What is the main cause of leg pain?

Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Leg pain can also be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor circulation.


Is leg pain a symptom of any disease?

Leg Pain Could Indicate Vein or Artery Disease

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.

How do I know if my leg pain is serious?

See your doctor as soon as possible if you have:

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.


What medical conditions cause leg pain?

What's Causing Your Leg Pain?
  • Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) 1/15. With this condition, your limbs -- typically your legs -- don't get enough blood. ...
  • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) 2/15. ...
  • Peripheral Neuropathy. 3/15. ...
  • Electrolyte Imbalance. 4/15. ...
  • Spinal Stenosis. 5/15. ...
  • Sciatica. 6/15. ...
  • Arthritis. 7/15. ...
  • Pulled Muscle. 8/15.


Does leg pain indicate heart problems?

Leg Pain Can Indicate Risk for a Heart Attack or Stroke

Peripheral artery disease that causes leg pain can be indicative of heart issues. People that have PAD are at a higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. This could be a sign that the coronary arteries are blocked and the blood flow is reduced.


Leg Pain: Symptoms & Treatment | Dr. Robbie George



What do blocked arteries in legs feel like?

Claudication is a symptom of a narrowing or blockage of an artery. Typical symptoms of claudication include: Pain, a burning feeling, or a tired feeling in the legs and buttocks when you walk. Shiny, hairless, blotchy foot skin that may get sores.

How do you know if you have a clogged artery in your leg?

Symptoms
  1. Coldness in the lower leg or foot, especially when compared with the other side.
  2. Leg numbness or weakness.
  3. No pulse or a weak pulse in the legs or feet.
  4. Painful cramping in one or both of the hips, thighs or calf muscles after certain activities, such as walking or climbing stairs.
  5. Shiny skin on the legs.


Is there a vitamin deficiency that causes 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).


Is leg pain something to worry about?

Sometimes, leg pain can signal something more serious like a fracture, deep vein thrombosis or compartment syndrome. Seek medical attention urgently if: the leg is swollen. it looks deformed or you can't use it properly.

How do I stop my legs from hurting?

If you have leg pain from cramps or overuse, take these steps first:
  1. Rest as much as possible.
  2. Elevate your leg.
  3. Apply ice for up to 15 minutes. ...
  4. Gently stretch and massage cramping muscles.
  5. Take over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.


What happens if your leg hurts everyday?

But if that pain persists, it may be time to talk to your doctor. Chronic leg pain is a primary symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common and treatable condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs and can threaten your heart.


What is vascular leg pain like?

Vascular pain often feels like an uncomfortable heaviness or throbbing sensation. It can also feel like an aching sensation. It usually affects your legs and can be worse with walking or exerting yourself.

When should you get leg pain checked out?

Leg Pain: When to Go to the ER
  1. Pain, along with swelling, redness or warmth in the calf.
  2. Leg pain that is accompanied by a fever.
  3. Pain so severe it is difficult to walk or put weight on the leg.
  4. Serious burns.
  5. Injury/wound with an exposed bone or tendon.
  6. Injury with a sound of popping or grinding.


Can dehydration cause leg pain?

You may particularly experience leg cramps in your calf muscles and thigh muscles. You may also have involuntary contractions like muscle spasms. Dehydration also decreases blood volume. That means your muscles and organs have less blood flow, resulting in cramps and spasms.


Does high blood pressure cause leg pain?

High blood pressure can lead to peripheral arterial disease (PAD), where narrowing of the blood vessels restricts the blood flow to the legs and feet, causing pain.

What is the best home remedy for leg pain?

Use the R.I.C.E. Method
  • Rest. If movement is painful at first, rest your legs and stay off them as much as you can until you're able to move without pain.
  • Ice. Keep an ice pack on your legs for about 20 minutes every hour over the first 3 days after symptoms start. ...
  • Compression. ...
  • Elevation.


Can stress cause leg pain?

Stress can cause your muscles to tense up — and over time, that can lead to pain and soreness in virtually any part of the body.


Is leg pain related to brain?

In the majority of cases, the source of leg pain is peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral nerves send sensory information back to the brain and spinal cord, such as a message that the feet are cold. Peripheral nerves also carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles to generate movement.

What supplements help aching legs?

You can also try magnesium supplements. These are available in many forms such as magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride, and magnesium citrate. A 2015 study of the medical uses of magnesium recommends taking magnesium citrate because it's more easily absorbed by the body.

Can low B12 cause leg pain?

B12 deficiency affects sensory nerve function leading to motor dysfunction, which can cause muscle cramps and weakness.


Does B12 help with leg pain?

After 3 months, 86% of the patients taking vitamin B had prominent remission of leg cramps, whereas those taking placebo had no significant difference from baseline. Treatment with vitamin B complex significantly reduced the frequency, intensity, and duration of nocturnal leg cramps.

How do you test for poor circulation in your legs?

A simple, painless and noninvasive test called a duplex ultrasound can determine if you have bad circulation and the severity of the condition. Based on the severity of your condition, a vascular specialist doctor will determine the best treatment option for you.

How do you clear your arteries in your legs?

Angioplasty is a procedure to open narrowed or blocked blood vessels that supply blood to your legs. Fatty deposits can build up inside the arteries and block blood flow. A stent is a small, metal mesh tube that keeps the artery open. Angioplasty and stent placement are two ways to open blocked peripheral arteries.


Which leg is your main artery in?

The femoral artery is the major blood vessel supplying blood to your legs. It's in your upper thigh, right near your groin. The artery is a common access point for minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures because of its large diameter.

How do I know if my artery is clogged?

Symptoms
  1. Chest pain (angina). You may feel pressure or tightness in your chest. ...
  2. Shortness of breath. You may feel like you can't catch your breath.
  3. Fatigue. If the heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs, you may feel unusually tired.
  4. Heart attack.