Most people suspect that they have a common leg sprain or bruise when they feel pain in the area below the kneecaps. However, in 75% of cases, a serious pathology manifests itself - inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg.
The disease is insidious, since it progresses quickly, often occurs in a latent form for a long time, and most importantly, it can provoke a number of complications. Every person, especially those who are fond of sports, needs to know the first symptoms of the disease, who to contact and how the treatment goes.
Features of inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg
The inflammatory process of the periosteum of the lower leg or another name periostitis refers to complex pathologies that arise in the body for many reasons.
In 45% of cases, this disease occurs at first in a mild form or without symptoms, as a result of which the person is not aware of the problem and does not start to sound the alarm in a timely manner.
Since periostitis initially proceeds with almost no symptoms or a person feels slight discomfort in the lower extremities, he may mistakenly assume that he has a minor injury to the knee or lower leg.
Doctors distinguish many features of this disease.
The main ones are:
- Has a similar symptomatology with dislocations and bruises.
At the initial stage, only a doctor can detect periostitis after an examination.
- Rapid progression.
- With age, treatment becomes longer and more difficult, doctors do not always give positive prognosis.
- In a neglected form, extensive damage to tissues and joints is noted.
- Without treatment, bones are affected.
Also, a feature of inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg is that pathology is diagnosed in 70% of cases in athletes or citizens who are constantly engaged in physical labor.
Inflammation causes
In the human body, inflammation of the lower leg periosteum is noted for many reasons.
The primary doctors include:
Exhausting physical labor and lack of time for good rest.
The main risk group is for people who:
- work as loaders;
- make a rash decision to pump up muscle mass and exhaust themselves with constant training;
- stand on their feet for 8 - 12 hours a day;
- move a little, for example, work in a sedentary job or voluntarily do not want to lead an active lifestyle;
- with disabilities.
Continuous sports training at a professional or amateur level.
As doctors note with this pathology in 95% of cases, they face:
- runners;
- cyclists;
- weightlifters;
- football players;
- volleyball players;
- hockey players and others who have a significant load on the lower limbs.
Injuries sustained, in particular:
- fractures of the leg, hip bones and other things;
- bruises of the lower extremities;
- stretching the muscles of the lower leg.
Progression of concomitant diseases, for example:
- rheumatism;
- osteochondrosis;
- arthritis and others.
Failure to remove organisms of harmful components that lead to intoxication and disruption of the integrity of bone fibers.
Long-term treatment with medications that provoked intoxication.
Taking medications can lead to inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg in the case when a person began to use medications on his own and without a doctor's prescription.
Varieties and symptoms of pathology
Periostitis is classified by doctors into two types - acute and chronic. In the first option, the person experiences severe pain and discoloration of the skin. The prognosis is more favorable, especially if treatment is started without delay.
Doctors diagnose the chronic form when concomitant and serious symptoms are observed, and the inflammatory process is noted deep in the bones.
In addition, the disease is classified according to the form of severity:
- Simple - the inflammatory process did not start in bone tissue and bones. The prognosis is positive, in 97% of cases, a person recovers after 3 to 4 weeks of intensive therapy.
- Purulent - purulent formations in the tissues are noted, bones are damaged.
- Serous - has identical symptoms, like the purulent form, only in humans, in addition, the appearance of racemose sacs with serous fluid is noted.
- Fibrous - a dangerous form, a lesion in the bones, purulent formations and fibrous thickenings are diagnosed. Plus, the patient does not lose high body temperature.
Without treatment, purulent, serous and fibrous periostitis can lead to irreversible consequences, in particular, purulent formations in the brain are not excluded.
In general, inflammation of the leg periosteum has the following symptoms:
- Severe pain below the knees.
At the initial stage, pain can be noted only after physical activity. When the pathology has passed from a simple form to a purulent, serous or fibrous one, the pain syndrome does not subside even during sleep, but increases as the disease progresses.
- Swelling of the periosteum.
- Discoloration of the skin below the knees to the heels.
In this area, the skin becomes bluish or red in color.
- Inability to step on a sore leg and walk fully.
- Swelling, especially in the late afternoon.
- High body temperature and fever.
High temperature is observed with purulent, serous and fibrous form.
Diagnostics and treatment of inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg
Inflammation of the periosteum of the leg can only be diagnosed by doctors and provided that the patient:
- described in detail the severity of symptoms;
- passed an initial examination by a therapist, traumatologist, orthopedist and surgeon;
- passed the prescribed tests;
- underwent an ultrasound and made an x-ray.
Exclusively X-ray and ultrasound can clarify what caused the inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg, and most importantly, they will help specialists to choose the right treatment correctly.
