bones and muscles develop rapidly, and other changes are observed. When a girl has her “critical days,” there is a conflict between the functioning of the reproductive system and biological age. For this reason, the arrival of menstruation is marked by the appearance of pain in the lower extremities. This occurs due to an imbalance of tissue innervation and blood supply. Painful sensations appear not only in the legs, but also in the pelvis.
When menstruation comes at the age of thirteen to fifteen, some girls complain of aching pain in:
- lower abdomen;
- spinal area;
- mammary glands.
Often pain is felt in the lower extremities and sacrum. This symptom may be accompanied by weakness of the leg muscles, a feeling of numbness and excessive sweating. When the cycle stabilizes, unpleasant symptoms are minimized or disappear completely.
For young ladies
Swelling and other unpleasant symptoms are often present during abnormal processes. During menstruation, “dormant” diseases can worsen.
The lower extremities may ache and ache even after delivery of the burden. This symptom is often observed after surgical extraction of the fetus. It can appear both before the “critical days” and after them.
After the baby is born, the pelvic bones do not completely return to their original position. This contributes to changes in microcirculation.
The reason why your legs ache during menstruation may be a minor sprain in the sacral area. In this case, numbness of the lower extremities is often observed. Sometimes the provoking factor is one or another consequence of abdominal surgery.
Spinal injuries or operations in this area can also play a negative role. In this case, there is a disruption in the functioning of nerve bundles. Against the background of developed thrombosis, the menstrual cycle is also disrupted.
Menopause
When a woman crosses the forty-five-year mark, reproductive function declines. Premenopause occurs, characterized by the appearance of various changes in the body. The regularity of the menstrual cycle is disrupted. “Critical days” are very rare. Their appearance is marked by the following false signs:
- headaches;
- discomfort in the back or lower back;
- pain in the lower extremities;
- stomach pain.
Bloody discharge does not appear. During menopause, they may not be present for 12 months. If at the end of this period they still do not appear, postmenopause occurs. In this case, ovulation, which was previously present every month, is completely absent. Some women experience pain in the lower extremities against this background.
When a woman ages, the functioning of all the most important systems and organs is slower than before. There is wear and tear on critical systems. The regenerative and excretory systems wear out. The result is poor circulation.
Against the background of impaired metabolism, progression of many pathological processes is observed. If the diseases were present earlier, then with the onset of menopause their symptoms worsen.
Reasons why legs hurt during menstruation in girls, girls, women
Such pain at a certain time in girls and older women occurs differently for completely different reasons.
Girls go through puberty during adolescence, and their bodies are actively restructuring. The muscle frame grows and forms relatively quickly. At the same time, the sex glands begin to actively work, releasing the necessary hormones.
But the growth of blood vessels and nerve endings does not keep pace with the formation of the adolescent’s skeleton itself. Also, at this age, physical activity increases in girls, which, combined with such factors, can lead to pain radiating to the legs. During menstrual periods, such pain can intensify, and there may be a feeling of numbness in the legs and the appearance of swelling.
For women and girls of childbearing age, the situation is slightly different. Unpleasant sensations such as period pain in the legs may be more severe after the birth of the baby. During this period, various complications are possible, which can be expressed by displacement of the spinal vertebrae in the back, discrepancies of bones in the pelvis, and the presence of a postoperative scar. This is why there is a violation of nervous regulation, which leads to the appearance of such pain in the legs.
Other sources of pain include: if women are in a standing position for a very long time, when the hormonal balance in the body is disturbed, when diseases associated with the urinary system, structural features and pathology of the female genital organs progress.
Normal menstrual cycle
In fact, no matter what mothers and grandmothers, who also suffered from this scourge, say, pain during menstruation is by no means the norm. Normal menstruation is painless. Of course, you may feel a little discomfort due to spasms - but just a small one that does not interfere with everyday activities, and not severe pain that makes it impossible to lead a normal lifestyle.
How does a normal menstrual cycle work? The duration of the menstrual cycle is counted from the first day of menstruation until the beginning of the next. The first half of the cycle is called the follicular phase. At this time, a special formation grows in the ovary - a follicle, inside which the egg matures. These two weeks, hormones called “estrogens” predominate in the female body. They not only stimulate the proliferation of cells in the mucous membrane of the uterus and vagina, but also affect the entire woman’s body:
- improve bone mineralization;
- enhance collagen synthesis in the skin;
- improve memory, attention, thinking;
- reduce sebum production;
- normalize blood lipid composition.
