leg pain

Etiology

• calf pain
• compartment syndrome
• ischemia
  • peripheral arterial disease, intermittent claudication
• traumatic leg injury
  • torn or overstretched muscle (strain)
  • stress fracture
  • tendonitis
  • shin splints
• lumbar spinal stenosis
• sciatica
• muscle cramp (charley horse)
  • dehydration
  • electrolyte depletion
    • hypokalemia
    • hyponatremia
    • hypocalcemia
    • hypomagnesemia
• statin myopathy
• muscle fatigue or strain from overuse
• holding a muscle in the same position for a long time
• deep vein thrombosis
• infection
  • osteomyelitis
  • cellulitis
• arthritis, gout
• peripheral neuropathy
• varicose veins
• benign tumors or cysts of the femur or tibia
  • osteoid osteoma
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease: poor blood flow to the hip
• malignant bone tumors
  • osteosarcoma
  • Ewing sarcoma
• slipped capital femoral epiphysis (boys & overweight children 11-15 years old
• Baker's cyst
• fibromyalgia
• also see hip pain, knee pain, calf pain, ankle pain, heel pain, foot pain

Clinical manifestations

• red flags
  • painful leg is swollen or red
  • fever
  • pain worsens when walking or exercising & improves with rest
  • leg is black and blue
  • leg is cold & pale

Laboratory

• clinical laboratory tests for specific diseases
• bone biopsy if potentially malignant tumor is seen on MRI

Diagnostic procedures

• ultrasound, doppler to evaluate DVT

Radiology

• arteriogram to check blood flow
• bone scan
• MRI or computed tomography
  • malignant tumor suspected
  • compartment syndrome
• X-ray of your back or legs for suspected
  • sciatica (back)
  • fracture
  • arthritis

Management

• see specific etiology
• RICED: rest, ice, compression, elevation, drugs
• stretch & massage cramping muscles
• control of diabetes or other contributing disorder
• stop smoking
• avoid ill-fitting shoes

More general terms

• limb pain

More specific terms

• ankle pain
• calf pain
• foot pain
• knee pain
• lower leg joint pain
• shin splints; anterior tibial syndrome; medial tibial stress syndrome
• thigh pain

Additional terms

• claudication
• compartment syndrome
• hip pain
• nocturnal leg cramp
• traumatic leg injury