Your Legs Matter

Val Reeves • 13 October 2021

11th-15th of October sees allied health professionals and GPs as well as a number of charities across the foot and lower limb related sector recognise "legs matter week".

The Legs Matter campaign website (www.legsmatter.org) states that "non-healing wounds of the leg and foot are one of the UK’s biggest health challenges. Despite this, conditions of the leg and foot do not currently receive the care or attention they urgently need. Every day, thousands of people’s quality of life is devastated by the lack of awareness, prompt diagnosis and correct treatment of lower leg and foot conditions."

Many people who could be at risk of suffering from complications related to conditions of the lower limbs may not realise that their GP, nurse or pharmacist might not be best placed to ensure that they are receiving the most appropriate treatment for their problem. This is where Podiatrists really excel as foot and lower limb specialists and can often prevent conditions becoming much more serious, saving both the patient and the NHS time and money.

Two common leg related ailments that we often see or are asked about in private practice are cramp and varicose veins. Bethany, one of the FHB podiatrists has shared her expert knowledge on both conditions, describing not only the complaints themselves but explaining at what point these become problematic and require professional attention.

Cramp

Leg cramps are sudden pains in the legs caused by leg muscles becoming tight. Causes can include ageing, lots of exercise, dehydration and pregnancy. The best way of treating these are calf stretching, self massage and drinking plenty of water.

In rare cases cramps can also be caused by circulation issues. If there is cramp when you are walking and and you are having to stop to ease your symptoms then you should consult a podiatrist at the earliest opportunity as this could be a sign of reduced blood flow and will require further investigations. This is especially important if you smoke and/or have diabetes as these are risk factors for impaired blood flow to the legs.

Varicose veins

Varicose veins are enlarged veins that can present on the legs and feet. They are commonly blue or dark purple and bulging and look twisted. You may have other symptoms like aching and heavy legs and burning or muscle cramp. It is more common in women, the elderly and in jobs where you stand a lot. Symptoms are usually worse in the warmer weather but improve when you exercise or rest and elevate your legs.

If painful or the skin affected is sore then you may need to be assessed as you may require compression stockings or surgical intervention.

FHB's Clinical Director, Amanda, stresses the importance of acting proactively rather than reactively when it comes to your foot and lower limb care. She stresses that "it is imperative that you do not wait until the pain is excruciating, even if the problem appears to be initially minimal, prevention is better than cure. It is preferable to seek clarification of the condition together with professional advice to prevent a worsening and what could potentially be a life-altering outcome."