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Is leg pain at night often interrupting your sleep? It could more than a normal sign of getting older. Pain in your legs and feet at night, or when trying to sleep, is often a symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD). Peripheral artery disease leg pain can occur anywhere in your leg, but the most common places to feel pain are in the muscles of your calf, thigh or buttocks.

When should I be concerned about leg pain?

See your health care provider as soon as possible if you have: –

• Symptoms of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C).
• A leg that is swollen, pale or cooler than usual.
• Calf pain, especially after sitting for a long time, such as on a long car trip or plane ride.
• Swelling in both legs along with breathing problems.
• Any serious leg symptoms that start for no clear reason.

Why do my legs hurt more in bed?

Circulation pain – 4. Blood clots Blood clots often occur to people who have recently been travelling, especially those that were on long distance flights or sitting for long periods of time. The physical presence of a blood clot will alert you to something being wrong. Common symptoms include:

It usually only affects one leg Abnormal redness Pain in your leg that is throbbing or cramping May be localised warmth and swelling

It is strongly recommended that you seek help from a medical professional as soon as possible if you are experiencing any of these symptoms.5. Vein issues Varicose veins are enlarged, swollen and twisted veins that are the result of poor circulation, and are particularly common in people with fluid retention issues.

Walking and being active gets your blood moving. Calf raises when you are seated to aid compression of the veins to push the blood back up to the heart. Elevating your legs to encourage gravity to aid returning of blood flow back up your legs to your heart. Discuss your symptoms with your GP. Medical grade compression stockings dispensed by one of our podiatrists.

6. Artery disease When not enough blood is getting to your feet, this lack of circulation can cause pain in your leg muscles. People often help to alleviate this pain by hanging their legs over the side of the bed or standing up, which sends blood pumping back through the feet (thank you gravity).

Smokers Diabetics Cardiovascular disease High cholesterol and high blood pressure Obesity Elderly

Our podiatrists at The Feet People can help diagnose the above circulation problems and recommend an action plan. However we do also recommend seeing your general practitioner if you’re experiencing similar symptoms, especially if you’re showing signs of a blood clot.

What does a blood clot in your leg feel like?

Signs that you may have a blood clot – Many people who have a blood clot notice discomfort in the affected leg and can’t attribute the problem to a recent injury, overuse or another factor. They’re more common after surgery and among people on bed rest or those who sit for long periods without stretching. Symptoms include:

leg pain or discomfort that may feel like a pulled muscle, tightness, cramping or soreness swelling in the affected leg redness or discoloration of the sore spot the affected area feeling warm to the touch a throbbing sensation in the affected leg

Some people don’t experience noticeable symptoms, which makes it difficult for them to recognize that they should seek care. Blood clots are more common among people who:

smoke are obese take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy have a personal or family history of blood clots

What are the warning signs of peripheral vascular disease?

Numbness, weakness, or heaviness in muscles. Pain (described as burning or aching) at rest, commonly in the toes and at night while lying flat. Paleness when the legs are elevated. Reddish-blue discoloration of the extremities.

How can I check my leg circulation at home?

3. The Pillow Test – Put your feet up and relax! The comfiest of the seven tests, the pillow test measures how healthy your arteries are. If you suffer from poor artery health due to peripheral artery disease, an arterial disease caused by plaque buildup, it can be hard for blood to travel through your veins and can lead to coronary heart disease or even cut off the blood supply to your limbs.

• The test: Gather a few pillows or cushions and use them to prop up both legs so they’re at a 45-degree angle while you lie on your back.
• As you’re resting, notice if your legs become paler or retain their original color throughout the span of a minute.
• Once the minute is up, lower your legs down from the cushions as fast as you can, allowing them to dangle off the side of the surface you were lying on at a 90-degree angle.

If your legs turned pale while propped up and took a bit to return to normal after letting them dangle, you may have blockages in your arteries and you should make an appointment with your physician right away.

What kind of leg pain is associated with heart disease?

Circulation and leg pain – Your legs are distant from your heart, yet when you walk, your legs, especially your calf muscles, need blood to work hard. If your legs hurt when you walk, it could be due to poor circulation. Your age, lifestyle, and genetics all play a role in a substance called plaque building up in your arteries.

• Plaque both narrows your blood vessels and makes them less flexible, making it more difficult for your blood to flow to where it’s needed.
• If you have plaque buildup in your blood vessels, you may feel pain in your calves when they need blood quickly.
• That pain is called claudication, and claudication is a symptom of peripheral artery disease, or PAD.

Some people describe claudication as an ache; others say it’s excruciating. The variability in how people experience the pain of claudication can make it difficult to recognize.

Which leg is your main artery in?

