Sharp leg pain can be caused by many conditions. According to the Mayo Clinic, the quality of leg pain varies depending on the type and location of the injury or condition. In some cases, leg pain is deep, dull and aching. In other cases, leg pain can be sharp and stabbing. Overuse, trauma and certain medical conditions can cause sharp and stabbing leg pain. Most leg pain responds well to conservative care, although surgical intervention may be required in some cases.
Shin Splints
Shin splints can cause sharp leg pain. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, shin splints refers to sharp pain and tenderness along the inside edge of the tibia or shin bone--the larger of the two long bones in the lower leg. Shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, are usually caused by repetitive physical activity or by increasing training volume and intensity too quickly after beginning an exercise program. Repetitive movement can cause inflammation of the muscles, tendons and periosteum in the lower leg. The periosteum is the outermost layer of bone, into which the tendons insert. Common risk factors for shin splints include rigid arches, excessive running or jogging, dancing, military training and vigorous physical exertion that involves repetitive impact. Along with pain and tenderness on the inside edge of the tibia, shin splints can cause mild swelling in the affected area. Shin splints can be temporarily debilitating.
Fractured Femur
A fractured femur or thigh bone can cause sharp leg pain. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons states that a significant amount of force is required to fracture or break the femur--the longest and strongest bone in the body. High-energy trauma, such as an automobile accident or a fall from scaffolding or another high object, is usually necessary for the femur to fracture. Because of the forces involved in a femur fracture, other life-threatening injuries may also occur. Common signs and symptoms associated with a fractured femur include sharp pain, thigh deformity, one leg that's shorter than the other, swelling in and around the affected area and an inability to move the leg. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a fractured femur usually takes between three and six months to heal. Some femur fractures affect the blood supply to the thigh muscles, causing significant bruising and blood loss.
Lumbar Disc Herniation
A lumbar disc herniation can cause sharp leg pain. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, a lumbar disc herniation occurs when the inner part of a spinal disc ruptures through the disc's fibrous outer ring. Disc material that protrudes into the space where nerve roots--spinal cord offshoots--exit the spinal column can compress or irritate the nerve roots, causing pain or discomfort in the lumbar spine or lower back and the back of the thigh. The NIH states that lumbar disc herniations occur more often in middle-aged men, especially men who participate in vigorous physical activity. Another important risk factor for lumbar disc herniations is the presence of any congenital anomalies that may affect the size of the lumbar spinal canal. Possible signs and symptoms associated with lumbar disc herniations include sharp pain in the lower back, hip, thigh and lower leg, numbness, tingling and weakness in the affected-side lower extremity and lower back pain when sneezing or coughing.
