Leg pain can be caused by numerous factors. According to the Mayo Clinic website, leg pain can develop anywhere from the hips to the heels, and it can be constant or intermittent. Leg pain may be caused by traumatic injury, or it may be caused by medical conditions affecting the nerves and blood vessels of the lower extremity. Leg pain can be sharp, stabbing, dull, aching, burning or tingling, depending on the cause.
Rickets
Rickets can cause leg pain. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians or AAFP, rickets is a condition that causes the bones to become soft and fracture easily. Rickets is most common in children. The principle cause of rickets is a vitamin D deficiency, although rickets may also run in families. The AAFP states that vitamin D helps bone take in the calcium and phosphorus found in food. Children that are malnourished or who do not receive adequate amounts of vitamin D are unable to build strong and healthy bones. Possible signs and symptoms associated with rickets include the following: pain in the spine, pelvis and legs, delayed growth, muscle weakness, cavities and other teeth problems. Certain individuals have a greater risk for developing rickets, including children between the ages of six months and two years, children with dark skin, children that do not consume enough vitamin D-containing foods and children that breastfeed without a vitamin D supplement.
Trochanteric Bursitis
Trochanteric bursitis can cause leg pain. The Cleveland Clinic--one of the top four hospitals in the United States--states that trochanteric bursitis is inflammation of the bursa--a fluid-filled sac that reduces friction between tendons and bone--near the upper thigh or greater trochanter. The greater trochanter is part of the femur or thigh bone. According to the Cleveland Clinic, trochanteric burisitis is a common cause of hip and thigh pain. Common signs and symptoms associated with trochanteric bursitis include the following: lateral or outside hip pain, thigh and buttock pain, pain when lying on the involved side, tenderness when the affected area is pressed, pain that's worse during hip and thigh movement and pain in the affected area while ascending stairs. Trochanteric bursitis may be caused by traumatic hip injuries, overuse injuries, poor posture, surgery and certain medical conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Thrombophlebitis
Thrombophlebitis can cause leg pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, thrombophlebitis is characterized by swelling and inflammation in a vein, due to a blood clot. Thrombophlebitis can occur in any part of the body, including the legs. Certain risk factors can increase a person's likelihood that she will develop thrombophlebitis, including being hospitalized for a surgery or with an illness, possessing a medical condition that predisposes her to blood clots and sitting still for a prolonged periods, such as during a long flight. Common signs and symptoms associated with thrombophlebitis include the following: pain, swelling and inflammation in the affected area, skin redness and warmth and tenderness over the involved vein. The NIH states that there are two principle types of thrombophlebitis: superficial, which affects the veins near the skin's surface and deep venous.
