Why do your legs feel tingly and painful when you walk?
Tingling and pain in your legs while walking can happen for several lupus-related reasons:
Peripheral Neuropathy
Lupus can damage nerves outside your brain and spinal cord, causing peripheral neuropathy. This leads to tingling, numbness, and pain, especially in your legs Show Full Answer
Why do your legs feel tingly and painful when you walk?
Tingling and pain in your legs while walking can happen for several lupus-related reasons:
Peripheral Neuropathy
Lupus can damage nerves outside your brain and spinal cord, causing peripheral neuropathy. This leads to tingling, numbness, and pain, especially in your legs and feet. The nerve damage happens when lupus inflammation affects nerve fibers throughout your body.
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
Lupus increases your risk of blood vessel problems. PAD occurs when arteries in your legs become narrowed, reducing blood flow. This causes cramping or pain in your calves, especially while walking. The pain typically improves with rest but returns when you're active again.
Raynaud's Phenomenon
About one-third of people with lupus experience Raynaud's, where small arteries temporarily narrow and restrict blood flow. This can cause tingling and cool sensations in your legs and feet.
Medication Side Effects
Some lupus medications can cause nerve-related symptoms. Long-term corticosteroid use may lead to muscle weakness or pain in your legs.
Fibromyalgia
This condition occurs in 25 percent of people with lupus and causes widespread pain, including tingling and numbness in the legs and feet.
Track when your symptoms occur and discuss them with your doctor to determine the cause and find the right treatment plan.
February 2
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