There are many reasons for the heavy stiffness of the legs, the more common are lumbar disc herniation, cervical spondylosis, osteoporosis, overwork, rheumatoid arthritis, venous insufficiency of the lower limbs, and so on.
1. Lumbar intervertebral disc herniation: after the lumbar intervertebral disc undergoes degenerative changes, the annulus fibrosus ruptures partially or completely under the action of external force, and the nucleus pulposus protrudes outward, irritating or compressing the nerves, causing a lesion with lumbar and leg pain as the main symptom. If the nerve compression is severe or prolonged, there may be a decrease in muscle strength, and the patient feels that both lower limbs are heavy and stiff.
2. Spinal cord cervical spondylosis: most of the patients start from bilateral or unilateral lower limbs sinking and numbness, followed by symptoms such as claudication, inability to leave the ground on the toes, awkward gait, and often a sense of feet stepping on cotton.
3. Osteoporosis: patients complain of low back pain, fatigue or generalized bone pain. After exertion or activity, the patient feels weak, limbs are heavy and stiff, and the ability to bear weight decreases or cannot bear weight.
4. Over-exertion: the activity is greater than the daily activities, and the patients will also have heavy and stiff lower limbs after much exertion.
5. Rheumatoid arthritis: symmetrical swelling and pain in multiple joints of the hands, wrists and feet as the first manifestation, often accompanied by morning stiffness, which may be accompanied by general symptoms such as fatigue, low-grade fever, muscle aches and pains, weight loss, etc. A few cases start acutely. In a few cases, the disease starts acutely and typical joint symptoms appear within a few days.
6. Lower extremity venous insufficiency: a condition caused by venous reflux, with common symptoms such as lower extremity heaviness, fatigue, swelling and pain.
The symptoms of heavy and stiff lower limbs alone can not accurately determine the cause, but also need to be combined with the characteristics of the medical history, other test results to make an accurate judgment, it is recommended to clarify the cause of the disease under the guidance of a doctor to carry out targeted treatment.