When should I call my doctor? – Complete, sudden blockage of the femoral artery is a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:

Leg paralysis (inability to move your leg). Numbness in your leg. Severe leg pain. Sudden coldness in your leg. Very pale or blue skin on your leg.

Long-term narrowing or total blockage of the femoral artery can cause claudication, fatigue and painful cramping in the calf muscles when walking. In extreme situations, a blocked artery in your leg can lead to amputation (removal) of your toes, foot or leg.

This may happen if the tissues don’t receive blood or oxygen for a prolonged period of time. A note from Cleveland Clinic The femoral artery is the major blood vessel supplying blood to your legs. It’s in your upper thigh, right near your groin. The artery is a common access point for minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures because of its large diameter.

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) often affects the femoral artery, causing pain, cramping and other problems in your legs. You can reduce your risk for problems in your femoral artery by not smoking, managing your weight and blood pressure, exercising and eating a healthy diet.

Why have I got a dull ache in my leg?

Leg pain is a symptom with many possible causes. Most leg pain results from wear and tear or overuse. It also can result from injuries or health conditions in joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine.

1. Gout
2. Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis)
3. Osteoarthritis
4. Pseudogout
5. Psoriatic arthritis
6. Reactive arthritis
7. Rheumatoid arthritis

Blood flow problems

1. Claudication
2. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
3. Peripheral artery disease (PAD)
4. Thrombophlebitis
5. Varicose veins

Bone conditions

1. Ankylosing spondylitis
2. Bone cancer
3. Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
4. Osteochondritis dissecans
5. Paget’s disease of bone

Infection

1. Cellulitis
2. Infection
3. Osteomyelitis
4. Septic arthritis

Injury

1. Achilles tendinitis
2. Achilles tendon rupture
3. ACL injury
4. Broken leg
5. Bursitis
6. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome
7. Growth plate fractures
8. Hamstring injury
9. Knee bursitis
10. Muscle strains
11. Patellar tendinitis
12. Patellofemoral pain syndrome
13. Shin splints
14. Sprains
15. Stress fractures
16. Tendinitis
17. Torn meniscus

Nerve problems

1. Herniated disk
2. Meralgia paresthetica
3. Peripheral neuropathy
4. Sciatica
5. Spinal stenosis

Muscle conditions

1. Dermatomyositis
2. Medicines, especially the cholesterol medicines known as statins
3. Myositis
4. Polymyositis

Other problems

1. Baker cyst
2. Growing pains
3. Muscle cramp
4. Night leg cramps
5. Restless legs syndrome
6. Low levels of certain vitamins, such as vitamin D
7. Too much or too little of electrolytes, such as calcium or potassium

Causes shown here are commonly associated with this symptom. Work with your doctor or other health care professional for an accurate diagnosis.

Why can’t I feel my legs when I lay down?

Posture – Postural habits that put pressure on nerves or reduce blood flow in the lower limbs are the most common cause of temporary numbness in the legs and feet. Many people say their leg has “fallen asleep,” and the medical term is transient (temporary) paresthesia. Habits that can cause the feet and legs to fall asleep include:

crossing the legs for too long sitting or kneeling for long periods sitting on the feet wearing pants, socks, or shoes that are too tight

Injury Injuries to the torso, spine, hips, legs, ankles, and feet can put pressure on nerves and cause the feet and legs to go numb. Diabetes Some people with diabetes develop a type of nerve damage called diabetic neuropathy, Diabetic neuropathy can cause numbness, tingling, and pain in the feet, and if severe, the legs as well.

1. Lower back issues and sciatica Problems in the lower back, such as a breakdown or herniation of spinal discs, can cause compression of the nerves going to the legs, leading to numbness or sensory disturbances.
2. Sciatica is the name for irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back to the legs.

If this nerve becomes irritated or compressed, a person may experience numbness or tingling in their legs or feet. Tarsal tunnel syndrome Tarsal tunnel syndrome occurs when a nerve that runs down the back of the leg and along the inside of the ankle and into the foot is compressed, squeezed, or damaged.

1. The tarsal tunnel is a narrow space on the inside of the ankle.
2. People with tarsal tunnel syndrome tend to feel numbness, burning, tingling, and shooting pain in their ankles, heels, and feet.
3. Peripheral artery disease Peripheral artery disease (PAD) causes the peripheral blood arteries in the legs, arms, and stomach to narrow, reducing the amount of blood they can pump and reducing blood flow.

The legs are one of the most common parts of the body impacted by PAD. Most people with PAD experience pain and cramping in their legs and hips when they are walking or going upstairs. Some people with PAD also experience leg numbness and weakness. Symptoms of PAD typically go away after a few minutes of rest.

