Can Leg Pain Be A Sign Of Stroke?

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By Ben Loomis – DSC_9441.jpg, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73875056

Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability in the United States of America. People with a stroke need urgent medical care to increase the efficacy of treatment and minimize their risk of death or long-term side effects.

If anyone has an ischaemic stroke—the form in which the artery of the brain is blocked or restricted—the effects may often be reversed or significantly decreased if care is begun within three hours. But if they are confused or wait to see if the symptoms go away, the window of opportunity for successful treatment may close.

However, warning signs or symptoms of stroke may not be known. Part of the issue is that many people believe “other people” have strokes.

Stroke is happening more and more often in younger people. It’s still more common in those of their senior years, but just because someone is middle-aged or even younger doesn’t mean they can’t have a stroke. Strokes are more common among women than men, reports the American Stroke Association. Black people are also at greater risk than white people.

People with a family history of stroke are also at higher risk of stroke. This risk factor cannot be adjusted. But there are ways people can reduce their risk of stroke, including:

  • Exercising regularly.
  • Maintaining a normal weight.
  • Following a healthy diet.
  • Maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.
  • Keeping blood pressure in check.
  • Don’t smoke.

When you have a stroke, the brain doesn’t get the blood it needs. You need care right away to minimize the risk of brain injury, impairment, or even death.

Using the Quick test to verify whether you or anyone else has the most common symptoms of a stroke.

  • Face: Smile to see if one side of the face drops.
  • Arms: Lift the two arms. Is one arm going down?
  • Speech: Please say a short sentence and check for slurred or unusual speech.
  • Time: If the response to all of these is yes, call 911 immediately and write down the time that the symptoms began.

Minutes matter in the treatment of stroke. Calling a doctor or going to the hospital is a waste of time. Ambulance staff will assess the condition faster, and this increases the chances of receiving the care you need as soon as possible.

Warning Signs

Often a stroke occurs gradually, but you are likely to have one or more unexpected signs like this:

  • Numbness or weakness of your face, arm or leg, particularly on one hand.
  • Confusion or difficulties in understanding other people
  • Difficulty to talk
  • Trouble to see with one or both eyes
  • Problems of walking or keeping balanced or organized
  • Dizziness
  • Extreme headache that doesn’t come for any reason

Are You Looking for Relief From Neck Pain?

Pace Physical Therapy in San Jose, California specializes in non-surgical neck pain relief and recovery therapies.  We pride ourselves on offering the best possible physical therapy available and going above and beyond for our patients. Our highly experienced physical therapist will work with you to improve your function and relieve your pain. We start by assessing the body as a whole. Oftentimes the cause of pain or an injury extends far beyond just the body part or muscle hurting. Without taking a comprehensive look at your entire self, we would be doing you a disservice in fully helping you heal and preventing future limitations. We then move on to fixing your areas of limitation.  Not all diagnoses are created equal. One person with neck pain may have completely different limitations than the next person. Your recovery program needs to be specific to what YOUR body needs and not just the typical exercise program that you can find online. Just because your pain decreases or you can walk longer doesn’t mean that it is enough to get you functioning at the level you want to be. While this often signifies the end of care at your typical PT clinic we don’t stop providing guidance until we help you successfully meet every goal you set for yourself with us on day one. Contact us today to schedule your appointment!