Leg Pain – Causes and Symptoms

Leg PainLeg pain can range from occasional cramps to chronic muscle spasms. Everything from too much exercise to unhealthy clots restricting your blood flow can cause you to grit your teeth and grasp your leg in agony. If your legs cramp up at night or after a hard workout, try gen­tle stretches before bedtime and take some time to cool down after exercising.

If your legs feel like they're creeping, squirming, or aching every time they're still, you may have restless legs syndrome. These sensations stop when you move, so you may end up shaking your legs constantly, which can lead to another problem — insomnia. Restless legs syndrome may be caused by iron deficiency anemia, pregnancy, rheumatoid arthritis, and the use of antidepressants and other medicines. Although bothersome, it's generally harmless and may come and go over the years.

Serious leg problems could result from such condi­tions as blood clots, varicose veins, phlebitis, or intermit­tent claudication. These conditions may require a doctor's care and a long-term investment in caring for your legs. Diabetes and cigarette smoking are two causes of such problems. Watch for other clues such as diagnosed atherosclerosis; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; and a family histo­ry of stroke, heart disease, or vascular disease.

It's time to see your doctor if you have leg pain and:

  1. Enlarged veins in your legs
  2. Pain, swelling, and a persistent itch in the affected area
  3. Thin, hard, dry, discolored skin

You might have a condition called varicose veins. This occurs when veins in your legs become swollen and twisted. They will appear larger and much bluer than normal. There are various causes of the condition but few treatments besides surgery.

  1. Pain and tenderness along a vein
  2. Skin discoloration and swelling
  3. Rapid pulse
  4. Low-grade fever
  5. Joint pain

These are symptoms of phlebitis, a vein inflamma­tion that sometimes occurs in acute or chronic infections or following surgery or childbirth. It also may develop from varicose veins.

  1. Pain in the ankle, calf, or thigh that does not go away with rest
  2. Tenderness and redness in the leg/foot area
  3. Pain when walking, raising your leg, or flexing your foot
  4. Fever
  5. Rapid heartbeat

Sometimes after a long period of bed rest due to surgery or illness, blood pools in your veins, espe­cially in the legs. In the case of deep-vein thrombo­sis, a clot forms within the veins of the lower legs and restricts blood flow. Being overweight, smok­ing, and taking estrogen increase your risk of deep-vein thrombosis.

  1. Tingling and numbness
  2. Weakened muscles
  3. Shooting pains at night
  4. Ulcers on your toes or fingers
  5. Pale, dry, and sensitive skin
  6. Weight loss

If these symptoms gradually appear over several months and spread throughout your body, you might have peripheral neuropathy, a disease of the nerves. This can result from a reaction to drugs or chemicals, or it could be a complication of another problem. It is important to identify the cause and correct it if possible.

  1. Stomach pain
  2. Itchy skin
  3. Fatigue and paleness
  4. Muscle cramps
  5. "Fishy" breath

If you have these symptoms, along with numbness, burning, and tingling in your legs and feet, you may have chronic kidney failure.

  1. Aches and cramping during exercise that stop when you rest
  2. Minor injuries that don't heal
  3. Chronic skin ulcerations
  4. Sudden onset of pain, coolness, and numbness in the affected limb

This could be intermittent claudication, a condition where your heart is unable to pump enough blood to your legs. It's a symptom of serious artery dis­ease.