Leg pain: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (2024)

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), which is sometimes from long-term bed rest but can also occur for no reason
• 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 people who consume too much alcohol
• Varicose veins

Less common causes include:

• Cancerous bone tumors (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, cancer that has spread to the bone from elsewhere in the body)
• 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 age 11 to 15

Home Care

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 (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).

Other homecare will depend on the cause of your leg pain.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Contact your health care provider if:

• Your painful leg is swollen or red.
• You have a fever.
• Your pain gets worse when you walk or exercise and improves with rest.
• Your leg is black and blue.
• Your 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 tests or physical therapy for some causes of leg pain.

Alternative Names

Images

• Lower leg muscles
• Leg pain (Osgood-Schlatter)
• Shin splints
• Varicose veins
• Retrocalcaneal bursitis
• Lower leg muscles

References

Anthony KK, Schanberg LE. Musculoskeletal pain syndromes. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 193.

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.

Silverstein JA, Moeller JL, Hutchinson MR. Common issues in orthopedics. In: Rakel RE, Rakel DP, eds. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2016:chap 30.

Smith G, Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 388.

Weitz JI, Eikelboom JW. Venous thrombosis and embolism. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 68.

White CJ. Atherosclerotic peripheral arterial disease. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 65.

Review Date 7/8/2023

Related MedlinePlus Health Topics

• Leg Injuries and Disorders