Leg pain
What is a leg pain?
Leg pain can be described as any feeling of pain or discomfort in the area between your groin and ankle.
Depending on the cause, leg pain can vary from moderate to severe, and the symptoms may be continuous (non-stop) or intermittent (come and go).
What causes leg pain?
There are many different causes of pain in the leg. They include:
- a minor injury such as a knock, bump or bruise
- pain from using your leg too much, such as muscle strains and soreness
- pain from using your leg too little, such as pins and needles or muscle stiffness
- pain from infection, such as ulcers and infected blisters
- pain from problems with blood vessels, such as blood clots and poor circulation
- pain coming from your back, such as sciatica and nerve pain
- pain from problems with nerves, such as the pain of diabetic nerve troubles.
Pain in the leg can also be a part of chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Call healthdirect 1800 022 222 for advice if:
- your symptoms get worse
- you develop new symptoms
- you become increasingly concerned.
Not sure what to do next?
If you are still concerned about your leg pain, check your symptoms with healthdirect’s online Symptom Checker to get advice on when to seek medical attention.
The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps, whether it’s self care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero (000).
Last reviewed: July 2015