Why premenstrual syndrome may cause leg pain
Premenstrual syndrome in the fair sex can occur as a result of a violation of the required proportion of sex hormones in the body. And this, in turn, can affect the processes of nervous regulation in the brain. This condition in a woman can be observed due to constant stress, insufficient and inadequate rest, and poor nutrition.
Within a few days, when menstruation arrives, a woman may experience pronounced tearfulness, short temper, and possibly show signs of depression. The following physiological changes occur: the mammary glands swell, there is unpleasant pain in the nipples, and all the muscles can pull.
Pathologies that can cause leg pain
Many pathologies and diseases can cause pain in women. Pain can occur with a number of ailments. A woman may know about these ailments, and some may remind themselves of them during menstruation.
One of the most common pathologies is endometriosis. This disease occurs when the inner layer of a woman's uterus grows in places it shouldn't. The pain begins in the lower abdomen, then it can radiate to the lower extremities. This happens because there are a large number of nerve endings near the uterus.
One more disease can be identified. This is algodismenorrhea. This disease occurs when the menstrual cycle is disrupted, and periods become especially painful. The reason lies in the failure of hormonal balance, an imbalance occurs. At this moment, ladies are most sensitive to pain of any nature.
If women have a physiologically incorrect uterus, or there are certain problems with its development, then when it contracts, aching discomfort may appear. This discomfort can be felt throughout the body, and especially in the legs.
If your legs hurt during menstruation, special attention should be paid to problems associated with the spine. Such factors include early injuries, the most common osteochondrosis, and disruption of the normal blood flow in the spinal cord. The functions of this spinal cord are disrupted, and problems will be especially noticeable at the time of hormonal changes.
Another cause of leg pain is considered to be venous insufficiency. The onset of menstruation provokes all the symptoms and problems that women with varicose veins have. The older the woman is, the more pronounced the disease will be. A factor that has a special influence on its appearance is the accumulation of fluid in the body against the background of hormonal changes.
Joint diseases are another reason why leg pain will become especially painful when your period approaches. They may twist the joints, the skin will turn red, and there may be a characteristic sound in the joints when moving.
Why do your legs hurt during menstruation? This question cannot be left without an answer and solution. When the first signs of discomfort in the lower extremities appear during menstruation, a woman is advised to seek advice and treatment from a specialist. First of all, the gynecologist will prescribe a full examination and diagnosis of the reproductive system, and if necessary, he may involve other specialists to solve this problem.
Mandatory diagnostics include: a mandatory general blood test, a test for the norm and content of female sex hormones, ultrasound diagnostics of the pelvic organs, vaginal smears.
If diseases not related to gynecology are confirmed, then consultation with specialists such as a neurologist, vascular surgeon, traumatologist, and oncologist will be necessary. Only after receiving all the tests and diagnostic answers will it be possible to select a comprehensive treatment that will solve this problem.
In parallel with drug treatment, a woman needs to reconsider her schedule and lifestyle. Spend more time walking. Your diet should include multivitamins. Particular attention should be paid to the roots and leaves of celery. Avoid fatigue and stress.
The menstrual cycle of each representative of the weaker half of humanity differs in its individual duration, the amount of bleeding, and the intervals from one bleeding to another. Each woman has her own threshold of sensitivity to painful stimuli. The structure and location of the uterus influences the nature of menstruation and the location of pain. The reason why your legs hurt during menstruation can be determined after a thorough examination of the woman.
In girls and older women, the causes of pain in the legs are different. In one case, these may be features of the location of the uterus, in another – serious diseases of the legs.
In teenage girls
During the period when puberty begins, the girl’s body undergoes active restructuring:
- the skeleton and muscular frame begin to grow rapidly,
- The sex glands begin to actively function, producing the appropriate hormones.
Due to the fact that the growth of blood vessels and nerves does not keep pace with the growth of the skeleton, and physical activity at this time is great, adolescents develop aching pain in the legs. Discomfort is especially intensified before menstruation. These symptoms may be accompanied by numbness and swelling of the legs. The situation is aggravated by fluctuating hormone levels during this time.
In addition, the uterus may still be underdeveloped and have bends. When it contracts during bleeding, the pain radiates down the spine to the legs.
In women of childbearing age
Leg pain can worsen in middle-aged women, especially after having children. After childbirth, complications may occur in the form of displacement of the vertebrae, divergence of the pelvic bones, or the presence of a scar after a cesarean section. In this regard, the nervous regulation of the legs is disrupted, which is accompanied by pain, numbness, and swelling.
Other reasons:
- long stay in an upright position;
- disruption of hormone levels in the body;
- diseases of the urinary system;
- pathology of the female genital area.
