Which doctor should I contact if my legs hurt

People complain about pain in the legs, regardless of age, gender, social status. The nature of the pain varies from case to case. Feeling pain in the legs, patients seek help in the surgical room, believing that the pain in the legs is treated by the surgeon.

Pain in the lower extremities, except for surgeons, is treated by dermatologists, neurologists, traumatologists - orthopedists, therapists.

Which doctor should I contact?

First, see a therapist

If your legs hurt, start by visiting your GP. He will conduct an initial examination, prescribe the necessary laboratory and clinical examination. Based on the results of the preliminary examination, the therapist will recommend to see a doctor who will prescribe the right treatment.

The following complaints should be treated by a therapist: stiffness in the morning, deformed, sore feet and knee joints of both legs, weakness, swelling of the legs, cramps, burning.

Treatment is carried out in a complex, together with a number of narrow specialists. Anti-inflammatory drugs, means of "nourishing" the joints, physiotherapy, physiotherapy exercises are prescribed

Here is a list of doctors treating and a description of which of them and in which case to contact.

It treats leg diseases requiring surgical intervention. These are injuries and their consequences, inflammatory processes in the muscles and the musculoskeletal system, tissue necrosis, systemic diseases that both therapists and neurologists can treat at the same time.

Contact the surgeon for local pain in the foot, knee, hip joints. They hurt, blush, swell.

The reason to consult a surgeon is a local inflammatory process in the soft tissues of the legs, the presence of ulcers on the legs and feet, especially with purulent discharge, ingrown nails and purulent processes in the foot.

The surgeon will prescribe the necessary laboratory and clinical studies, if necessary, perform surgery.

Vascular surgeon

A vascular surgeon or angiosurgeon is a narrow-profile clinical specialist in vascular diseases, their diagnosis, methods of treatment (both surgical and conservative), methods of primary and secondary prevention.

A vascular surgeon examines the blood and lymphatic vessels, their anatomical features, normal and pathological physiology, diagnosis and treatment methods.

They turn to him with heaviness in the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe foot, increased fatigue, if a capillary mesh appears on the skin of the legs. There is burning or tingling in the toes. The skin turns red and thickens. The venous pattern on the dorsal surface of the foot and shins is greatly enhanced. Pain, cramps appear in the calf muscles.

The skin of the lower extremities becomes cold to the touch and loses sensitivity. The calves are very sore while walking, intermittent lameness appears.

In severe cases, varicose veins and inflammation of the superficial and deep veins, trophic weeping ulcers develop. The toes turn black and gangrene of the foot develops.

In such cases, intensive conservative therapy with vascular drugs, antibiotics is prescribed, and surgery is performed according to indications.

Traumatologist - orthopedist

Deals with injuries and their consequences. The competence of the traumatologist includes flat feet, deforming arthrosis, curvature of the spine.

Methods of treatment - from foot massage and a complex of physiotherapy exercises, to complex surgical interventions. It is prescribed to wear orthopedic shoes, special stockings, insoles. The method is chosen individually.

Cases of contacting an orthopedic traumatologist:

Specialist in the field of systemic connective tissue diseases of inflammatory origin. With such disorders, damage to the joints and connective tissue occurs.

The development of the pathological process is caused by infections, most often tonsillitis. A predisposing factor is unfavorable heredity.

The competence of a rheumatologist includes inflammatory processes of the musculoskeletal system. These are hundreds of diseases that affect the joints of the lower extremities, muscles and connective tissue formations.

See a rheumatologist if symptoms occur:

• constant aching pain in the legs;
• feeling of stiffness in the joints in the morning;
• it hurts and swells several joints at the same time;
• movement of pain from one joint to another;
• long-term limitation of joint mobility.

Treatment is conservative, both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and hormonal drugs.

Dermatologist

This is a specialist in the field of diseases of the skin and its appendages, affecting several organs and systems, including the skin and subcutaneous tissue of the lower extremities.

You should go to a dermatologist if you are worried about skin itching, redness of the skin, peeling, rashes. Also the appearance of warts, rapidly growing age spots. Calluses, dry calluses on the lower surface of the foot, pustules on the skin, the appearance of weeping between the toes.

If erysipelas occurs, it requires treatment by a vascular surgeon, dermatologist and infectious disease specialist.

Treatment can be both local (ointments, suspensions) and systemic - antibiotics, desensitizing, detoxifying drugs are prescribed.

Neurologist

Diagnoses and treats diseases of the central nervous system, spinal cord, spinal column and peripheral nerves.

The development of pathological processes in the spine is the cause of intense pain, burning and numbness in the legs.

The reason to consult a neurologist is a sharp pain in the lumbar region, radiating to the back of the thigh, a burning sensation, goosebumps in the toes and feet, numbness of the foot.

Knowing about the activities of each doctor, you can first decide which doctor is better to contact.