If you’re experiencing severe leg pain, you should know when to seek medical help and what causes it. There are many different causes of leg pain, which range from mild to severe. While some get better on their own, some require medical attention. Learn what causes leg pain and when you should seek medical attention for leg pain in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.

Leg pain can occur in different forms, depending on the area of your leg and associated symptoms. Sometimes the whole leg can be in pain. The pain can be in your buttocks, foot, lower back, or spine. You may also experience pain in other parts of your body. The pain can be:

• Dull or sharp
• Burning or tingling.
• Feeling numb.

Other signs and symptoms that occur along with leg pain are:

• Swelling
• Varicose veins
• Sores or ulcers
• Redness or warmth
• Color changes in your leg or foot
• Slow wound healing
• Feeling unwell if you’re recovering from an infection or broken leg

You should see a doctor if your leg pain is sudden, severe, or persistent. You should also see a doctor if you have other symptoms along with leg pain.

Causes

Pain in one or both legs can happen due to many causes, including overuse, wear and tear, injuries, certain medications, and various health conditions, including:

1. Muscle cramps:

This is the most common cause of leg pain. This may cause sudden, sharp pain when leg muscles contract (single or multiple muscle fibers) within your leg. It lasts for a few seconds or up to several minutes. The tightening muscles often form a visible, hard lump under the skin. You may see some redness and swelling in the surrounding area. Muscle fatigue or dehydration may cause leg cramps, especially in the calf. Certain medications like diuretics and statins may also cause leg cramps in some people.

• Injuries:

Injuries are another common cause of leg pain, which can be acute or chronic. These injuries can cause symptoms like sudden and severe pain, swelling, bruising, and inability to move the joint normally. Risk factors like playing sports, running, falling, or having an accident can increase the risk of acute leg injuries. Chronic injuries are more likely to occur when acute injuries are not managed properly or cause complications. The most common acute injuries that lead to leg pain include:

• Strain or sprain
• Stress fracture
• Tendinitis
• Shin splints
• Joint dislocation
• Medical conditions:

Certain medical conditions can lead to leg pain. It may include:

• Atherosclerosis:  This condition can narrow or harden the arteries due to fat buildup and cholesterol. Arteries are the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. If there’s a blockage, it reduces the blood flow to various parts of the body, including the legs, which results in leg pain, particularly in the calves.
• Blood clot (deep vein thrombosis or DVT):  This condition occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein located deep inside the body, often within the leg’s deep veins but also develops in the arms. This occurs in the lower leg after long periods of bed rest, causing swelling and cramping pain. It can cause life-threatening medical emergencies and requires urgent medical care.
• Osteomyelitis (bone infection):  This is one of the more serious conditions that cause leg pain along with swelling and redness. It can cause acute or chronic inflammation of your bones and surrounding structures.
• Joint inflammation:  It is also known as arthritis, which causes inflammation in the joints and leads to leg pain, swelling, and redness in the affected area. It has different types that affect the lower body parts like legs, hips, knees, and ankles. Additionally, one type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, can lead to leg length discrepancy, or LLD, which is a common condition that causes uneven or excessive force to the knee and hip joints and parts of the spine.
• Nerve damage: Nerve damage or peripheral neuropathy is a common health condition that affects your leg nerves and disrupts their functionality. It occurs due to damage to a nerve or multiple nerves that put pressure on the nerve. While there are several types of nerve damage and causes, the most common is diabetes because if you have uncontrolled diabetes, high blood sugar levels can damage your nerves. You may feel numbness, pain, and tingling due to nerve damage.
• Varicose veins: These veins beneath your skin become swollen or twisted, which overfill with blood due to incompetent valves. They usually occur in the legs, especially in the calves and ankles, but can also occur in the rectum and scrotum.

• Other less common causes:

Other less common causes that lead to leg pain include:

• Cellulitis
• Cancerous bone tumors
• Legg-calve-Perthes disease (LCP)
• Osteoid osteoma
• Sciatica
• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE)

When to see a pain management specialist

In some cases, your leg pain may go away on its own with some rest and home remedies. However, depending on the cause of the pain, you may need to seek immediate medical attention to prevent further health complications. You should see a pain management specialist if you are experiencing any of the following:

• Severe pain along with swelling, bruising, or skin discoloration.
• If pain and swelling don’t get better in a few days.
• Home treatments don’t improve your symptoms.
• You are unable to put any weight on the affected leg and experience pain while walking.
• You notice a visible deformity or physical changes on the affected leg area, like swollen veins.

You should seek immediate medical help if any of the following happens:

• Fever.
• Deep cut on your leg.
• The leg is red and warm to the touch.
• The leg appears to be pale or cold to the touch.
• Difficulty breathing or swelling in both legs.
• Unable to walk or put any weight on your leg.
• Leg injury that happens along with a pop or grinding noise.

Many serious conditions and injuries may cause leg pain. So, never ignore leg pain that doesn’t seem to go away or is accompanied by other symptoms because it can be harmful. Seek the doctor’s help if you are considering leg pain treatment.

Severe leg pain is caused by many factors like injuries, cramps, medical conditions, and less common conditions. If your leg pain doesn’t get better in a few days or if you notice the above-mentioned symptoms, you should see your healthcare provider for leg pain to get professional medical treatment.

Need help with leg pain, visit our pain management specialists in the Brownsville clinic to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!! If your pain needs professional assistance, visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn today or call to get a consultation. The location at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212 is well-served by public transportation, including many bus routes, and the subway line. Visit our website at https://doralhw.org/department/pain-management/ or contact us on +1-347-384-5690 for additional details.