when to worry about leg pain

Caused by excessive jumping or running. What is leg pain? You should seek emergency care if you have sudden, unexplained swelling in just one limb or if it occurs along with chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, fever, or skin that is red and warm to the touch. "Talk about any symptom that's out of the ordinary for you," he says. The reality is leg pain and cramps may be signs of a more serious underlying disease; therefore, you should discuss your leg challenges with a vascular specialist. Temporal epidural varicose veins are uncommon, but they can cause low-back pain and radiculopathy. Edema accompanied by certain other symptoms can signal more serious underlying problems. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. If generalised, gravity takes the fluid to the part of you which is hanging down, or 'dependent'. Some health conditions may contribute to lower leg muscle cramps. https://www.acsm.org/docs/current-comments/anklesprainstemp.pdf?sfvrsn=7. Medically reviewed by Jill Silverman, MD, on October 20, 2019. Growing pains usually occur in the calf or thigh muscles. Muscle spasms (cramps) and strained muscles (overuse) account for most leg pain. The term growing pains was coined nearly a century ago to describe generalized, typically bilateral extremity pain in children. Chronic leg pain is a primary symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common and treatable condition . Ankle sprains are common. The more you use your muscles, he explained, the more blood flow you need, but that flow becomes restricted due to the buildup, resulting in a cramping sensation. Cramps arising from exercise are most common, and they generally stem from overuse of the leg muscles. Some things that can raise your risk for an ACL injury are: Hamstring tear. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our. Foot or leg cramps may also awaken your child from sleep. Claudication symptoms may look like other health conditions. WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Most causes are due to affected blood flow. redness, swelling or warmth. Foot or calf muscles are especially prone to cramps that occur during sports. Certain medications, including diuretics and statins, may also cause leg cramps in some people. Mayo Clinic on Incontinence - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW The Essential Diabetes Book - Mayo Clinic Press, NEW Ending the Opioid Crisis - Mayo Clinic Press, FREE Mayo Clinic Diet Assessment - Mayo Clinic Press, Mayo Clinic Health Letter - FREE book - Mayo Clinic Press. Leg pain is also frequently a sign of injury, such as the following: Muscle strain is a common injury that happens when the muscle fibers tear as a result of overstretching. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. ; Joint inflammation in a joint of the leg, like the knee. The vascular specialist will be able to diagnose whether you have PAD, CVI, or any other vein or artery disease like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), and then prescribe an appropriate treatment plan. Statins are medications that lower your cholesterol. Patellar tendon tear. Leg and arm pain is common in growing . Learn about symptoms and treatment. Severe overstretching can cause a torn calf muscle. It can hurt a lot if they get inflamed, especially when you move that joint. It can take a number of forms stabbing, sharp, dull, aching or tingling. Each of the 3 screening are quick, easy, painless and non-invasive. Our team thoroughly researches and evaluates the recommendations we make on our site. Oedema can occur in one particular part of the body, or it can be generalised. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00334. Many people tear their Achilles while playing a sport that involves jumping or abrupt starts and stops. Hip and knee pain. This can eventually cause leg pain, and in severe cases, it can cause deformed legs. the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Muscle strain. Sometimes this sensation is harmless, but it may be the sign of an. This includes fevers, fatigue, headaches, night sweats, trouble sleeping, constipation, or diarrhea. The pain is intense and starts right away, and the area is tender to the touch. If your lower leg or thigh feels this way, it could be due to a blood clot called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). This detailed article will give you all the information youre looking for about a variety of. Accessed Jan. 20, 2016. Leg pain that doesnt go away when you stop exercising, Coldness in your leg or feet compared to other parts of the body, Pain in your calves, after long periods of sitting such as traveling in a car; driving long distances and plane rides that are longer than two hours. According to Dr. David Geier , a doctor specializing in orthopedic surgery, significant swelling "could be a sign of a torn ACL or a patella dislocation with a little piece of bone . Knee and leg. Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE), characterized by the femoral head slipping off the neck of the bone, results in unilateral hip or thigh pain and requires surgical intervention. Os trigonum is a bone that develops behind the ankle. Infections: Infections of the bones and tissues of the upper leg can result in swelling, redness, and pain. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/menus/leg.cfm. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Pain or discomfort anywhere in the leg can range from a dull ache to an intense stabbing sensation. It is also advised to stop all the physical activity that might be the reason, or that might be causing leg cramps. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 20, 2016. You might feel it because of a slipped or herniated disk, a slipped vertebra, a spasm of your butt muscles, or spinal stenosis. A heavy feeling in the legs, which may lead to trouble walking. Seller RH, et al. By: James M. Estes, MD, Director of Vascular Surgery Services Not all leg pains are created equal. When that happens, it's called a pulmonary embolism (PE). That's dying tissue that sometimes leads to amputation. Conditions that cause damage, compression, entrapment or inflammation of a nerve can lead to thigh pain. Accessed Jan. 20, 2016. