Most leg pain occurs due to overuse or minor injuries. The discomfort often disappears within a short time and can be eased with home remedies. In some cases, however, a serious medical condition may be causing the pain. See your doctor if you're experiencing severe or persistent leg pain.
Depending on the cause, leg pain can vary from moderate to severe, and the symptoms may be continuous (non-stop) or intermittent (come and go). Leg pain can be acute, meaning it comes on quickly and then goes away. Or it can last for weeks or months. Then it is called chronic leg pain.
But if that pain persists, it may be time to talk to your doctor. Chronic leg pain is a primary symptom of peripheral artery disease (PAD), a common and treatable condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to your limbs and can threaten your heart.
Leg pain while lying on the back
Lying in this position for long, decreases the size of the passageways where your nerve roots exit the spinal column. If you suffer from herniated disc or bone spur, a pinch in the nerve root can easily happen, and this results in leg pain.
Most leg pain results from wear and tear, overuse, or injuries in joints or bones or in muscles, ligaments, tendons or other soft tissues. Some types of leg pain can be traced to problems in your lower spine. Leg pain can also be caused by blood clots, varicose veins or poor circulation.
Does blood clot pain come and go? Unlike the pain from a charley horse that usually goes away after stretching or with rest, the pain from a blood clot does not go away and usually gets worse with time.
Leg Pain Can Indicate Risk for a Heart Attack or Stroke
This could be a sign that the coronary arteries are blocked and the blood flow is reduced. It is common for people to ignore a pain in their legs, especially when it comes and goes.
Dr. Knepper says walking encourages small arteries in the legs to enlarge, which increases blood flow. “Keep in mind that the pain you might feel while walking is not causing further damage,” he says. If your doctor approves, you can begin a simple walking routine that will start to improve your leg health.
You should never ignore DVT. As with any medical condition, complications can develop when you have DVT. One in 10 develop a pulmonary embolism (PE), which happens when a clot in the leg works loose, moving through the bloodstream to the arteries in the lungs.
It takes about 3 to 6 months for a blood clot to go away. During this time, there are things you can do to relieve symptoms. Elevate your leg to reduce swelling.
Claudication is a symptom of a narrowing or blockage of an artery. Typical symptoms of claudication include: Pain, a burning feeling, or a tired feeling in the legs and buttocks when you walk. Shiny, hairless, blotchy foot skin that may get sores.
See your doctor as soon as possible if you have:
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.
Vascular pain often feels like an uncomfortable heaviness or throbbing sensation. It can also feel like an aching sensation. It usually affects your legs and can be worse with walking or exerting yourself.
Definition. Leg pain can be constant or intermittent, develop suddenly or gradually, and affect your entire leg or a localized area, such as your shin or your knee. It can take a number of forms — stabbing, sharp, dull, aching or tingling.
Side sleeping can also work, especially if you sleep with your knees slightly bent cradling a body pillow, adds Duncan. The extra support from the body pillow will help your leg muscles stay relaxed and in the proper alignment while you rest.
Leg pain after prolonged periods of sitting can indicate some venous insufficiency, where our circulation is affected due to our constant sedentary posture.
Duplex ultrasonography is an imaging test that uses sound waves to look at the flow of blood in the veins. It can detect blockages or blood clots in the deep veins. It is the standard imaging test to diagnose DVT. A D-dimer blood test measures a substance in the blood that is released when a clot breaks up.
But there are some clues that can help you figure out if you should see your provider: DVTs typically cause one-sided leg swelling, redness, and warmth that worsens over time. Leg cramps tend to occur at night, come on suddenly, and get better after a few seconds or minutes.