In general, with diagnosed periostitis, only complex treatment is prescribed, including:
- Taking strong medications under the supervision of the attending physician.
- Dropper course (if necessary).
- Various physiotherapy procedures.
- Application of non-traditional methods of therapy.
It is allowed to resort to traditional medicine if it is prescribed by experts as an aid in relieving pain symptoms.
Drug treatment
With a confirmed inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg, doctors must prescribe medications. Without a course of drugs, recovery is impossible, and most importantly, the pathology will quickly turn into a purulent and chronic form.
When drugs are prescribed, they must be drunk strictly, as the doctor recommended, in a specific dosage and a certain number of days. Otherwise, recovery will not occur, and the disease will flow to the chronic stage.
Basically, people with inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg are prescribed:
- Pain relievers or pills.
Droppers are indicated for purulent, serous and fibrous form, as well as when severe pains even during rest.
- Preparations that relieve the inflammatory process in the lower leg.
- Injections or droppers to help remove purulent lesions in bone tissue.
- Antibiotics.
Antibiotics remove intoxication and relieve the acute form of inflammation.
Also, with such a pathology, they are prescribed:
- bed rest, especially during the period of intensive treatment;
- wearing a splint or tight bandage that reduces the risk of injury to the injured leg.
With severe lesions, in particular, extensive appearance of purulent formations in the body, doctors resort to emergency surgical intervention.
Physiotherapy
A course of physiotherapy procedures helps to recover faster and get rid of pain.
Basically, with inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg, they are prescribed:
- UHF - therapy. Thanks to this method, there is a reduction in swelling, tissue repair and pain relief.
- Galvanization. As a result, there is a faster recovery and healing of tissues, a decrease in purulent formations.
- Laser treatment.
Doctors decide which method of physiotherapy procedures should be prescribed for a particular patient. The presence of purulent formations is taken into account, in what form is the pathology and general symptoms.
Traditional methods
If inflammation of the shin periosteum is detected, experts often recommend resorting to folk methods. This method of treatment is used as an adjunct to the main therapy.
The main alternative methods as a treatment for inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg are:
- Applying ice to the problem area.
Ice is applied twice a day and for 20 minutes.
- Chamomile compresses. It is necessary to prepare a decoction of chamomile, moisten a cotton pad in it and apply to the diseased area.
Chamomile compresses are done 3 to 4 times a day.
- Drinking sage infusion.
For cooking you should:
- Pour 15 grams of dry sage with 150 milliliters of boiling water;
- cover with a lid on top;
- strain after half an hour;
- cool and drink 25 milliliters twice a day.
Sage infusion helps reduce inflammation and accelerates tissue repair.
The use of folk methods to relieve inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg can be hazardous to health. Only a specialist can confidently say whether or not they can be treated with such methods.
Preventive measures
Preventive measures help to reduce the likelihood of developing inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg. As doctors note, if such recommendations are not neglected, the risk of this disease will decrease by 3.5 times, and in the event of this pathology, everything will pass in a mild form and easier to treat.
As a preventive measure, experts advise:
- Avoid physical exercise to the point of exhaustion.
Any physical activity should be in moderation, and most importantly, gradually become more difficult.
- Never stand on your feet for more than two hours in a row.
When standing work, it is important to take a short break every 1.5 - 2 hours, during which you need to sit down or massage the calf muscles.
- Regularly do simple leg exercises to strengthen muscles.
- Make it a rule to stretch your muscles before basic physical exercises, for example, jumping in place or squatting.
- Regularly visit a therapist and take tests.
- Never prescribe medication on your own, especially for pain in the lower extremities.
- After receiving bruises, injuries, sprains and other things, observe the prescribed bed rest and restrictions on physical activity.
After suffering injuries, doctors do not recommend starting training immediately and at the same pace. It is important to increase the load moderately and constantly monitor your well-being.
Inflammation of the periosteum of the lower leg refers to a severe pathology, in which the inflammatory process in tissues and bones progresses, purulent formations and sacs with serous fluid appear.
Without a timely detected pathology and prescribed complex treatment, there will be no favorable outcome. A person runs the risk of experiencing pain in the lower leg all his life, having stiffness and difficulty walking, and even becoming disabled.
Blitz - tips:
- at the first signs of the development of an inflammatory process of the periosteum of the lower leg, for example, if pain appears below the knees, you should immediately visit a traumatologist or therapist;
- never shorten or supplement the prescribed course of treatment, this is extremely dangerous to health and can provoke the transition of the disease into a severe form;
- in situations where therapy has been discharged, but the state of health continues to deteriorate, an urgent visit to the attending physician is required, re-tests and examinations. The specialists may need to adjust the prescribed treatment or resort to surgery.
