Call your doctor if:

• The painful leg is swollen or red
• You have a fever
• Your pain worsens when walking or exercising and improves with rest
• The leg is black and blue
• The leg is cold and pale
• You are on medications that may be causing leg pain. DO NOT stop or change any of your usual medications without talking to your doctor
• Self-care steps do not help

Your health care provider will perform a physical examination, with careful attention to your legs, feet, thighs, hips, back, knees, and ankles.

To help diagnose the cause of the problem, your doctor will ask medical history questions, such as:

• Where exactly is your pain?
• Do you have pain in one or both legs?
• How would you describe the pain? Dull and aching? Sharp and stabbing? Do you consider it to be severe?
• Is the pain worse at any particular time of day, like in the morning or at night?
• What makes the pain feel worse? For example, does exercise or long periods of standing worsen your pain?
• Does anything make your pain feel better like elevating your legs?
• Do you have any other symptoms like numbness or tingling? Back pain? A fever? Weakness?

The following diagnostic tests may be performed:

• Arteriogram to check blood flow
• Blood tests for specific diseases
• Bone biopsy if tumor is seen on MRI which may be malignant
• Bone scan
• Duplex Doppler/ultrasound exam to look for a blood clot
• MRI if a malignant tumor is suspected
• X-ray of your back or legs

Treatment depends on the cause. Medications may include pain medicines, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as Coumadin if there is a blood clot, and others. Cellulitis and osteomyelitis are each treated with antibiotics. Osteomyelitis will require extended use of antibiotics.

For some causes of leg pain, physical therapy may be recommended by your doctor. If you have a blocked artery, inserting a balloon catheter into the artery to improve blood flow may be advised.

Images

Lower leg muscles

Shin splints

Retrocalcaneal bursitis

Leg pain (Osgood-Schlatter)

Varicose veins

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Leg pain Overview

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Leg pain Prevention

Review Date: 08/08/2009
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)