The severity of pain is influenced by the natural content of hormones in the body. Women who have a predominance of estrogens and prostaglandins are more sensitive to pain.
Pulling veins in the legs before menstruation
Many people do not understand why their lower back and legs hurt during menstruation.
As you know, menstruation is one of the most important processes in a woman’s body. The harmony of various organs and systems, as well as their physiological processes and reactions, will depend on it. The menstrual or monthly cycle is the basis of female anatomy, which is regulated by complex elements. Often during this period, girls and women complain of general malaise, nausea, vomiting, headaches and dizziness, and abdominal pain.
This occurs due to changes in the body. It is during this period that sensitivity, as a rule, increases, and a woman becomes more susceptible to everything.
Gynecologists are accustomed to various complaints, a typical one being abdominal pain.
But girls also present with symptoms such as pain in the legs, lower back and between the legs, that is, those that affect the lower extremities of the body.
Why this happens, whether such a condition is normal or indicates some serious problems, not everyone knows.
Menstruation in girls begins at the age of approximately 11-14 years and lasts until menopause - 50-60 years. During this period, more than once the female gender turns to experienced and specialized specialists - gynecologists.
Appeals can be for various reasons - just an annual examination or the presence of any complaints. Mostly with the question of why there is pain between the legs during menstruation, they come:
- mothers with their daughters at the beginning of the menstrual cycle;
- women of childbearing age;
- women who are awaiting menopause.
Pain syndrome can persist both during periods of rest and during periods of physical activity. This happens due to hormones, which play an important role in this process. Many women and girls cannot even walk; any movement brings them discomfort.
The pain syndrome can affect the thigh, lower leg or foot, and can be of a different nature. This can be a sharp, pulling or pressing pain associated with physiological changes or with serious diseases - damage to blood vessels, bone tissue, damage to nervous tissue.
Symptoms may be as follows:
- pain when pressing on the limbs;
- the presence of a tumor, red spots and lesions;
- change in motor activity, when moving, walking or even at rest.
Such symptoms may hint that a woman’s body is susceptible to dysmenorrhea - this is a pathology that provokes a painful syndrome. If the gynecologist really makes such a diagnosis, then you can observe not only pain affecting the legs, but also discomfort in the abdomen, lower back, emotional disturbances and bad mood.
The cause can only be identified by a comprehensive examination of the whole body to confirm that the pain is definitely due to menstruation, and there are no more serious disorders.
Many women after 35 years begin to complain more often about discomfort in their legs, for example, due to standing work. This may already indicate internal changes in bone structures, leading to more serious problems during the menstrual cycle, which is supported by the action of hormonal levels, namely prostaglandin hormones.
The latter act on the circulatory system, vessels, take an active part and regulate blood pressure throughout the body, and also help the uterus contract. This is where the pain comes from in the lower extremities. The so-called premenstrual cycle syndrome is the main effect of prostaglandin hormones.
Many people don’t know why their legs hurt during menstruation. Almost all actions in the human body are regulated by the brain. This does not bypass the production of sex hormones. The body simply does not have time to dramatically adapt, which is why premenstrual syndrome occurs.
During this period, fluid retention occurs in organs and tissues. The muscles are tense, pain between the legs also occurs due to problems with stool. Heaviness can be felt throughout the body.
Not everyone knows why their legs hurt before menstruation. At the same time, doctors have a whole list of diseases, the symptoms of which may include pain in the legs, between the legs and in the lower back.
These diseases are quite serious, it is important to identify them at a very early stage so that in the future they do not develop into a chronic nature.
Many people do not understand why their legs hurt during menstruation. The reasons may be the following diseases.
Affects the uterus, a woman’s important reproductive organ. When the disease occurs, the inner layer, the endometrium or mucous membrane, grows.
The endometrium helps the fertilized egg attach to the uterus and subsequently helps the embryo develop. There are many nerve endings in the uterus, and fatigue and heaviness in the legs can occur precisely because of them.
Pathological condition due to hormonal imbalance. It can often manifest itself in conjunction with the incorrect location of the pelvic organs, which are involved in conceiving a child.
The bending of the uterus, and with it the nerve cells and endings, can compress the internal cavity and irritate it, transmitting pain to the legs.
When wondering why there is pain between the legs during menstruation, it is worth considering that at the moment, due to a sedentary lifestyle, every second person faces such problems. Changes also occur in the spinal cord.
The pain can occur much more severely in the evening, thereby provoking long-term persistence of unpleasant sensations.
