Lower leg pain: Causes and treatments

If you're suffering from lower leg pain, you may wonder if it's serious or something you can treat at home. What follows is an overview of several causes and types of treatment for lower leg pain. Seek medical advice if you have any questions about your leg pain or if symptoms get worse.

Lower leg pain: Bones, joints and muscles

Muscle cramps. This sudden, tight, intense lower leg pain is often caused by muscle fatigue, heat or dehydration. Muscle cramps are more common among older people, endurance athletes or athletes who are not well conditioned. In most cases, you can ease muscle cramps by stopping whatever triggered them. If needed, gently stretch or massage your lower leg muscle. Applying heat to tight muscles or cold to tender muscles may ease some symptoms. Proper conditioning and stretching can help prevent problems in the future.

Shin splints. This is the term given to exercise-induced pain in the front lower legs when connective tissues and muscles along the edge of the shin bone become inflamed. This often occurs after running or jumping, especially on hard surfaces, or in sports that involve sudden starts and stops, such as tennis or basketball. The repetitive force overloads muscles and tendons. Flat feet and too much outward rotation of the foot and leg can also contribute to this problem. Pain usually goes away with rest. It also helps to apply ice, take anti-inflammatory medicine and avoid anything that causes pain. Once the pain lessens, stretch and strengthen your lower leg. To prevent future problems, wear supportive shoes or shock-absorbing insoles and avoid running on hard surfaces.

Inflamed or torn tendons or muscles. One of the first signs of tendonitis (an inflamed tendon) is pain in the lower calf or back of the heel. Apply ice, take anti-inflammatory medicine and avoid anything that causes pain. Supportive shoes that lessen tension on tendons may also help. Just as with shin splints, wait until pain lessens to stretch and strengthen your leg. If pain is severe, the Achilles tendon may be ruptured. This can result from intense activity and not warming up well enough. Seek medical advice.

Broken bone or a sprained knee or ankle. A fracture (broken bone) or sprain (injury to ligaments from overstretching) can also cause leg pain. For mild sprains, try rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). For a more severe sprain or fracture, apply ice and seek medical advice right away. You may need a cast or brace. You may also need physiotherapy to improve movement and speed recovery. Over time, gradually increase strength to support your weakened leg.

Lower leg pain: Veins and arteries

These are some of the more common causes of lower leg pain from problems with blood vessels: