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Leg Pain - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - Pain Relief

Information on leg pain, arthritis, conditions, causes, diagnosis, symptoms, pain relief, prevention, and treatment options. Leg cramps and pain in the area between the hips and ankles is a common complaint. There are many causes of leg pain including: inflammatory, orthopedic, neurologic, and vascular.
Leg Pain
Leg pain is a common symptom and complaint. Causes of leg pain include: muscle cramps, dehydration or depletion of potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium, injuries, inflammation, nerve damage, and other conditions.
Pinched Nerve - What are Pinched Nerves?
A brief explanation and fast facts about pinched nerves.
Guide To Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome is a sleep disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest.
Sports Injury Guide - The Common Types of Sports Injuries
Learn more about the common types of sports injuries.
Charley horse
A charley horse is the common name for a muscle spasm, particularly in the leg. Muscle spasms can occur in any muscle in the body. When a muscle is in spasm, it contracts involuntarily and does not relax.
Muscle cramps
Muscle cramps are involuntary and often painful contractions of the muscles which produce a hard, bulging muscle. Muscle twitching (fasciculation) is the result of spontaneous local muscle contractions that are involuntary and typically only affect individual muscle groups connected to (innervated by) a particular motor neuron. This twitching does not cause pain.
Blockage of leg arteries
Blockage of leg arteries results from poor circulation of blood in the leg arteries. This produces an aching, tired, and sometimes burning pain in the legs that is brought on by exercise, and relieved by rest. Claudication refers to the limping that occurs from leg cramps.
Femoral Nerve Dysfunction
Femoral nerve dysfunction is a loss of movement or sensation in the leg (peripheral neuropathy) caused by damage to the femoral nerve. The femoral nerve is located in the leg and supplies the muscles that help straighten the leg. It supplies sensation to the front of the thigh and part of the lower leg.
Common Peroneal Nerve Dysfunction
Common peroneal nerve dysfunction is a disorder caused by damage to the peroneal nerve, characterized by loss of movement or sensation in the foot and leg. The peroneal nerve is a branching of the sciatic nerve, which supplies movement and sensation to the lower leg, foot and toes.
Sciatic Nerve Dysfunction
Sciatica is a form of peripheral neuropathy. It occurs when there is damage to the sciatic nerve, located in the back of the leg. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot.
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT)
Deep venous thrombosis is a condition where there is a blood clot in a deep vein (a vein that accompanies an artery). Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) affects mainly the veins in the lower leg and the thigh.
Golfer's Vasculitis (Leg Rash in the Heat)
Golfer's Vasculitis is a red leg rash on the calves of many walkers. Often it starts above the sock line and makes red patches and splotches up their calves. It usually doesn't itch.
Itchy Legs Syndrome (Exercise Urticaria)
If your legs are itchy during or after exercise, with no relation to heat, you may have Itchy Legs Syndrome (Exercise Urticaria).
Femur Fracture (Broken Femur)
The femur is one of the largest, and strongest bones in the body. The femur is the thigh bone--it extends from the hip joint down to the knee joint. Because the femur is such a strong bone, it can take tremendous force to cause a femur fracture.
Tibia Fractures
The tibia is the major bone of the lower leg, commonly referred to as the shin bone. In general, tibia fractures can be separated into three categories based on the location of the fracture.
Tibial Plateau Fractures
A tibial plateau fracture occurs at the top of the shin bone, and involves the cartilage surface of the knee joint. Because these fractures occur around the knee joint, they must be treated differently than the tibial shaft fractures.
Tibial Plafond Fractures
Tibial plafond fractures occur just above the ankle joint and often involve the cartilage surface of the ankle joint. The other major factor that must be considered with these injuries is the soft-tissue around the ankle region.
Exercise-Induced Leg Pain: Sifting Through a Broad Differential
Exercise-induced leg pain is a common condition in competitive and recreational athletes, from The Physician and Sportsmedicine Online.
Chronic Leg Pain: Putting the Diagnostic Pieces Together
Chronic pain in the calf, tibia, fibula, or muscle compartments of the leg must be carefully evaluated to make the proper diagnosis and define the most appropriate course of treatment, from The Physician and Sportsmedicine Online.

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