Leg Pain

Leg pain can develop because of many different reasons. The pain can be constant or intermittent, develop suddenly or gradually, and affect the entire leg or just a specific area. Leg pain can affect your day-to-day life by making it difficult for you to get around. The pain is a different experience for everyone, but there are common symptoms. Some of the symptoms include: stabbing, sharp, dull, aching, or tingling pain in one or both legs. The cause of leg pain can also vary from conditions affecting bones, joints, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and more.

Common Causes of Leg Pain

There are various reasons for leg pain. The most common cause is the over-use of the joints and muscles. This occurs over time with aging or because of an injury. Some other conditions that result in leg pain are:

Treatment Options

The cause of your leg pain depends on the treatment options. For minor injuries, there are at home treatments that can help relieve the mild pain and swelling:

  • Rest the affected pain area
  • Apply ice or heat
  • Elevate your leg whenever you sit or lie down
  • Over the counter pain relievers
When Should I See a Doctor?

You should schedule an appointment with a doctor if:

  • Pain during or after walking
  • Swelling of one or both legs
  • Pain gets worse
  • Painful varicose veins
  • Symptoms don’t improve after at home treatments

If you experience any of these symptoms or signs with your pain, seek attention immediately:

  • Fever
  • Signs of infection (redness, warmth, or tenderness)
  • Calf pain
  • Your leg is swollen, pale, or unusually cold
  • Breathing issues
  • Leg injury with a deep cut or exposed bone or tendon
  • Unable to walk or put weight on the leg
  • Any other serious symptoms that occur for no apparent reason
How Alabama Pain Physicians Can Help

At Alabama Pain Physicians, our goal is to better the quality of life of our patients. We take your pain seriously and strive to establish an accurate diagnosis along with a treatment plan to ultimatly minimize your pain. To determine the exact cause of your pain, our physicians will perform a physical exam and use your complete medical history to help find the best treatment options suited for you. In addition to the physical exam and history, you may also need imaging studies and tests to help the physician determine the cause of your pain. Contact Alabama Pain Physicians today and let us help get you on the right track to managing your pain.