Fibroid Leg Pain

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors in the uterus, they affect many women of reproductive age. Leg pain, any discomfort in one or both legs, can be a symptom of fibroids. Leg pain is not a very common fibroid symptom, but if you are experiencing leg pain caused by myomas, the fibroid tumors need to be treated.

Can Fibroids Cause Leg Pain?

Yes, in rare cases they can cause leg pain or discomfort in the legs. It depends on the location of myomas and their size. However, fibroids are not always accompanied by painful symptoms. Small fibroid nodes tend to only cause changes in menstruation. Periods become painful, their duration and volume of secretions change. In fact, heavy menstrual bleeding is the first and the most common fibroid symptom.

Often fibroids are asymptomatic in the early stages. If they are small, they are missed during a physical examination and an ultrasound imaging exam. Only an MRI test with significantly higher image resolution can identify all fibroids of any size and location.

All fibroids have their own characteristics, shape, and localization, so pain can occur in different places: in the lower abdomen, side, back, hips, or legs. Often pain tends to intensify before menstruation.

Fibroid Pain Occurs:

• when a tumor reaches a certain size squeezing the walls of the uterus and neighboring organs;
• when a tumor grows intensively which leads to its degeneration;
• when estrogen levels raise up stimulating fibroids growth;
• when a pedunculated fibroid twists on the stalk.

Why Do Fibroids Cause Leg Pain?

Usually, leg pain occurs with subserosal fibroids that grow outside the uterus. The uterus deforms, expands, and puts pressure on the spinal nerves causing pain in the lower back. This pain often radiates down to the legs most often to the hips.

Another cause of leg pain with fibroids is squeezing of the blood vessels, it causes swelling of the legs in the soft tissues, and restricts blood flow to the leg muscles, which can sometimes cause muscle pain and cramps.

How to Treat Fibroid Leg Pain?

There are several methods that can help reduce fibroid leg pain. However, it should be understood that these are only temporary measures. To completely get rid of leg pain due to fibroids, as well as any symptoms of uterine fibroids completely, you have to cure the fibroids themselves.

The fastest, most effective, and safe treatment is uterine fibroid embolization. This non-surgical procedure takes only 30-40 minutes. Without pain and risk of complications, you will return home the same day. The full recovery period usually takes less than a week, after which the woman can return to her usual lifestyle.  3 months after the procedure, she may begin to try to become pregnant.

To learn more about UFE and uterine fibroids contact the Atlanta Fibroid Center® at (770) 214-4600 or make an appointment online at ATLii.com.