Swelling of the legs, ulcers, blue discoloration of the skin, the appearance of veins and spider veins is aggravated during menstruation, as fluid retention occurs and internal pressure changes. This explains the problem of why my legs hurt a lot during menstruation.
Why does my right leg hurt during menstruation? It is worth considering that diseases such as arthritis, arthrosis and others can affect. These ailments can increase pain during a difficult period for girls and women.
With the onset of such a disease, the legs quickly get tired, there is heaviness in the limbs, and it is difficult to make even unnecessary movements.
The listed diseases are the main ones. They provoke pain in the legs during the production of large amounts of hormones and when hormonal levels change.
To exclude serious pathologies and make an accurate diagnosis, you should definitely consult a doctor. This may primarily be a therapist or gynecologist, who will provide a referral for the following examinations:
- General and biochemical analysis of blood and urine;
- analysis for the presence and effect of sex hormones;
- ultrasound examination of the pelvic organs;
- a vaginal smear for the presence or refutation of diseases and sexually transmitted infections.
If there is a hint of damage to the veins, vessels and nerves of the lower extremities, additional examinations of them are prescribed.
Further, more in-depth diagnostics can be carried out by the following specialists: vascular surgeon, neurologist, rheumatologist.
When the diagnosis is made and it is determined why the legs hurt during menstruation, the doctor prescribes treatment. It must be comprehensive: medication, therapy with folk remedies, gymnastics or exercise therapy, the use of orthopedic materials.
With PMS, hormonal levels are normalized using medications of the same name - hormones. If there is such a need as the use of painkillers, neither the doctor nor the patient should neglect this. Treatment is strengthened with vitamin complexes.
To relieve pain and maintain veins and joints in normal condition, the patient is recommended to use compression stockings and insoles. Compression classes vary; it is recommended to consult a phlebologist.
Currently, in pharmacies you can find a huge number of different ointments and gels to relieve pain in the legs. They can be cooling, warming or analgesic. But a certain drug is prescribed exclusively by a doctor.
In addition to medications, young girls and women should pay attention to their lifestyle and, if necessary, correct it.
After a working day, it is recommended to take short walks. If the work involves a sedentary nature, do gymnastics and kneading exercises every 1.5 hours. Your legs should not be thrown over each other, but simply kept in a relaxed, straight position.
After an active day, it is recommended to raise your legs in a lying position at 70-90 degrees for 30 minutes. This should be done periodically to reduce the load on the lower limbs.
When pain occurred, grandmothers have long applied a cabbage leaf to the affected area. This method can be used in the evening or at night.
You should also adhere to proper nutrition and saturate your body with vitamins, fruits, fresh vegetables, avoiding large amounts of fatty and unhealthy foods. Then the question of why your legs hurt during menstruation will bother you less often or will be completely irrelevant.
If you do not consult a doctor in time and do not identify the problem, your body can be seriously damaged. When a doctor prescribes a diagnosis, you can easily identify what is causing your leg pain. If you delay in solving the problem, it can develop into a chronic form.
Many gynecological diseases that remain untreated lead to infertility in women. This is especially dangerous for those who do not yet have children and who are planning to have them soon. Any unpleasant symptom makes adjustments to everyday life.
Prevention measures include:
- correct and comfortable orthopedic shoes;
- change in diet;
- active lifestyle;
- timely consultation with a doctor.
You should definitely watch your excess weight. There is no need to adhere to strict diets, but nevertheless the diet should be balanced.
It is recommended to give up smoking, alcohol, and not drink coffee and tea in large quantities. Before the onset of menstruation, you should reduce the amount of fluid you take so as not to provoke swelling.
Source: https://folkmap.ru/mesyachnye/tyanet-veny-na-nogah-pered-mesyachnymi/
Premenstrual syndrome as a cause of leg pain
The cause of PMS is a violation of the ratio of sex hormones and nervous regulation processes in the brain. Constant stress and malnutrition can provoke the development of this condition. With the development of PMS, fluid retention in the body tissues is of great importance.
The woman becomes tearful, irritable or depressed. A few days before her period, she experiences heaviness in the mammary glands, pain in the nipples, muscles, and thirst may appear. Such women are often worried about stool upset.
When the deviation occurs during reproductive age
Less commonly, a similar symptom occurs after the menstrual cycle has stabilized. In most cases, it indicates the development of pathology. Chronic diseases often worsen during menstruation. The following are those that may cause discomfort in the legs:
- intervertebral hernia;
- sciatica – damage to the sciatic nerve;
- phlebeurysm;
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- joint bursitis;
- atherosclerosis of the leg veins;
- various types of neuropathy.
