Leg pain is a common problem. It can be due to a cramp, injury, or other cause.
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
If you have leg pain from cramps or overuse, take these steps first:
- Rest as much as possible.
- Elevate your leg.
- Apply ice for up to 15 minutes. Do this 4 times per day, more often for the first few days.
- Gently stretch and massage cramping muscles.
- Take over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Other homecare will depend on the cause of your leg pain.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your health care provider if:
- The painful leg is swollen or red.
- You have a fever.
- Your pain gets worse when you walk or exercise and improves with rest.
- The leg is black and blue.
- The leg is cold and pale.
- You are taking medicines that may be causing leg pain. DO NOT stop taking or change any of your medicines without talking to your provider.
- Self-care steps do not help.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
Your provider will perform a physical exam and look at your legs, feet, thighs, hips, back, knees, and ankles.
Your provider may ask questions such as:
- Where on the leg is the pain? Is the pain in one or both legs?
- Is the pain dull and aching or sharp and stabbing? Is the pain severe? Is the pain worse at any time of day?
- What makes the pain feel worse? Does anything make your pain feel better?
- Do you have any other symptoms such as numbness, tingling, back pain, or fever?
Your provider may recommend physical therapy for some causes of leg pain.
Pain - leg; Aches - leg; Cramps - leg
Lower leg muscles- Leg pain (Osgood-Schlatter)
- Shin splints
- Varicose veins
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis
- Lower leg muscles
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Hogrefe C, Terry M. Leg pain and exertional compartment syndromes. In: Miller MD, Thompson SR. eds. DeLee, Drez, & Miller's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 113.
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Smith G, Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 392.
Weitz JI, Ginsberg JS. Venous thrombosis and embolism. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 74.
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Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Related MedlinePlus Health Topics
- Leg Injuries and Disorders
FAQs
Most leg pain results from wear and tear or overuse. It also can result from injuries or health conditions in joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine.
What is the number one cause of leg pain? ›
Most leg pain results from wear and tear or overuse. It also can result from injuries or health conditions in joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine.
What is the best thing for chronic leg pain? ›
If you have muscle cramps, gently stretching your muscles should help. This is true for many other types of leg pain, too. You can take simple painkillers like paracetamol or anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen. In some cases, you may need medication such as antibiotics.
What disease starts with leg pain? ›
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), which is sometimes from long-term bed rest but can also occur for no reason.
What is the best way to diagnose leg pain? ›
- Physicians perform physical examinations to help diagnose causes of pain.
- Medical imaging, such as an MRI, can help identify leg and foot problems.
- Targeted injections are used to identify precise sources of leg pain.
Humans with vitamin D deficiency exhibit muscle pain in muscles at multiple locations. However, the strongest association between vitamin D deficiency and pain is reported to occur in leg muscles (Heidari et al., 2010).
How do I know if my leg pain is vascular or muscular? ›
One of the biggest differences between muscular and vascular pain is whether it is chronic and if there is seemingly no explainable reason for the pain. In other words, you haven't been exerting yourself with exercise and can't point to a specific injury or illness.
Which vitamin is good for legs pain? ›
A potential cause of leg cramps is a vitamin deficiency, though research into this is ongoing. Vitamins B1, B12, and D may help relieve them, along with potassium and magnesium. This article discusses whether vitamin deficiencies can cause leg cramps, home and medical treatment, and when a person should see a doctor.
How to stop nerve pain in legs? ›
Alternating between a heating pad and an ice pack can relieve painful symptoms. Ice application, for example, assists in inflammation reduction. Heat, on the other hand, encourages blood flow and promotes healing.
How do I know if my leg pain is serious? ›
Make an appointment with your health care provider if:
You have pain during or after walking. You have swelling in both legs. Your pain gets worse. Your symptoms don't get better after a few days of treating them at home.
Red flags in physical examination
For those who are symptomatic can present with discoloration, pain, warmth, swelling, and tenderness of the affected extremity (11). Homan's sign also has been widely used since the 1940s as an indicator for the presence of DVT in an extremity (12).
What does fibromyalgia leg pain feel like? ›
The discomfort from fibromyalgia may feel like burning, soreness, stiffness, aching, or gnawing pain, often times with sore spots in certain parts of your muscles. The pain may feel like arthritis. But it doesn't damage muscles or bones.
What autoimmune disease causes aching legs? ›
Myositis (my-o-SY-tis) is a rare type of autoimmune disease that inflames and weakens muscle fibers. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body's own immune system attacks itself. In the case of myositis, the immune system attacks healthy muscle tissue, which results in inflammation, swelling, pain, and eventual weakness.
How do I know if my leg pain is neurological? ›
Neurological pain is often described as a sensation of “pins-and-needles” or “numbness.” In some cases, there may be persistent weakness. In cases of sudden, unpredictable weakness, the patient's description may be that their leg just “gave out.”
How do I know if my leg pain is nerve pain? ›
Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can feel as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. You may be very sensitive to touch or cold. You may also experience pain as a result of touch that would not normally be painful, such as something lightly brushing your skin.
What do doctors do for leg pain? ›
Nonsurgical treatments, such as medications, physical therapy and/or epidural steroid injections are generally considered first for treating leg pain.
What kind of leg pain should I worry about? ›
Call for medical help right away or go to an emergency room if you: Have a leg injury with a deep cut or you can see bone or tendon. Can't walk or put weight on your leg. Have pain, swelling, redness or warmth in your lower leg.
Which leg pain is serious? ›
The causes of leg pain can be musculoskeletal, neurological, or vascular. Shin splints and stress fractures can result from repetitive sports, such as running. Leg pain can sometimes indicate a serious vascular issue. These can occasionally be fatal, and they require medical intervention.
Which leg pain is related to heart? ›
Here are some of the ways heart conditions can cause leg pain: Congestive heart failure: If your heart doesn't pump as well, you can experience significant leg swelling due to poor blood flow. Venous thromboembolism (VTE): Also known as a blood clot in your leg, VTE can be a sign of heart disease .
What does a blocked artery in the leg feel like? ›
The narrowing of the arteries causes a decrease in blood flow. Symptoms include leg pain, numbness, cold legs or feet and muscle pain in the thighs, calves or feet.
