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.
Call for immediate medical help or go to an emergency room if you:
- 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
See your doctor as soon as possible if you have:
- 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
Schedule an office visit if:
- You have pain during or after walking
- You have swelling in both legs
- Your pain gets worse
- Your symptoms don't improve after a few days of home treatment
- You have painful varicose veins
Self-care
Minor leg pain often responds well to home treatments. To relieve mild pain and swelling:
- Stay off your leg as much as possible
- Apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day
- Elevate your leg whenever you sit or lie down
- Try over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve)
Show References
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Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/leg-pain/basics/definition/sym-20050784