In the early stages of the pathology, it can manifest itself during exacerbations, which often occur during menstruation. With the progression of one of the above diseases or the presence of more severe diseases, such as oncology or thrombosis of the veins of the lower extremities, pain will occur regardless of the menstrual cycle. Such symptoms are also caused by more rare diseases - Raynaud's disease, Morton's neuroma, spinal stenosis.
The cause may be blockage of the veins in the legs
Postpartum period
Separately, it should be mentioned that after pregnancy, when the menstrual cycle is restored, changes in the nature of premenstrual syndrome and the period of menstruation themselves are observed. A number of women indicate that after giving birth, before menstruation, they began to twist their legs. Experts associate this with a change in the position of the pelvic bones with a possible restructuring of hormonal levels.
Fluctuations are temporary, so heaviness in the legs before menstruation goes away after the hormone balance normalizes.
Diseases as a cause of leg pain
This symptom is possible with a whole list of diseases. They may already be known to the woman or diagnosed when menstruation begins.
Endometriosis
This disease occurs when the inner layer of uterine cells grows in places where it should not be. At the same time, it begins to ache in the lower abdomen and lower back. Due to the close location of the nerve plexuses to the uterus, the pain radiates to the lower extremities. Characteristic in this case will be constant heaviness in the legs and its intensification during menstruation.
Algomenorrhea
This is a menstrual disorder characterized by painful periods. This condition is associated with hormonal imbalance. At the same time, the woman becomes especially sensitive to any manifestations of pain.
The condition is aggravated by abnormal position of the uterus or its underdevelopment. If this organ is bent posteriorly and is located close to the nerve plexuses, when it contracts during regulation, the nerves are irritated, transmitting the impulse to all nearby organs.
Spinal problems
Pain in the legs can be caused by diseases of the spine:
With significant changes in the spine, the function of the spinal cord may be impaired. In this case, the legs will be cold, the patient does not feel any part of them. The sensation of “insects crawling on the skin” and tingling is characteristic. Over time, the woman begins to limp. With hormonal changes, all symptoms intensify.
Venous insufficiency
Before menstruation, legs hurt and with varicose veins. With this disease, the patient will also be concerned about swelling of the legs and the appearance of ulcers that do not heal for a long time. If this is a young woman whose disease is just beginning, swelling of the legs will not be as pronounced. Menstruation provokes a deterioration in the condition before menstruation, when, against the background of hormonal changes, water begins to be retained in the body.
Joint diseases
With joint diseases, a woman will be bothered by the following symptoms:
- pain in one or more joints;
- redness of the skin over them;
- stiffness of movement in the morning;
- crunching when moving;
- worsening symptoms after hypothermia.
During menstruation, the disease worsens.
Nerve damage manifests itself as impaired leg function. A woman notices that the skin of her lower extremities is constantly cold and dry to the touch, and the hair on her legs begins to fall out. The legs become “wobbly” and get tired quickly. Pain in the legs during menstruation is especially noticeable.
How to find the cause of your pain
It is not enough to know why your legs hurt during menstruation; you need to find the specific cause of this ailment. How can you understand what caused the pain in your particular case?
Teenage girls should only worry about severe pain. Minor discomfort in the limbs for young girls is considered the norm, along with an aching stomach, painful sacrum, aching lower back and sensitive breasts. Over time, the pain will go away or become less severe. You just need your body to finally grow and get stronger, and your hormonal levels to stabilize.
In older women, minor pain in the limbs is also considered normal, which occurs as a reaction to menstruation. If you recently had childbirth or surgery, and your legs go numb during menstruation, then most likely the problem is in the blood circulation. Either the pelvic bones have not returned to their place, or the circulatory system has not yet recovered.
Finding the cause of painful sensations in the legs for menopausal women is extremely difficult. It’s hard to figure it out here without a doctor, because anything can transfer pain to the legs at that age.
Leg pain can also be caused by:
- stroke;
- tumors;
- arthritis;
- osteochondrosis;
- high blood sugar.
It is clear that these problems do not arise along with menstruation, but if they exist, they can be the cause of pain in the legs at the beginning of the cycle.
If your legs ache during menstruation, this may also be due to an inactive lifestyle. The muscles work less and less, which is why pain occurs when tense.
A feeling of heaviness in the legs, which intensifies with the arrival of menstrual periods, is a symptom of endometriosis along with aching pain in the lower back and lower abdomen.
Pain along with swelling of the limbs indicate possible venous insufficiency.
Painful joints are expressed not only by pain in the limbs, but also by stiffness of movement in the morning, crunching during movement and redness of the skin in the place where the leg hurts.