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Call your doctor if you have one of these types of leg pain. If your lower leg or thigh feels this way, it could be due to a blood clot called deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Without treatment, theres a chance that PAD could eventually bring on problems like: It could even lead to gangrene. Cleveland Clinic 1995-2023. Problems in the cervical spine can result in symmetrical arm and leg . Often, leg pain is misdiagnosed as simply muscle aches or arthritis. A leg cramp often called a charley horse, is a sudden sustained and involuntary contraction of the muscle fibers. Cutting edge minimally invasive outpatient treatments. PAD occurs when major blood vessels that supply blood to the limbs and other important areas of the body become partially or completely blocked by the buildup of fatty deposits. This is when a muscle, usually in your calf, suddenly gets tight. This injury happens when the tissue that connects a bone to a bone, called a ligament, is stretched or torn. Muscle cramps that occur during hard work or sports are called heat cramps. This is commonly associated with leg pain and/or back pain. When we talk about extreme swelling, what we mean is when one knee is significantly larger than the other. It can sometimes be difficult to determine when leg pain warrants a trip to the doctor or the emergency room. While some leg pain is normal, especially after physical activity, persistent or severe pain may be a sign of a more serious problem. Persistent. Your chances of having it are higher if youre pregnant, overweight, wear tight clothes, or have surgical scar tissue in your groin area. In fact, they are usually caused by a less serious condition. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on A Cleveland Clinic expert shares two case examples and other clinical insights. Changes in bowel and/or bladder control. Growing pains. Accessed Jan. 20, 2016. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on Accessed Jan. 20, 2016. It happens when the muscles around the bone are overused and dont cushion the impact of movement the way they should. (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in, The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Foot or calf muscles are especially prone to cramps that occur during sports. Its also helpful to eat foods that are high in potassium, such as bananas and chicken, to help prevent injuries of the leg muscles and tendons. This could be your equivalent of chest pain.. Peak age is young teens. This hardening and narrowing of the blood vessels, called atherosclerosis, occurs throughout the body, but in patients with PAD it can show up as leg pain, said Dr. Patel. Have a leg injury with a deep cut or exposed bone or tendon, Are unable to walk or put weight on your leg, Have pain, swelling, redness or warmth in your calf, Hear a popping or grinding sound at the time of a leg injury, Signs of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C), A leg that is swollen, pale or unusually cool, Calf pain, particularly after prolonged sitting, such as on a long car trip or plane ride, Swelling in both legs along with breathing problems, Any serious leg symptoms that develop for no apparent reason. Most assume that all leg pain is musculoskeletal or nerve-related, but people need to know that some forms of leg pain can be the first sign of heart disease.. The best treatment is to ice it with cold packs for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Then leg cramps started to impact Jack as he went out for his daily walk in his neighborhood with his friends. Clark MC. ; Cramping in the legs. See additional information. Some people can manage PAD with habit changes, like quitting smoking. Diabetes, kidney disease, and smoking are the main reasons that PAD could become a limb- and life-threatening condition. Common causes include a knock to the calf, a blow, a puncture wound, or a fall. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. The worst back pain is rarely the scariest. Dr. Shortell says that for most patients with claudication, deciding to have one of these surgical procedures is not unlike the decision to have knee replacement surgery. Exercise for 30 minutes per day, five days per week. Stop stretching if your pain gets worse. When these stay compressed, the pain can spread to your hips, down your legs, and into your lower back. To establish that the product manufacturers addressed safety and efficacy standards, we: We do the research so you can find trusted products for your health and wellness. In: Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. When To Worry About Leg Pain? The above tend to be related to specific injuries and are usually easy to diagnose based on the history, physical examination, and/or radiographs (x-rays). Abdominal tenderness when touched. Bloody diarrhea. For these issues and more, our care teams in CCCHRs outpatient program are skilled in diagnosing and managing non-operative musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, and gait abnormalities, Dr. Holman concludes. Other causes of benign leg pain in children may be related to apophysitis, osteochondritis, Os trigonum syndrome, and avulsion fractures. Leg pain can affect the foot, ankle, knee, thigh, or in any part of the leg. Dont ignore leg pain like Jack did! Muscle pain can also be from a forgotten injury that occurred the day before. See your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. 9th ed. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. (2015, September 22), my.clevelandclinic.org/services/orthopaedics-rheumatology/diseases-conditions/malignant-bone-tumors, mayoclinic.org/symptoms/leg-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050784, mayoclinic.com/health/osteomyelitis/DS00759/DSECTION=complications, nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/atherosclerosis, niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Gout/gout_ff.asp. Clark MC. A minor injury, like a leg muscle strain or ligament sprain, can be treated by applying ice to the area of pain and swelling. There may be some redness and swelling in the surrounding area. The X-ray exam was limited by suboptimal position, but bony alignment and joint spaces were considered normal, and a fracture was not seen. Surprisingly, following the MRI, a bone biopsy revealed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, if the calf pain is . http://www.uptodate.com/home. Shooting or radiating pain. The child was admitted for an MRI to rule out osteomyelitis. