Leg pain can occur with a wide variety of medical conditions and disorders. The characteristics of the pain, the relationship of the pain to trauma or repetitive use, and associated signs and symptoms provide important clues regarding the possible causes of pain in the leg. Accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause of leg pain facilitates appropriate treatment to provide pain relief.
Injuries
Injuries to the bones, muscles, tendons and ligaments of the leg are a common cause of pain. The location of the pain typically mirrors the site of the leg injury, which may occur suddenly due to trauma or evolve slowly with overuse.
The knees prove particularly susceptible to injury. Knee injuries are the most common reason for which people seek the care of an orthopedist, reports the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, or AAOS. Common knee injuries include sprains and tears of the knee ligaments and damage to the knee cartilage.
The shinbone, or tibia, is the most commonly broken long bone of the body, notes AAOS. Tibia fractures can occur with trauma or overuse, which typically causes a hairline break known as a stress fracture. Shinbone fractures heal slowly; usual recovery time is five to nine months, according to AAOS.
As the strongest bone of the body, the thighbone, or femur, can withstand significant force. Femur fractures typically occur in the setting of high-energy trauma, such as a a fall from a substantial height or a motor vehicle accident.
Infections
Infection of the skin or bones of the leg can provoke pain. Cellulitis--a deep infection of the skin--most commonly arises in the lower legs, reports The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. The infected area appears red and swollen with associated pain and tenderness. Severe pain may be a warning sign of spread of the infection into the soft tissues beneath the skin.
An infection of the bone, or osteomyelitis, can cause aching pain and tenderness over the affected area. Osteomyelitis of the leg bones most commonly occurs in children, reports the Cleveland Clinic.
Nerve Disorders
Disorders that affect the leg nerves can lead to acute or chronic leg pain. Sciatica occurs with compression of the nerve roots that form the sciatic nerve of the leg. The pain of sciatica originates in the lower back or buttock and radiates down the leg, reports the Ohio State University Medical Center. Sciatica most commonly occurs due to a herniated disk in the lower spine.
Meralgia paresthetica is another painful nerve disorder of the leg. Hip-level compression of the nerve that supplies the front and outer side of the thigh causes burning or shock-like pain and tingling in the affected area, explains the NYU Medical Center. Standing characteristically worsens the pain.