If pain occurs only during menstruation and does not bother you at other times, then most likely there are no alarming pathologies.
What to do
If unusual complaints appear during menstruation, a woman should consult a doctor. The gynecologist will examine the organs of the reproductive system and prescribe a consultation with other specialists.
Diagnostics
The following examinations are prescribed:
- general blood analysis;
- blood test for the activity of the inflammatory process;
- determination of sex hormones;
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs;
- analysis of vaginal discharge.
If you suspect venous disease or nerve damage, your doctor will prescribe an examination.
Medical consultations
When choosing the correct treatment tactics for treating a woman, additional specialists will be involved: a vascular surgeon, a neurologist, an oncologist, and a traumatologist.
What drugs are used to combat the deviation?
When all possible abnormalities are excluded and the cause of numbness in the legs during menstruation is determined, special therapy is prescribed as a component of premenstrual syndrome. It may include the following components:
- vitamin and mineral complexes;
- birth control pills;
- sedatives and painkillers.
Treatment of heaviness in the legs with medications is carried out in case of persistent discomfort that is not relieved by non-medicinal means.
Treatment with folk remedies
Treatment of this condition includes a whole range of measures. First of all, a woman needs to make adjustments to her usual lifestyle. If distance allows, it is better to walk to and from work. Every 1-2 hours spent in a sitting position, you need to take a break for 10-15 minutes. At this time it is best to walk. When sitting, try not to throw your legs over one another, often lay them horizontally.
If possible, it is useful to periodically sit with your legs up.
The diet is enriched with multivitamins. The diet includes dishes made from fresh celery. The root and leaves can be added to salads or drunk 1 tablespoon of its juice daily for a month. Then they take a month off.
Tea made from lemon balm stems and leaves will help relieve fatigue and stress. For this, 1 tbsp. l. The crushed plant is poured into a glass of boiling water and drunk as tea.
What kind of prevention
Herbal teas are also relevant for the prevention of pathology. In a situation where your legs swell before your period, diuretic herbs can help. But about their use, as well as about the use of any other folk recipes in therapy, it is necessary to consult with your doctor. The basis of prevention is dosed physical activity, proper nutrition, giving up bad habits, massage, foot baths with essential oils. It is important to perform special gymnastic exercises aimed at improving blood circulation in the lower torso and lower extremities.
Compression garments and ointments
The use of compression garments or elastic bandages has a good effect.
You need to bandage your feet in the morning before getting out of bed. Before applying the bandage, the legs are raised at an angle of 30° upward. You need to bandage from your toes to the middle of your thigh. Apply the coils gently, without squeezing the skin. We recommend similar articles
Once a month, every representative of the fair sex has to deal with an inevitable phenomenon - menstruation. Only a lucky few can boast of good health and mild symptoms before and during the menstrual cycle. Others may feel discomfort:
- irritability;
- pain in the lower abdomen;
- nausea;
- weakness;
- dizziness;
- fatigue and apathy;
- leg pain.
Many women, feeling pain in their lower extremities, do not associate them with the menstrual cycle, since they cannot interconnect these two phenomena. So why do your legs hurt during menstruation? This needs to be sorted out.
During adolescence, big changes occur in a girl’s body, this is due to the restructuring of hormones. Aching pain in the legs, which spreads to the joints and muscles at this age, appears for several reasons:
- The skeleton lengthens, muscles grow. During puberty, growth occurs so quickly that the vascular system cannot keep up. As a result of the discrepancy between biological age and the functionality of the reproductive system, insufficient blood supply and irritation of nerve endings occur. This is what causes pain in the legs.
- When menstruation occurs in adolescents aged 13-15 years, pain may be observed in the mammary glands, lower abdomen, and spine, which very often radiates to the legs and sacrum. Increased sweating, weakness in the leg muscles, as well as numbness can be felt by both adolescents and women in the reproductive period.
- Another reason why legs hurt before menstruation is algodysmenorrhea. This is a pathology in which the main pain point is concentrated in the center of the uterus. First, aching pain is felt in the lower abdomen, then it spreads to the back and hips. Algodismenorrhea is a disease that causes painful menstrual pain that is difficult to eliminate.
Painful sensations in the legs during the premenstrual period in adolescents in most cases go away on their own when the hormonal balance improves. However, a measured and calm life, age-appropriate nutrition and moderate physical activity will help you quickly get rid of the unpleasant symptom.
Why do my legs hurt during menstruation: is it dangerous and how can I relieve the pain?
