How to Get Rid of Leg Pain: 8 Ways

Leg pain or discomfort in your hips, knees, calves, or feet often occurs because of overuse, fatigue, or some minor injuries. In this case, it can be treated at home, and 5-Minute Crafts would like to share with you some effective ways to do this.

Warning: Go to see you doctor in the following cases:

❗ you’re experiencing swelling and redness in one or both legs

❗ you have varicose veins that cause discomfort

❗ you feel pain while walking or exercising

❗ your leg pain gets worse or persists over a few days

❗ you have a fever

❗ your leg becomes black or blue

1. Elevate your legs.

What to do:

• Take a few pillows, lie down, and prop up your legs with pillows. Make sure that your legs are higher than the level of your heart.
• Rest in this position for a little while.

Why it works:

✅ Elevating your legs can reduce swelling by helping the fluids flow back to your heart.

2. Wear compression socks.

What to do:

• Put on compression socks (or stockings) when you get up in the morning and take them off when you go to bed.

Why it works:

✅ Compression socks apply steady pressure to your legs and help them move blood more efficiently. This can prevent swelling and blood clots.

3. Apply an ice compress.

What to do:

• Apply crushed ice (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel to the area where you’re experiencing pain.
• Hold the ice compress for 10-15 minutes.
• Repeat 3-4 times a day.

Why it works:

✅ An ice compress will numb the pain and relieve inflammation.

4. Take an Epsom salt bath.

What to do:

• Add 1 cup of Epsom salt to warm bath water and soak in it for at least 20 minutes.

Why it works:

✅ Epsom salt is high in magnesium and sulfates and is easily absorbed through the skin. This will help you to reduce inflammation and muscle spasms in your legs, and relax tense areas.

5. Do ankle pumps.

What to do:

• Sit down in a chair or on the floor, or lie down completely.
• Extend your legs in front of you.
• Pull your toes toward yourself as far as you can and then push them away from you.
• Repeat 10 times.
• Do this exercise 2-3 times a day.

Why it works:

✅ Ankle pumps will help you improve the blood flow in your legs and reduce muscle stiffness.

6. Try acupressure.

What to do:

• Find the LV-3 point that is located on the top of your foot, about a thumb’s width from your toes in the groove between the bones of your big toe and second toe.
• Find the GB-41 point that is also located on the top of your foot, in the groove between the 4th and 5th toe bones.
• Apply pressure on both points at the same time and hold it for 2-3 minutes.
• Repeat 2-3 times a day.

Why it works:

✅ Stimulation of these points will relieve pain, relax spasms in your leg muscles, and help your body release more endorphins.

7. Include magnesium and potassium in your diet.

What to do:

• To increase your potassium intake, eat more winter squash, sweet potatoes, white beans, halibut, and broccoli.
• To increase your magnesium intake, eat more dark leafy greens like kale, nuts and seeds, fish, soybeans, and avocados.

Why it works:

✅ Magnesium and potassium will prevent muscle cramps in your legs.

8. Massage your feet with a tennis ball.

What to do:

• Sit down in a chair.
• Take a tennis ball and place it under your right foot.
• Keeping your spine straight, start rolling the ball under your foot, focusing on the arch.
• Do this for 2-3 minutes.
• Then repeat with the other foot.
• Repeat at least 3 times a week.

Why it works:

✅ The tennis ball massage will help you to correct flat feet and reduce the pain caused by them.