1. Tumors or other abnormal growths Tumors, cysts, abscesses, and benign (non-cancerous) growths can put pressure on the brain, spinal cord, or any part of the legs and feet.
2. This pressure can restrict blood flow to the legs and feet, causing numbness.
3. Alcohol use The toxins in alcohol can cause nerve damage that is associated with numbness, especially in the feet.

Chronic or excessive alcohol consumption can also lead to nerve damage that causes numbness. This type of nerve damage is linked to reduced levels of B vitamins, such as B-1 (thiamine), B-9 (folate), and B-12, which is caused by excessive alcohol intake.

stiffness and soreness for no apparent reason, especially in the morning or after sleeping chronic exhaustion memory problems and difficulty thinking clearly, sometimes called fibro-fog restless leg syndrome

Almost everyone with fibromyalgia experiences symptoms in more than one part of their body for at least 3 months at a time. If numbness in the legs and feet is not accompanied by any other symptoms or is not long-term, it is unlikely to be caused by fibromyalgia.

1. Multiple sclerosis People with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience sensory nerve damage that can cause numbness in a small region of their body or whole limbs.
2. Although numbness associated with MS often only lasts for a short period, it can last long enough to become disabling.
3. Stokes and mini-strokes Strokes or mini-strokes can cause brain damage that may affect how the mind interprets and processes nerve signals.

A stroke or mini-stroke can sometimes cause temporary or long-term numbness in parts of the body.

Why does pain get worse at night?

Why might chronic pain increase at night? – There are several reasons why pain might worsen at night. Hormones could be a major factor, says Slawsby. “Nighttime is when the production of the anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol is at its lowest.” New research also has suggested that pain may follow a circadian rhythm like the body’s internal 24-clock that regulates our sleep-wake cycle.

1. This helps explain why some people regularly have higher pain levels at certain times, such as during the night,” says Slawsby.
2. While there is no good time for chronic pain, nighttime is especially problematic, as it disrupts sleep.
3. Insufficient sleep affects our ability to manage pain,
4. And sleep problems are common among people with chronic pain.

At least 50% of people with insomnia (the most commonly diagnosed sleep disorder) suffer from chronic pain. “Insomnia can lead to sleep deprivation, which increases the release of proteins called cytokines that are involved in the body’s inflammatory response and makes people even more sensitive to pain,” says Slawsby.

What does it mean if your legs start hurting at night?

Common causes of lower leg ache at night may include muscle cramps, muscle or tendon inflammation, bone fracture, blood clots (such as deep vein thrombosis ), varicose veins, peripheral artery disease (PAD), peripheral neuropathy, pregnancy, gout, and inflammatory arthritis.

Muscle cramps

May be caused by dehydration and low levels of electrolytes such as salt

Muscle or tendon inflammation

May be caused by an injury or overuse

Bone fracture

Caused by injury to the bone

Blood clots, such as deep vein thrombosis ( DVT )

Caused by blood flow in the veins becoming slowed or blocked, which may be due to:

Injury to the leg veins Illness that affects the veins Immobility Obesity Recent surgery Pregnancy or childbirth in the past six months Broken bone in the hips, pelvis, or legs Certain medications

Varicose veins

Caused by weak or damaged vein walls and valves, which may be due to:

Being overweight or obese Sedentary lifestyle Pregnancy A tumor Genetics

Peripheral artery disease (PAD)

The main cause of PAD is buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries ( atherosclerosis ), which is often associated with:

Smoking Diabetes Cardiovascular disease High cholesterol and high blood pressure Obesity Old age

Peripheral neuropathy

Caused by damage to or compression of a nerve

Pregnancy

Leg ache at night during pregnancy is common and may be due to:

Increased blood volume during pregnancy Extra strain on the body from carrying more weight than it is used to The uterus putting extra pressure on veins that carry blood back from the lower body, partially blocking blood flow and keeping fluids in the legs

Gout A form of inflammatory arthritis that can be painful, due to excess uric acid in the body

Often caused by eating foods with high levels of compounds called purines, such as alcoholic beverages, some seafood and shellfish, some meats, organ meats, high-fat foods, sodas with high-fructose corn syrup, and yeast

Which leg pain is serious?

When should I see a doctor? – Sometimes, leg pain can signal something more serious like a fracture, deep vein thrombosis or compartment syndrome, Seek medical attention urgently if:

the leg is swollen it looks deformed or you can’t use it properly it is unusually cool or pale it is numb and weak it is red and warm both legs are swollen and you have breathing problems the pain is getting worse

See your doctor as soon as possible if you have signs of infection, like a fever, calf pain after going on a long journey, or any serious symptoms that come on with no explanation.

What deficiency causes leg pain at night?

Potassium. Potassium helps maintain normal cell function in the body, particularly in the nerves and muscles. It is relatively common for people to have a potassium deficiency. However, if a person has a severe deficiency, they may experience symptoms such as leg cramps.