At a glance
What it is
Pain anywhere in the leg — from hip to heel — that may be mechanical, vascular, neurological, or related to the spine.
Symptoms
Stabbing, sharp, dull, aching, or tingling pain; may affect walking or the ability to bear weight on the leg.
Approach
Clinical assessment to distinguish musculoskeletal, vascular, neurological, and spinal causes; treatment is directed at the underlying cause.
Overview
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.
Some leg pain is simply annoying, but more-severe leg pain can affect your ability to walk or to bear weight on your leg.
Common causes
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.
Common causes include:
- Achilles tendinitis - Achilles tendon rupture - ACL injury (tearing of the anterior cruciate ligament in your knee) - Ankylosing spondylitis - Baker's cyst - Bone cancer - Broken leg - Bursitis (joint inflammation) - Chronic exertional compartment syndrome - Claudication - Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) - Gout (arthritis related to excess uric acid) - Growing pains - Growth plate fractures - Hamstring injury - Herniated disk - Infection - Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (formerly known as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis) - Knee bursitis (inflammation of fluid-filled sacs in the knee joint) - Legg-Calve-Perthes disease - Meralgia paresthetica - Muscle cramp - Muscle strain - Night leg cramps - Osgood-Schlatter disease - Osteoarthritis (disease causing the breakdown of joints) - Osteochondritis dissecans - Osteomyelitis (a bone infection) - Paget's disease of bone - Patellar tendinitis - Patellofemoral pain syndrome - Peripheral artery disease (PAD) - Peripheral neuropathy - Posterior cruciate ligament injury - Pseudogout - Psoriatic arthritis - Reactive arthritis - Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease) - Sacroiliitis - Sciatica - Septic arthritis - Shin splints - Spinal stenosis - Sprains - Stress fractures - Tendinitis - Thrombophlebitis (a blood clot that usually occurs in the leg) - Torn meniscus - Varicose veins
Related reading
Sciatica
Leg pain along the sciatic nerve, usually from a pinched nerve root. Most cases settle in weeks; the task is spotting those that need targeted treatment.
Bursitis
Inflammation of the bursae, the fluid sacs that cushion joints, usually in the shoulder, elbow, hip or knee. Most cases settle with conservative care.
Herniated disc
The soft centre of a spinal disc bulges through a tear and presses on a nerve. Most heal without surgery; the task is spotting the ones that don't.
Ankylosing spondylitis
A chronic inflammatory spine disease in which vertebrae gradually fuse, reducing flexibility. More common in men, it usually starts in early adulthood.
Book a consultation
The secretary schedules first appointments during clinic hours; please have prior imaging, operative notes and a current medication list available at the time of the call.
This page provides general information about leg pain and is not a substitute for individual medical assessment. If your symptoms are severe or worsening, contact a clinician promptly.