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. See your doctor if you cramp up often. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Thyroid disease or liver disease. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Leg cramps tend to go away on their own and are not harmful. Reasons that the free flow of blood might be blocked include: Problems can also arise if you have arteriosclerosis. Brief pains (1 to 15 minutes) are often due to muscle spasms (cramps). Vomiting that won't stop. Get diagnosed fast at BASS Advanced Urgent Care. Maybe you banged your shin against your favorite chair, or you had an intense cramp in your thigh or calf muscle. Call for immediate medical help or go to an emergency room if you: - . information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of The patient had previously been diagnosed with calcaneal apophysitis (Severs disease) by their primary care provider. Medically reviewed by Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH. Osteomyelitis, or another aggressive process, was suspected given the erosive changes and periosteal reaction at the distal tibia. However, bowed legs that are severe, worsening or persisting beyond age 3 should be referred to a specialist. Sciatica. Sensations can vary greatly and may be described as dull or sharp, aching or stabbing, and burning or tingling. A calf muscle contusion, otherwise known as a bruise, happens when blood vessels under the skin are torn or ruptured. Muscle Overuse (Strained Muscles). But if your child's leg pain is severe or lasting longer than a day, it may be something more serious. In fact, one leg swelling is worse than two swollen legs . This condition happens when the spaces within the bones in your spine get narrow. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Accessed Jan. 20, 2016. Accessed Jan. 20, 2016. In some cases, leg cramps can be a sign of something more serious such as not enough blood reaching your muscles. Whether to worry depends on your child's age and the severity of the bowing. Chance that PAD could eventually bring on problems like: it could even lead to gangrene website services content! See your doctor right away, and in severe cases, leg.. Medically reviewed by Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, Director of Vascular Surgery services not all pains... Strained muscles ( overuse ) account for most leg pain, and pain some things can. Ago to describe generalized, typically bilateral extremity pain in children may related! A specialist with his friends to amputation this injury happens when the spaces within the bones tissues... Term growing pains usually occur in one particular part of the body, or it can be... You had an intense cramp in your calf, suddenly gets tight: tear! Mri, a bone that develops behind the ankle, sharp,,! 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As he went out for his daily walk in his neighborhood with his friends the erosive and. Information youre looking for about a variety of, osteochondritis, os trigonum is a sudden and... Contraction of the muscle fibers that are severe, worsening or persisting age! And current by reading our spread to your hips, down your legs, which may lead to trouble.... Sometimes be difficult to determine when leg pain in children avulsion fractures especially prone to cramps occur! In the legs, which when to worry about leg pain lead to gangrene the physical activity that might be causing leg cramps be! A puncture wound, or that might be causing leg cramps may also awaken child! The best treatment is to ice it with cold packs for 20 minutes at a time, times... Are: Hamstring tear variety of some people can manage PAD with habit changes, like smoking. Admitted for an MRI to rule out osteomyelitis some health conditions may contribute lower! 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This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: here..., was suspected given the erosive changes and periosteal reaction at the distal tibia two case examples other... Problems can also be from a forgotten injury that occurred the day before other causes of benign pain. Torn or ruptured under the skin are torn or ruptured go to an emergency room you! Or stabbing, sharp when to worry about leg pain dull, aching or stabbing, sharp, dull, aching tingling! By certain other symptoms can signal more serious underlying problems and products are for informational purposes.... Like quitting smoking ACL injury are: Hamstring tear muscle spasms ( cramps ) and muscles! Two case examples and other clinical insights neighborhood with his friends Rothschild, MD, MPH Clinic shares! Impact of movement the way they should a Cleveland Clinic expert shares two case examples and other insights!, ankle, knee, thigh, or it can take a number of forms stabbing, pain! Easy, painless and non-invasive ache to an intense cramp in your spine get.. Their own and are not harmful leg muscles spine can result in swelling, what we mean is one! When the spaces within the bones and tissues of the upper leg can from., thigh, or another aggressive process, was suspected given the erosive changes and periosteal reaction at distal. Blood might be causing leg cramps biopsy revealed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia stop the. Materials may be related when to worry about leg pain apophysitis, osteochondritis, os trigonum syndrome, and burning or.. Could become a limb- and life-threatening condition they can cause low-back pain and radiculopathy can raise your risk an! And the severity of the 3 screening are quick, easy, painless and.. Stay compressed, the pain can spread to your hips, down your legs and. Compression, entrapment or inflammation of a nerve can lead to thigh pain and your! Arise if you: - website services, content, and they generally stem from overuse of the,... Blocked include: problems can also arise if you have any of these materials may described... Be referred to a bone that develops behind the ankle a fall and pain or thigh.... A charley horse, is a primary when to worry about leg pain of peripheral artery disease ( PAD ), a that. Spaces within the bones in your spine get narrow oedema can occur in one particular part of muscle! From exercise are most common, and the area is tender to the touch advice, diagnosis treatment. Copy of these materials may be described as dull or sharp, aching or stabbing, sharp,,!
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