Understanding and Managing Leg Pain: A Comprehensive Guide

Leg pain can be caused by several reasons. Common reasons for leg pain include Sciatic nerve impingement, muscle strains, Bursitis of the hip or knee, Patellofemoral syndrome, IT Band syndrome, Shin Splints, and Achilles tendonitis. When a patient is experiencing leg pain, it is important to identify which structures are involved, as well as the root cause.

In this article, we will briefly discuss the most common symptoms and causes of different conditions that can bring about leg pain.

Sciatic Nerve Impingement

Sciatic pain or Sciatica is pain that originates at the lower back and radiates along the path of the sciatic Patellofemoral syndrome is pain in the front of the knee around the kneecap. It can be in one knee or nerve, which runs on the back of the leg. Sometimes the pain can radiate even into the foot. It is caused by compression (or “pinching”) of the sciatic nerve and can be caused by a bulging disc, a herniated disc, or by bone spurs on the spine.

Muscle Strains

Muscle strains happen when there is excessive stretching and tearing of muscle fibers. It can typically occur during sports or strenuous activities, especially if muscles have not been properly warmed up beforehe start of the activity. If the strain is severe and a great number of muscle fibers are torn, bruising, and swelling of muscle can appear. The most common muscle strains in the leg are the groin (hip flexors or adductors), Quadriceps (thigh) Hamstrings, and Calves.

Bursitis of the Hip or Knee

Bursitis is defined as the inflammation of the bursa, which is a small fluid-filled sac that exists between bones, tendons, and muscles. It is usually caused by overuse or from intense strain on the tissue around the bursa, such as a fall or a motor vehicle accident. The exact cause of patellofemoral syndrome is unknown. It is often called runner’s knee because most people who are affected are athletes. However, that is not always the case. Daily activities can be challenging, even for non-athletes, as well as sitting for lperiodstime.

Iliotibial (IT) Band Syndrome

Iliotibial Band syndrome is a painful condition that happens when the connective tissue rubs against the hip or knee bone. You will see this mostly in long-distance runners. They will often experience leg pain and have difficulty finishing a run, forcing them to walk. Other athletes affected are basketball players, hockey players, cyclists, and soccer players.

Shin Splints

Shin splints are leg pain between the ankle and knee caused by intense exercise, such as prolonged running. Shin splints are most common in runners, dancers, and people with flat feet. It is inflammation in the connective tissue of the anterior lower leg. Most people think it’s okay to keep “pushing through” the leg pain with their exercises but if untreated, shin splints can lead to more serious conditions or stress fractures in the lower leg.

Achilles Tendonitis

Achilles tendonitis is pain that can be felt above the heel, in the back of the leg. Repetitive motions, such as running, can irritate the leg and increase leg pain. However, sometimes one may wake to find themselves in pain. Either way, the leg pain comes from overuse. With Achilles tendonitis, blood flow is restricted so getting blood flow back is ideal. That’s when soft tissue massage benefits the most. Also, something as simple as adding orthotics to your footwear can be a game changer.

Taking Steps Towards Pain-Free Mobility

In closing, we all will experience leg pain at some point in our lives no matter how active we are. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms of leg pain, we here at Knoxville Spine & Sports would love to get you back to your previous level of function.