Why Do My Legs Hurt on My Period? Causes & Relief Tips

Intervals usually convey the anticipated cramps, bloating, and temper swings, however for a lot of girls, leg ache is one other unwelcome symptom. You may be asking, “Why do my legs damage on my interval?” You’re not alone.

Leg ache throughout menstruation can vary from a uninteresting ache to sharp, capturing discomfort, and is extra widespread than you’d assume. Let’s dive into the causes of leg ache in periods, the way it feels, the way it differs from common muscle soreness, and the perfect methods to seek out reduction.

8 Causes Why Your Legs Harm Throughout Intervals

In case you are questioning, What causes leg ache throughout my interval, there will be a number of physiological or pathological (disease-related) causes:

1. Hormonal Fluctuations

• A study reveals that low ranges of estrogen throughout menstruation or durations trigger fluid retention. This contributes to leg ache and swelling.

• Additionally, the excessive progesterone ranges throughout menstruation may cause leg swelling and discomfort because of the leisure of the vein partitions. 

2. Extreme Prostaglandin Manufacturing

• The physique releases prostaglandins to ease uterine contractions. Nonetheless, extreme launch can result in stronger contractions, inflicting ache.

• Furthermore, prostaglandins assist with blood vessel constriction, which lowers the blood circulate to sure physique areas, just like the legs, inflicting ache and discomfort.

3. Cramps That Journey to Your Legs (Referred Ache)

• The nerves within the legs and uterus are carefully linked, particularly by means of the pelvis and decrease again. That is why decrease again ache in periods can radiate to the legs.

• This referred ache can really feel like sharp, capturing sensations or a uninteresting ache. 

4. Sciatica Throughout Intervals

• Because the uterus sits near the sciatic nerve (which runs down the again of every leg), the irritation and swelling within the uterus in periods can put stress on it, resulting in capturing ache in a single or each legs.

• This painful situation is known as “sciatica throughout menstruation,” which can be adopted by numbness and tingling sensations. 

5. Muscle Fatigue

• A lower in ranges of progesterone and estrogen earlier than durations impacts muscle perform, which ends up in cramps and leg ache.

• Additionally, a deficiency of magnesium (which is significant for muscle perform) in periods can contribute to leg muscle ache and cramps. 

6. Endometriosis or Different Medical Situations

• Research reveals that if endometriosis (a situation the place uterine tissue grows exterior the uterine cavity) impacts the sciatic nerve, it may well trigger ache radiating to the legs.

• Fibroids, that are non-cancerous growths within the uterus, can even trigger irritation and stress that may radiate to the leg and trigger ache and discomfort. 

7. Fluid Retention

• Hormonal fluctuations in periods can result in water retention, particularly within the legs, inflicting stress on the nerves and blood vessels.

• This added stress can contribute to ache, swelling, and heaviness within the legs.

8. Poor Circulation

• A rise in progesterone ranges earlier than durations may cause dilation and leisure of the vein partitions, which permits extreme blood to build up within the legs.

• The elevated blood quantity and its stress can stretch and trigger harm to the veins, particularly varicose veins, that are discovered within the legs. This, in flip, causes ache, soreness, and heaviness. 

What Does Interval-Associated Leg Ache Really feel Like?

The feeling of leg ache can differ primarily based on the causes. Principally, it seems like:

• Normal achiness: A heavy and drained feeling within the calves or thighs.

• Localized ache: Sharp or capturing ache in sure areas, such because the shins and knees.

• Radiating ache: Discomfort that begins within the pelvis or decrease again and radiates to the legs, regularly alongside the sciatic nerve.

• Throbbing ache: Looks like a pulsating sensation within the decrease legs, thighs, or calves. 

• Tingling or numbness sensations: Although much less widespread, it may well happen if it impacts the sciatic nerve. 

Is it Regular to Have Leg Ache Throughout Your Interval?

Sure, it is regular to have leg ache throughout menstruation or durations due to hormonal fluctuations, which trigger uterine contractions and blood vessel constrictions. Nonetheless, if the ache is sharp, long-lasting, or accompanied by leg heaviness or swelling, it’s not regular. Search medical consideration to seek out out underlying situations like endometriosis, which will be one of many potential causes. 

Leg Ache and Its Hyperlink to Endometriosis

Basically, endometriosis is a dysfunction the place uterine-like tissue grows exterior the uterine cavity. Endometriosis-related leg ache is completely different from regular muscle cramps and ache. It seems like a pointy, capturing, or radiating ache that travels down the thighs or into the buttocks. This ache usually will increase throughout or proper earlier than durations.

That is the way it can result in leg ache:

• Sciatic Nerve Irritation: Adhesion of endometrial tissue close to the pelvis can result in irritation of the sciatic nerve, which causes ache, tingling, or numbness sensations within the legs.

• Nerve Irritation: Irritation of the nerves, like pelvic nerves, sciatic nerves, and obturator nerves, can result in leg ache together with pelvic and belly ache.

• Nerve Compression or Harm: Compression or harm to nerves across the ovaries and uterus can impair the sensory and motor capabilities, which result in tingling, heaviness, and numbness sensations within the legs.

If the ache worsens with strolling and train, see a physician. The suppliers may also help verify the endometriosis and supply remedy like ache medicines, bodily remedy, and surgical procedure, like laparotomy or hysterectomy.

How Is Interval-Associated Leg Ache Completely different From Regular Muscle Soreness?

It may well differ primarily based on trigger, timing, ache location, and plenty of different points: 

When to See a Physician?

Leg ache throughout your interval is often regular, however see a physician if the ache:

• is sudden or extreme

• interferes with on a regular basis actions

• final even after the interval

• accompanied by different signs like swelling, fever, numbness, or uncommon vaginal discharge

Easy methods to Relieve Leg Ache Throughout Intervals?

Listed below are efficient methods to seek out reduction:

• Use warmth pads: Apply a heating pad to the decrease again or legs to chill out or calm muscle tissue and relieve ache.

• Observe stretching or train: Do light yoga, strolling, and particular stretches to spice up circulation and alleviate ache and stiffness.

• Take ache medicines: Have over-the-counter ache medicines like ibuprofen to decrease irritation and discomfort.

• Strive therapeutic massage: Strive massaging your decrease again and legs to alleviate pressure and improve blood circulate.

• Keep hydrated: Drink loads of water to alleviate bloating and cut back muscle cramps.

• Eat a balanced weight-reduction plan: Eat lean proteins, complete grains, fruits, nuts, and greens, nuts to cut back irritation. Keep away from refined sugar, saturated fat, purple meat, caffeine, and alcohol as they set off irritation.

• Scale back salt consumption: Minimize down on salt to cut back water retention and swelling within the legs.

• Elevate your legs: Elevate your legs above coronary heart degree to ease drainage of extreme fluid, which reduces leg swelling.

• Strive Dietary supplements: Take magnesium dietary supplements if magnesium deficiency is the reason for leg ache and cramps. Nonetheless, at all times seek the advice of a physician first earlier than utilizing the dietary supplements.

Remaining Ideas

When you’re questioning, “Why do my legs damage on my durations?” now you understand there are a number of potential causes, starting from hormonal imbalances and nerve points to underlying medical situations like endometriosis.

Whereas occasional leg ache is often innocent, if it’s intense, long-lasting, or interfering along with your routine, don’t ignore it. Discuss to a healthcare skilled to rule out critical situations and discover lasting reduction.

Often Requested Questions