What causes aching legs in the elderly?

As you age, your tendons naturally shorten and result in leg muscle cramps. These cramps are more likely to occur at night (in fact, 75% of reported leg cramps occur during this time) while you're trying to sleep and can make it quite challenging to rest.
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Why do legs ache in old age?

Pain in the legs can occur as a result of natural wear and tear, muscle overexertion, or an underlying medical condition. Older adults are more at risk of experiencing leg pain as they lose muscle mass with age. Leg pain can be very uncomfortable and can disrupt daily activities.
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How do you get rid of leg pain in the elderly?

Home Care
  1. Rest as much as possible.
  2. Elevate your leg.
  3. Apply ice for up to 15 minutes. Do this 4 times per day, more often for the first few days.
  4. Gently stretch and massage cramping muscles.
  5. Take over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
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What are aching legs a symptom of?

Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Leg pain can also be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor circulation.
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When should I worry about achy legs?

See your doctor as soon as possible if you have:

A leg that is swollen, pale or unusually cool. Calf pain, particularly after prolonged sitting, such as on a long car trip or plane ride. Swelling in both legs along with breathing problems. Any serious leg symptoms that develop for no apparent reason.
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11 Causes of Achy Legs



Is leg pain related to heart?

Leg pain and chest pain do not typically occur together. However, there is a connection between leg pain and heart health, so a person may experience both of these symptoms at the same time. If a person is experiencing chest pain, they should seek medical attention immediately as it may indicate a heart attack.
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What kind of leg pain is associated with heart disease?

“Most assume that all leg pain is musculoskeletal or nerve-related, but people need to know that some forms of leg pain can be the first sign of heart disease.” Claudication is the medical term for leg pain that happens during activity.
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How can I stop my legs from aching at night?

How can I stop leg pain at night?
  1. Elevate your feet. Put a pillow or folded blanket underneath your mattress. ...
  2. Ease into the evening. Many people are active up until the moment they jump in bed. ...
  3. Do some yoga. ...
  4. Drink plenty of water.
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Why do legs ache at night?

Some people write off nightly leg pain as a symptom of getting older, but if you are experiencing nightly leg pain that is interrupting your sleep that could be a symptom of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). Peripheral Artery Disease is a circulatory disease that is caused by fatty deposits in your artery walls.
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What medications cause leg pain?

These medications can cause leg cramps in 3% of people who take them or less:
  • Bupropion (Wellbutrin)
  • Celecoxib (Celebrex)
  • Cetirizine (Zyrtec)
  • Fluoxetine (Prozac)
  • Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn)
  • Pregabalin (Lyrica)
  • Sertraline (Zoloft)
  • Short-acting inhalers such as ipratropium/albuterol (Combivent) and levalbuterol (Xopenex).
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What vitamins are good for aching legs?

For muscles to contract properly, they need assistance from essential vitamins and minerals like Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, Sodium Chloride, and vitamins like Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin D and Vitamin K. Each of these nutrients plays a significant role in healthy muscle contraction.
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What is the best home remedy for leg pain?

It's short for rest, ice, compression, and elevation.
  • Rest. If movement is painful at first, rest your legs and stay off them as much as you can until you're able to move without pain.
  • Ice. Keep an ice pack on your legs for about 20 minutes every hour over the first 3 days after symptoms start. ...
  • Compression. ...
  • Elevation.
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What is a natural remedy for leg pain?

How Can I Relieve Leg Pain Naturally?
  • Get Moving. Exercise is also associated with a reduction in arthritis joint pain. ...
  • Eat more fiber. ...
  • Stretch. ...
  • Turmeric. ...
  • Practice good sleep habits. ...
  • Use Cold Compress. ...
  • Drink More Water. ...
  • Drink Apple Cider Vinegar.
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Are aches and pains normal in old age?

As you age, it's normal to suffer from aches and pains in your joints and muscles as you lose muscle mass and bone density. Normal aches and pains caused by aging include: Neck pain or stiffness. Lower back pain.
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How do you stop stiffness in old age?

3 ways to prevent joint stiffness
  1. Manage your weight. Excess body weight strains joints—particularly knees. ...
  2. Keep moving. Joints are meant to be used, but if we don't warm up before exercising and stretch often to avoid getting stiff, we'll be creaking like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz. ...
  3. Remember to pace yourself.
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Can dehydration cause achy legs?

You may particularly experience leg cramps in your calf muscles and thigh muscles. You may also have involuntary contractions like muscle spasms. Dehydration also decreases blood volume. That means your muscles and organs have less blood flow, resulting in cramps and spasms.
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Can High BP cause leg pain?

High blood pressure is a risk factor for poor circulation, a condition also medically diagnosed as peripheral arterial disease, causing symptoms such as leg aches and pain, leg cramps in the calf or thighs while exercising or weakness in the legs.
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Why do my legs ache when sitting or lying down?

Most people will experience achy legs at some point in their lives. They're a common side-effect of deep-muscle workouts, long walks or hikes, or even spending too much time on your feet at work. Typically, aching legs caused by overexertion will subside within a few days.
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Do bananas help with restless leg syndrome?

Eating more fruits, like bananas, can help restless legs syndrome. Eating more vegetables, like leafy greens, can help restless legs syndrome‌
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Is Magnesium good for aching legs?

Getting more magnesium from your diet or from a supplement seems to help some people with their leg cramps, but the scientific evidence doesn't support the effectiveness of magnesium for cramps. Magnesium citrate may be the most effective type if you want to try a supplement.
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What are the signs of clogged arteries in your legs?

The narrowing of the arteries causes a decrease in blood flow. Symptoms include leg pain, numbness, cold legs or feet and muscle pain in the thighs, calves or feet. The arteries which supply blood to the leg originate from the aorta and iliac vessels.
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Does heart failure affect your legs?

Heart failure occurs when the heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. Blood often backs up and causes fluid to build up in the lungs (congest) and in the legs. The fluid buildup can cause shortness of breath and swelling of the legs and feet.
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What are the 4 stages of congestive heart failure?

There are four heart failure stages (Stage A, B, C and D). The stages range from "high risk of developing heart failure" to "advanced heart failure."
...
Stage C
  • Shortness of breath.
  • Feeling tired (fatigue).
  • Less able to exercise.
  • Weak legs.
  • Waking up to urinate.
  • Swollen feet, ankles, lower legs and abdomen (edema).
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When should I be concerned about leg pain NHS?

leg cramps are disturbing your sleep. you also have numbness or swelling in your legs. cramps last longer than 10 minutes. you have any other symptoms or concerns.
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Can a blocked artery cause leg pain?

Claudication is a symptom of a narrowing or blockage of an artery. Typical symptoms of claudication include: Pain, a burning feeling, or a tired feeling in the legs and buttocks when you walk.
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