Leg Pain: Causes and Treatment

Leg pain (synonyms: Leg pain; aching leg; aching legs; ICD-10-GM M79.-: Other soft tissue disorders, not elsewhere classified) may include pain of the thigh, lower leg, ankle region, foot, and entire leg (up to the hip).

Leg pain can be the symptom of many diseases. The cause of a painful leg can be harmless (e.g., sore muscles) or life-threatening (e.g., deep vein thrombosis).

The most common causes of leg pain include:

  • Sciatica (pain conditions in the supply area of the sciatic nerve)/lumboischialgia (low back pain in the lumbar spine, which radiates from there into the upper and lower leg).
  • Peripheral arterial occlusive disease (pAVK) – progressive stenosis (narrowing) or occlusion (closure) of the arteries supplying the arms / (more often) legs, usually due to atherosclerosis (arteriosclerosis, arteriosclerosis).
  • Deep vein thrombosis (TBVT) – complete or partial occlusion of a deep vein of the leg; possible complication: pulmonary embolism (danger to life!)

Leg pain affecting the calf muscles, see below “Calf pain“; leg pain affecting the muscles, see below “Muscle pain” (myalgia). If joint pain is present in the leg, see below “Joint pain” (arthralgia).

Course and prognosis: The course and prognosis depend on the cause of the disease. Prompt medical clarification is usually necessary. If the leg pain is acute, with bulging, swollen, and overheated skin, as well as tingling sensations and/or movement disorders, immediate clarification is required.