Leg Pain

Aka: Leg Pain, Lower Extremity Pain, Non-Traumatic Leg Pain

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II. Causes: Neurologic

  1. Lumbar Spinal Stenosis (Pseudoclaudication)
  2. Peripheral Neuropathy (e.g. Diabetic Neuropathy)
  3. Radiculopathy or plexopathy
  4. Restless Leg Syndrome
  5. Nerve Entrapment
    1. Meralgia Paresthetica
    2. Posterior Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome

III. Causes: Musculoskeletal

  1. Baker's Cyst
  2. Muscle or Tendon Strain
  3. Ligament Sprain
  4. Night Cramps
  5. Exertional Compartment Syndrome (or Chronic Compartment Syndrome)
  6. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome
  7. Stress Fracture
  8. Arthritis
    1. See Rheumatologic Conditions affecting the Hip
    2. See Rheumatologic Conditions affecting the Knee
    3. See Rheumatologic Conditions affecting the Foot

IV. Causes: Vascular

  1. General and small vessel
    1. Vasculitis (Connective Tissue Disease, Polyarteritis Nodosa)
  2. Arterial
    1. Intermittent Claudication (Peripheral Vascular Disease)
    2. Popliteal Artery Entrapment
    3. Arterial Thromboembolism
    4. Cholesterol embolism
  3. Venous
    1. Venous Insufficiency
    2. Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
    3. Phlegmasia (Milk Leg)
      1. Phlegmasia Alba Dolens (Painful, white leg following ileo-femoral deep vein obstruction)
      2. Phegmasia Cerulea Dolens (Painful, cyanotic, edematous leg following ileo-femoral deep and superficial vein obstruction)

V. Causes: Miscellaneous

  1. Infection
    1. Osteomyelitis
    2. Septic Joint
    3. Necrotizing Fasciitis (acute presentation)
  2. Malignancy
    1. Bone Neoplasm
    2. Metastatic Cancer involving Long Bones

VI. References

  1. Carman (2000) Am Fam Physician 61(4): 1027-32 [PubMed]
  2. Hennion (2013) Am Fam Physician 88(5): 306-10 [PubMed]

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