According to the MedlinePlus website, leg pain, including consistent leg pain or leg pain that a person experiences most of the time, can be caused by conditions that affect the blood vessels, nerves and joints in one or both legs. Leg pain that's constant ranges in severity from mild to marked. In some cases, constant leg pain can be debilitating, and it can significantly reduce a person's quality of life.
Buerger's Disease
According to the Vascular Disease Foundation or VDF--an organization dedicated to reducing death and disability from vascular or blood vessel disease--Buerger's disease, also known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is a rare condition in which the body's small and medium arteries and veins become inflamed. The inflammation can cause arterial obstruction or blockages in the lower parts of the arms and legs, which in turn may cause pain in the extremities while at rest and during exercise, along with ulcers in the affected areas. The blockages are usually caused by blood clots. Without sufficient blood flow beyond the blockage site, the tissues of the extremities, especially the fingers and toes, do not receive adequate amounts of blood, oxygen and nutrients, which can cause extreme pain. Approximately 12 out of every 100,000 North Americans suffer from Buerger's disease, states the VDF.
Osteoarthritis
MayoClinic.com states that osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease, is the most common type of arthritis. Among the most commonly affected joints are the joints of the lower extremity, including the hips and knees. Possible causes of osteoarthritis include muscle imbalances, inappropriate footwear, heredity, obesity and joint injury or trauma. Common signs and symptoms associated with osteoarthritis include joint pain during or after movement, tenderness in the affected joints, joint stiffness, reduced joint flexibility and a grinding sensation when the affected joint is moved through its active range of motion. According to MayoClinic.com, there is no cure for osteoarthritis, and the condition gets worse over time. In severe cases, osteoarthritis can be debilitating, due to joint pain and stiffness. MayoClinic.com touts acupuncture, tai chi and yoga as helpful therapies to reduce osteoarthritis-related pain and stiffness.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a pain that originates in the lower back or hip that travels down the back of the thigh, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons or AAOS. In some cases, the pain radiates into the back of the calf and a portion of the foot. Sciatica pain is usually sharp and shock-like. Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve--the largest and thickest nerve in the body--becomes irritated or compressed. Possible causes of sciatica include a herniated disc, narrowing of the intervertebral foramen or the hole through which the spinal nerve roots exit the spine, a slippage of a lumbar or lower back vertebra, lower back trauma, tight muscles in the gluteal region or a spinal tumor. Common signs and symptoms associated with sciatica include leg pain that lasts for weeks or even months, pain when sneezing or coughing, lower extremity muscle weakness and a tingling sensation down the back of the leg.
