Symptom

Leg Pain

Overview | Possible Causes | Care and Treatment | HOME REMEDies | When to Call the Doctor | References

Leg Pain

Overview

Leg pain can be constant or intermittent, develop suddenly or gradually, and affect your entire leg or a localized area, such as your shin or your knee. It can take a number of forms — stabbing, sharp, dull, aching or tingling.

Some leg pain is simply annoying, but more-severe leg pain can affect your ability to walk or to bear weight on your leg.

Possible Causes

Leg pain can be due to a muscle cramp (also called a charley horse). Common causes of cramps include:

Dehydration or low amounts of potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium in the blood
Medicines (such as diuretics and statins)
Muscle fatigue or strain from overuse, too much exercise, or holding a muscle in the same position for a long time

An injury can also cause leg pain from:

A torn or overstretched muscle (strain)
Hairline crack in the bone (stress fracture)
Inflamed tendon (tendinitis)
Shin splints (pain in the front of the leg from overuse)

Other common causes of leg pain include:

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), which causes a problem with blood flow in the legs (this type of pain, called claudication, is generally felt when exercising or walking and is relieved by rest)
Blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) from long-term bed rest
Infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or skin and soft tissue (cellulitis)
Inflammation of the leg joints caused by arthritis or gout
Nerve damage common to people with diabetes, smokers, and alcoholics
Varicose veins

Less common causes include:

Cancerous bone tumors (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma)
Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: Poor blood flow to the hip that may stop or slow the normal growth of the leg
Noncancerous (benign) tumors or cysts of the femur or tibia (osteoid osteoma)
Sciatic nerve pain (radiating pain down the leg) caused by a slipped disk in the back
Slipped capital femoral epiphysis: Most often seen in boys and overweight children between ages 11 and 15

Care & Treatment

Pain or discomfort anywhere in the leg can range from a dull ache to an intense stabbing sensation. Most leg pain occurs due to overuse or minor injuries. The discomfort often disappears within a short time and can be eased with home remedies.

In some cases, however, a serious medical condition may be causing the pain. See your doctor if you’re experiencing severe or persistent leg pain. Getting a prompt diagnosis and treatment for any underlying conditions may prevent the pain from getting worse and improve your long-term outlook.

Some of the more common causes of leg pain are minor or temporary conditions that your doctor can treat effectively.

Home Remedies

Minor leg pain often responds well to home treatments. To relieve mild pain and swelling:

Stay off your leg as much as possible
Apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day
Elevate your leg whenever you sit or lie down
Try over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve)

When to Call the Doctor

Call for immediate medical help or go to an emergency room if you:

Have a leg injury with a deep cut or exposed bone or tendon
Are unable to walk or put weight on your leg
Have pain, swelling, redness or warmth in your calf
Hear a popping or grinding sound at the time of a leg injury

See your doctor as soon as possible if you have:

Signs of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C)
A leg that is swollen, pale or unusually cool
Calf pain, particularly after prolonged sitting, such as on a long car trip or plane ride
Swelling in both legs along with breathing problems
Any serious leg symptoms that develop for no apparent reason