Many conditions can cause leg pain and stiffness. According to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, pain is the most common symptom associated with muscle disorders. However, muscle stiffness can also manifest in a person with a muscle disorder or condition. Simultaneous leg pain and stiffness can be caused by sports injuries or certain medical conditions. The two symptoms often occur together, although they can occur separately and be caused by different conditions.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, a condition in which the body's immune system attacks the protective sheath surrounding the nerves, can cause leg pain and stiffness. As the sheath is destroyed, communication between the brain and the rest of the body is disrupted. Eventually the nerves themselves suffer irreversible degeneration, causing immobility and loss of speech. MayoClinic.com states that multiple sclerosis-related symptoms vary widely from person to person, depending on the extent of nerve damage and the nerves affected. Common signs and symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis include limb pain, stiffness or weakness, vision problems, fatigue, dizziness, and a lack of coordination. According to MayoClinic.com, although multiple sclerosis can occur at any age, it most commonly affects people between 20 and 40 years of age. Women develop this disease more often than men.
Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease, part of a group of conditions known as motor system disorders, can cause leg pain and stiffness. These conditions are characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter and a neurohormone. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, common signs and symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease include muscle stiffness and pain throughout the body, decreased range of motion in affected body segments, a pill-rolling tremor of the thumb and forefinger, a decreased ability to initiate movement, slow movements, speech changes, impaired posture and balance, and dementia. Certain risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease, such as advanced age, a family history of the condition, being male and exposure to certain toxins.
Thigh Muscle Strains
Thigh muscles strains can cause pain and stiffness in the leg. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, thigh muscle strains---a stretching or tearing of thigh muscle fibers---are a common injury, especially among athletes. Thigh muscle strains can occur in one or more of the three principal sets of thigh muscles, including the hamstrings, quadriceps and adductor muscles. The hamstrings are located in the back of the thigh; the quadriceps are located in the front of the thigh; and the adductor muscles are located in the groin, on the inner aspect of the thigh. Common signs and symptoms associated with thigh muscle strains include pain and stiffness in the affected area, tenderness when the injured muscle is pressed and bruising. AAOS states that most thigh muscle strains respond well to conservative care, including RICE---rest, ice, compression of the injured tissues and elevation.
