Leg pain is a common symptom and complaint.

For more specific information, see:

• Foot pain
• Knee pain
• Joint pain
• Hip pain
• Muscle pain
• Shin splints

Leg pain can be due to a muscle cramp (also called a charley horse). Common causes of cramps include:

• Dehydration or low amounts of potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium in the blood
• Medications such as:
  • Diuretics, which can cause you to lose too much fluid or minerals
  • Statins, which lower cholesterol and can cause muscle injury
• Muscle fatigue or strain from overuse, too much exercise, or holding a muscle in the same position for a long time

An injury can also cause leg pain from:

• A torn or overstretched muscle (strain)
• Hairline crack in the bone (stress fracture)
• Inflamed tendon (tendinitis)
• Shin splints -- pain in the front of your leg related to overuse or repetitive pounding

Other common causes of leg pain include:

• Atherosclerosis that blocks blood flow in the arteries (this type of pain, called claudication, is generally felt when exercising or walking and relieved by rest)
• Blood clot (deep vein thrombosis) from prolonged bed rest
• Infection of the bone (osteomyelitis) or skin and soft tissue (cellulitis)
• Inflammation of the leg joints by arthritis or gout
• Nerve damage -- common in diabetics, smokers, and alcoholics (symptoms include numbness, tingling, or a sensation of pins-and-needles)
• Varicose veins

Less common causes include:

• Benign tumors or cysts of the femur or tibia (osteoid osteoma)
• Drugs such as allopurinol and corticosteroids
• Legg-Calve-Perthes disease -- poor blood flow to the hip that may stop or slow the normal growth of the leg
• Malignant bone tumors (osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma)
• Sciatic nerve pain (radiating pain down the leg) caused by a slipped disk in the back.
• Slipped capital femoral epiphysis -- usually seen in boys and overweight children between 11 and 15 years old

If you have leg pain from cramps or overuse, take these steps first:

• Rest as much as possible.
• Elevate your leg.
• Apply ice for up to 15 minutes. Do this 4 times per day, more often for the first few days.
• Gently stretch and massage cramping muscles.
• Take over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.

For leg pain caused by varicose veins, leg elevation and compression with elastic bandages or support hose can help.

For leg pain caused by nerve disorders or claudication, control diabetes, eliminate alcohol and tobacco, and avoid ill-fitting shoes.