Menstruation is often accompanied by unpleasant symptoms - abdominal and lower back pain, migraines, nausea. Some women note that during this period their legs begin to ache, their feet and ankles swell, and joint pain appears. Why do my legs hurt before my period? What is the reason for this strange localization of pain and how to get rid of it?
Causes of leg pain during menstruation
During menstruation, legs can hurt in women of different ages. The occurrence of discomfort in the lower extremities can be influenced by various factors, such as changes in hormonal levels, the birth of a child, injuries, vascular diseases, and reproductive organs.
In teenagers
During puberty, significant changes occur in the body of a teenage girl. She begins her first period, her hormonal levels change. Menarche usually appears between the ages of 12 and 14 years. It is during this period that a sharp jump in height and weight occurs.
sex hormones affect not only the human reproductive sphere, but also the entire body as a whole. During menstruation, hormones are released into the blood, which can affect your well-being.
Why do young girls’ legs ache and ache before menstruation? This is a rather rare symptom; girls usually experience other symptoms during menstruation: stomach pain, breast swelling, increased sweating, and weakness in the body.
main causes of leg pain:
- abdominal pain radiates to the pelvis and thighs;
- hormonal surge affects muscles and joints;
- bones and muscles grow very quickly;
- During adolescence, many girls gain weight; extra pounds put a strain on weak musculoskeletal systems.
in women of childbearing age
If pain in the legs appears in women 20-50 years old, then this may indicate pathological processes in the blood vessels, musculoskeletal system or pelvic organs. Most often, discomfort and swelling of the lower extremities are a consequence of poor circulation in the pelvis.
sedentary work, inflammatory diseases, long-term use of oral contraceptives, lack of intimate life, pelvic deformities - all this negatively affects the blood supply to the reproductive organs and legs.
During menstruation, hormones are released, which aggravates the situation.
If a woman of fertile age experiences such problems, she should have her blood vessels checked by a phlebologist and rule out the development of thrombosis and varicose veins.
aching pain in the legs may be a consequence of increased levels of progesterone in the blood. this hormone prepares the female body for pregnancy and promotes the dilation of pelvic vessels.
during menopause
During menopause, a woman experiences hormonal changes that are comparable in intensity to changes during puberty. Menopause is accompanied by dryness and discomfort in the genitals, hot flashes, and surges in blood pressure. The situation is aggravated by chronic diseases, past inflammatory diseases, and operations that have accumulated in a woman by the age of 50.
At the age of 45-50, periods become irregular. their appearance affects the condition of the whole organism, including causing pain in the legs, especially in the knees. causes of discomfort:
- sedentary lifestyle;
- phlebeurysm;
- thrombosis;
- blood stagnation in the pelvis;
- history of joint surgery, gynecological surgery;
- arthritis.
pain due to illness
If before your period your legs hurt regularly and very badly, then this may be a consequence of various diseases. pathological causes of pain:
- endometriosis is the growth of the endometrium outside the uterus. endometriotic formations can reach significant sizes; they compress blood vessels and nerve endings, causing pain. Endometrial cells may end up in the muscles of the lower extremities and, before menstruation, increase in size and become painful.
- inflammatory processes of the genital organs. Endometritis, adnexitis, salpingo-oophoritis, when becoming chronic, worsen before menstruation, making it painful. pain radiates to the lower back and hips.
- pathologies of the veins of the lower extremities. During menstruation, varicose veins and thrombophlebitis worsen. additional symptoms of these diseases: swelling, heaviness in the legs, veins become noticeable, dense formations appear under the skin - venous nodules.
- joint diseases. the pain is localized mainly in the knee joint, the leg in this place turns red and swells. pain intensifies when walking or standing for long periods of time.
treatment methods
If your legs hurt before your period, then a woman needs to see a gynecologist, phlebologist, neurologist and surgeon. After the initial examination, the patient is sent for an ultrasound, a general blood test and a hormone test. Treatment is prescribed depending on the cause that causes discomfort in the lower extremities.
For temporary relief from pain, the doctor prescribes analgesics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Ketanov, Ibuprofen, No-Shpa, Spazmolgon help well. However, it is worth remembering that painkillers only eliminate the symptom, not the cause of the problem.
Prevention measures
Is it possible to prevent discomfort in the legs before and during menstruation? Prevention recommendations:
- With a sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work, you need to move more. You don’t have to sign up for a gym; you can go for a walk or jog every day, avoid the elevator, and use public transport less.
- During menstruation, you should reduce the consumption of foods that retain fluid in the body. You cannot eat salty or spicy foods, watermelons, grapes, drink coffee or alcoholic beverages.
