Why legs pain

When should I see a doctor? Can leg pain be prevented? Related information on Australian websites What is leg pain? Here are some common causes of sore legs:. Cramp: this is when the muscles suddenly contract. The pain is normally felt in the calf and will go away quite quickly by itself. Muscle sprains and strains. The leg might be very tender and you might also have a muscle spasm, swelling, or trouble moving the leg. Minor injury such as a knock, bump or bruise: There may be redness, swelling or discolouration at the site of the injury.

Fracture : A bone break or crack may also cause, swelling, deformity, bruising and loss of power or movement to the leg. Infection: Ulcers , infected wounds or blisters can also cause the area to be red, swollen and warm. You may have a fever and be generally unwell. Injuries in nearby joints, bones or muscles: Surrounding muscles, ligaments and tendons can develop little knots that are very painful; pain down the back of the leg can be caused by problems in joints in the back or sciatica ; problems with the ankle, knee or hip can also cause pain in the leg.

Using your leg too little: You may also have pins and needles or muscle stiffness. Problems with blood vessels, such as blood clots deep vein thrombosis or poor circulation: You may also have swelling, pressure, tenderness or a pale leg. Varicose veins : The pain may be aching, throbbing or burning. You may also have heaviness, cramping or restless legs, swollen ankles, darkening of the skin over the veins and an itchy rash.

Problems with nerves, such as diabetic neuropathy : You may also have weakness, numbness or tingling. Compartment syndrome : The pain will be intense and increase when you stretch the leg and the skin may feel tingly, burn or numb.

The skin may look pale and feel cold. Growing pains in children : The child may have aching or burning sensation in the muscles of the thighs, calves or feet, usually at night. Ice : Put an icepack on the sore area for minutes at a time, using a covered icepack or bag of frozen peas.

Repeat every 2 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days. Compression : Bandage the area firmly. Elevation : Keep the leg above the hip. Referral : Have the injury checked by your doctor. If you have pins and needles, just moving around should ease the discomfort. Seek medical attention urgently if: the leg is swollen it looks deformed or you can't use it properly it is unusually cool or pale it is numb and weak it is red and warm both legs are swollen and you have breathing problems the pain is getting worse See your doctor as soon as possible if you have signs of infection, like a fever, calf pain after going on a long journey, or any serious symptoms that come on with no explanation.

Back To Top. General search results. Living with pain can be one of the hardest parts of having arthritis. What is an image guided lumbar epidural corticosteroid injection? Overview of the causes of limp in children. Lehman TJA. Growing pains. Firestein GS, et al. Hip and knee pain. In: Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology.

What is Paget's disease of bone? Hamstring muscle injuries. Yu DT, et al. Diagnosis and differential diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in adults. Patellar tendon tear. Herniated disk. Ankle sprains and the athlete. See also Acupuncture for back pain?

Back surgery: When is it a good idea? Banish back pain Behcet's disease Broken leg Buerger's disease Cold and flu viruses: How long can they live outside the body? Fibromuscular dysplasia Flu shots Flu: When to see a doctor?

Growing pains Hamstring injury Herniated disk Bulging disk High potassium hyperkalemia High-dose flu vaccines: How are they different from other flu vaccines? Influenza flu Inversion therapy: Can it relieve back pain? Leg pain after prolonged standing or sitting Legg-Calve-Perthes disease Myofascial release therapy: Can it relieve back pain?

Shin splints Sleeping positions that reduce back pain Causes of back pain Swollen knee Tarlov cysts: A cause of low back pain? Often, leg pain is misdiagnosed as simply muscle aches or arthritis.

The reality is leg pain and cramps may be signs of a more serious underlying disease; therefore, you should discuss your leg challenges with a vascular specialist. Leg pain or discomfort often occurs in the calves and thighs while exercising or while resting. What can cause this discomfort? Peripheral arterial disease PAD , a common medical condition that impacts the blood flow in the lower area of the body, could be causing your leg pain.

In addition to discomfort, issues with the circulatory system can cause hair loss, discoloration, leg fatigue, skin temperature changes and skin lesions or ulcers. Many of these symptoms, in conjunction with leg discomfort, can also be an indication of disease in your veins known as venous insufficiency disease. People who smoke, have diabetes, or have a family history of vascular disease, heart attack or stroke are at greater risk for PAD.

If you have any of these risk factors and are experiencing leg pain, please get a diagnostic test at a certified vascular lab to determine if you have artery or vein disease.