Leg pain can be because of overuse, trauma, minor injuries, infection, or severe medical conditions.
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Muscle cramps in the legs can have a variety of causes, such as:
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Various types of soft tissue injuries can affect the legs, including:
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Infections
Leg pain can occur with certain infections, such ascellulitis, a skin infection commonly affecting the legs.
In addition to pain, cellulitis causes skin redness, warmth, and leg swelling.
Osteomyelitisis another condition that can cause leg pain.
This condition takes place if a bone becomes infected.
In addition to pain, osteomyelitis can cause:
Severe infections can lead tonecrosiswhen the infected bone tissue dies.
It might feel stiff, especially first thing in the morning.
RA is an autoimmune condition in which the body mistakenly attacks its own joints.
RA can also cause:
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It can occur anywhere in the body but commonly affects blood flow to the legs.
Chronic venous insufficiency is another blood flow issue that can cause leg pain.
Pain usually increases with activity and decreases at rest.
In addition to leg pain, this condition can cause:
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If left untreated, blood clots can be life-threatening.
A broken leg bone (or bone fracture) typically causes intense pain.
You might also notice bruising and swelling with this injury.
Stress fractures are another bone condition that can cause leg pain.
Tiny cracks develop in the bones due to repeated stress over extended periods.
Peripheral neuropathyis a general term for nerve compression in the legs (or arms).
This condition can occur from trauma or as a side effect of some medical conditions, such as diabetes.
Many people describe nerve pain as stabbing, burning, or shooting.
Nerve problems can also cause:
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Muscle Conditions
Muscle and tendon (structures that connect muscles to bones) overuse can cause leg pain.
Tendonitis is a common overuse injury in the leg.
It shows up when tendons become inflamed.
In addition to pain, tendonitis can cause stiffness, swelling, and sometimes muscle weakness.
Tendonitis symptoms are usually worse with activity and improve with rest.
When your legs hurt, avoid activities that aggravate your symptoms as much as possible until your symptoms improve.
Keep your legs moving, but stay within a pain-free range of motion.
Consult a physical therapist for specific exercise instructions.
Some can be related to your diet, such as a vitamin deficiency or an electrolyte imbalance.
Contact a healthcare provider if you have leg pain that seemingly came “out of nowhere.”
See a healthcare professional if your leg pain doesn’t improve within a few days of home remedies.
Some common causes are minor, temporary conditions that can improve with rest and home remedies.
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American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Sprains, strains, and other soft-tissue injuries.
Sullivan T, de Barra E.Diagnosis and management of cellulitis.Clin Med (Lond).
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American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Osteoarthritis.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Arthritis: an overview.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Peripheral vascular disease.
American Heart Association.What is peripheral artery disease?
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chronic venous insufficiency.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Deep vein thrombosis (DVT)/thrombophlebitis.
National Cancer Institute.Managing cancer pain: are better approaches on the horizon?
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Fractures (broken bones).
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Stress fractures.
National Health Service.Peripheral neuropathy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Osgood-schlatter disease.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Overuse injuries.
University of Maryland Medical System.Heat vs. ice: which does your injury need?
