When back pain and leg pain coexist, it may be a condition more complex than damage from accidental injuries. Alternatively, patients may have been born with bone problems that went untreated or undiagnosed. Overuse injuries at work or during sports play can also prompt muscle strain and pain in the back and legs. Patients may be able to resolve low-level to moderate pain by themselves or with therapeutic treatment. Patients should seek immediate medical help in the event of leg swelling, numbness or discoloration.
Spinal Abnormality
Trouble in the bone or muscle tissue of the spinal area can create back pain symptoms that generate leg pain. The bone degeneration of osteoarthritis may affect the spine and leg joints.
Sciatica, a nerve impingement condition, occurs when disc damage in the spine causes tissue to shift and press against the sciatic nerve. The University of Maryland Medical Center notes that sciatica patients will feel pain that radiates down the back of the leg.
Scoliosis, a skeletal abnormality, can cause pain in the legs and back. Scoliosis curvature is often accompanied by irregular leg lengths. The resulting skeletal imbalance places greater joint and muscle strain on one side of the body. This may give rise to chronic pain symptoms, often in the knees or hips as well as the back. The American Chiropractic Association reports that treating the feet with shoe inserts can correct the imbalance and relieve back and leg pain.
Incorrect Posture
Similar consequences occur when people misalign their bodies through poor posture, according to the American Physical Therapy Association, or APTA. Asymmetrical standing, sitting or sleeping postures, when practiced habitually over time, can cause persistent or recurrent pain due to muscle strain. An overly erect stance that locks the knees while standing may cause both leg and back pain. Leaning forward while sitting, especially for long periods at a desk, can do the same. Sleeping on a mattress that is too soft can force poor sleeping positions that place stress on the back and legs. The APTA advises postures that maintain and do not accentuate the spine's natural curves.
Musculoskeletal Stress
Painful traumatic injury can occur during heavy lifting, occupational or sports activities. The University of Maryland Medical Center relates that leg and back pain may arise from tendon and muscle strain or hairline stress fractures in bone. Some examples include acute back and leg muscle strains incurred in football or basketball and leg pain, or shin splints, from long-term bone stress due to running. Strenuous labor that involves reaching or twisting the body can also contribute to painful musculoskeletal conditions.
