There are numerous conditions that cause leg pain and difficulty walking. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, leg pain can originate in any part of the leg, or it can come from another part of the body, such as the lower back. Leg pain severity ranges from mild to marked, and certain types of leg pain can preclude a person from participating in her usual activities of daily living, including walking.
Spinal Stenosis
Lower back spinal stenosis can cause leg pain and difficulty walking. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases or NIAMS--a division of the National Institutes of Health--spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal that affects the spinal cord and in some cases the nerve roots.
Nerve roots are paired offshoots of the spinal cord that exit the spine through holes called the intervertebral foramen. The NIAMS states that spinal stenosis is most common in women over the age of 50, although younger individuals can also suffer from spinal stenosis.
Possible signs and symptoms associated with lower back spinal stenosis include the following: low back pain, numbness, muscle weakness, cramping and general pain in the legs, radiating pain down the back of the thigh, changes in bowel and bladder function, and sexual dysfunction.
Many people with lower back spinal stenosis have difficulty walking, due to pain, and they often adopt a broad stance and stooped posture while standing or walking, as this position helps relieve spinal stenosis-related pain or discomfort.
Shin Splints
Shin splints can cause leg pain and difficulty walking. The Mayo Clinic website states that shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, are a common injury among athletes, especially runners. Shin splints are caused by excessive and repetitive forces on the shin bone or tibia--the larger of the two long bones in the lower leg--and the connective tissues that bind the lower leg muscles to the tibia.
Common symptoms associated with shin splints include tenderness, soreness or pain along the inside aspect of the lower leg, difficulty walking due to pain, and mild swelling in the affected area. According to MayoClinic.com, most cases of shin splints respond well to conservative care methods, such as activity modification, ice therapy, stretching exercises and proper footwear selection and use.
To help prevent shin splints, it's important to wear footwear that has little or no heel elevation, has a flexible sole and is widest at the end of the toe box, as this allows the foot and the other joints in the lower extremity to function optimally.
Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness
Delayed onset muscle soreness or DOMS can cause leg pain and difficulty walking. According to the Sports Injury Clinic website, DOMS is a type of muscle soreness that manifests hours after a bout of vigorous exercise that is more intense than usual. Eccentric muscle contractions--in which the muscle lengthens while contracting--are believed to be one of the principle causes of DOMS.
Eccentric contractions in the lower extremity musculature, which occur when a person hops, bounds, runs downhill, squats and performs other plyometric exercises can cause muscle soreness that affects an individual's ability to walk.
For a person with DOMS in the lower extremity, stair climbing and descending can be particularly problematic. According to the Sports Injury Clinic website, the best way to treat DOMS is by preventing it. A sufficient warm-up and cool down period pre- and post-exercise, along with a sustainable incremental increase in training volume, can help a person avoid DOMS.