- Shoes should be comfortable. High heels, shoes that do not fit, uncomfortable lasts - all this leads to rapid leg fatigue, puts additional stress on the spine and pelvis, and provokes the development of varicose veins.
- The cause of pain, swelling, and cramps in the calf muscles may be a lack of vitamins and minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. In the winter season, when a person consumes less fresh vegetables and fruits, you need to take multivitamin complexes.
Women over 35 years of age who take oral contraceptives should consult a gynecologist and phlebologist. OCs increase the risk of thrombosis, so it is undesirable to take them at this age, especially if the woman smokes and drinks alcohol.
Source: https://www.OldLekar.ru/plan-beremennosti/mesyachnie/bolyat-nogi-pered-mesyachnymi.html
Pain in the legs during the reproductive period
Many women experience pain in their legs at a fairly mature age. It would seem where pain in the lower extremities comes from at this age, because the hormonal system must function smoothly.
In addition, all reproductive organs have reached their development and different parts of the body should no longer conflict with each other, as happens in adolescence. But still, the female body is not so simple. And during childbearing years, women can also suffer from painful sensations in the legs.
This happens for the following reasons:
- The reason why legs hurt during menstruation in women can be a difficult birth or cesarean section. Unpleasant sensations can occur before, during, and after menstruation. This happens because after the birth of a child, the pelvic bones do not always return to their original position. As a result, microcirculation in the blood vessels changes. Some women also note that menstruation after childbirth is accompanied by nagging pain in the back. This occurs due to stretching or displacement of ligaments, which are the cause of pain or numbness in the legs.
- The cause of discomfort in the legs during menstruation can be spinal injuries, as well as previous abdominal surgeries. Such conditions can cause disturbances in the patient’s blood circulation in the vessels, as well as disturbances in the functioning of nerve bundles. As a result of all this, thrombosis and adhesions are formed, which negatively affect the menstrual cycle.
Atypical pain - can your legs hurt?
Menstruation in girls begins at the age of approximately 11-14 years and lasts until menopause - 50-60 years. During this period, more than once the female gender turns to experienced and specialized specialists - gynecologists.
Appeals can be for various reasons - just an annual examination or the presence of any complaints. Mostly with the question of why there is pain between the legs during menstruation, they come:
- mothers with their daughters at the beginning of the menstrual cycle;
- women of childbearing age;
- women who are awaiting menopause.
Pain syndrome can persist both during periods of rest and during periods of physical activity. This happens due to hormones, which play an important role in this process. Many women and girls cannot even walk; any movement brings them discomfort.
Leg pain during menopause
The period of menopause is also unstable and changeable, like adolescence. Only here many functions are already fading away. Accordingly, all this is reflected in the legs in the form of heaviness, swelling and pain, which increase during rare menstruation.
The causes of leg pain during menopause may be the same as during reproductive age. But new ones are being added to them:
- Rippling hormones. This symptom is more characteristic of premenopause. The woman does not lose the feeling that her period is about to begin. This is all aggravated by engorgement of the mammary glands, headache, and discomfort in the abdomen. Such symptoms can persist for a very long time, and they are also accompanied by heaviness in the legs.
- Pathologies that appear as a result of aging of the body. This list of diseases can be listed for a very long time, starting from gynecological problems and ending with oncology. Diseases such as osteochondrosis, vertebral hernia, thrombophlebitis and others lead to painful sensations in the legs. In most cases, this symptom is suffered by those women who, with age, begin to lead a passive lifestyle and refuse to take medications to make menopause easier.
Pain in the legs during PMS is systematic and can be the result of a serious illness. Therefore, at the first manifestation of discomfort in the lower extremities, you should consult a doctor.
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When to go to the doctor
If a young lady’s legs swell during menstruation and a nagging pain syndrome is observed, we may be talking about:
- rheumatoid arthritis;
- spinal osteochondrosis;
- development of a hernia;
- progression of Raynaud's disease;
- multiple sclerosis;
- development of atherosclerosis;
- beginning stroke;
- neuropathy;
- the growth of a benign or cancerous tumor.
With rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation develops, which leads to joint deformation. Innervation of the legs in spinal osteochondrosis is explained by pinching of nerve bundles by bone growths. With multiple sclerosis or atherosclerosis, the vessels and sheaths of nerve fibers of the lower extremities are affected. Neuropathy is characterized by damage to the nerve endings of the legs.
The legs often ache before menstruation in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle. The occurrence of pain is caused by stagnation of blood in the legs. Unpleasant symptoms may be present in the case of a difficult birth or a history of gynecological surgery.