Leg pain
ARM OR HAND PAIN • LEG PAIN
145
START
If you have joint pain, see p. 146 Leg pain due to a strained muscle or torn ligament usually goes away without treatment. Pain may also result from a problem in the lower back or in the blood vessels in the leg. If your leg is also swollen, hot, or red, see your doctor at once.
Did the pain start during or soon after either of the following?
An injury or fall
Unusual exercise
Neither
ACTION
CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW if you are in severe pain. You may have either fractured a bone or damaged a muscle.
• Follow the first-aid advice for a broken leg( p. 45).
TRY SELF-HELP MEASURES if not in severe pain.
• Follow the first-aid advice for sprains and strains( p. 47).
ACTION
CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW You may have deep vein thrombosis( blood clot in a vein in your leg).
ACTION
TRY SELF-HELP MEASURES You may have strained a muscle.
• Follow the first-aid advice for sprains and strains( p. 47).
What are the features of the pain?
Affects a small area that is also red and hot
Sudden tightening of calf muscles
Constant pain in the calf, which may be swollen
Shooting pain down the back of the leg
Heavy, aching legs
None of the above
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR You may have sciatica.
ACTION
SEE YOUR DOCTOR
WITHIN 24 HOURS Your symptoms may be caused by cellulitis( infection of the skin and underlying tissue) or superficial thrombophlebitis( inflamed surface vein).
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR You may have a muscle cramp, but, if the pain occurs with exercise and disappears with rest, you may have claudication due to narrowing of the blood vessels in the leg.
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR Varicose veins are a possible cause.
Does sitting down with your feet up relieve the pain?
Yes
No
ACTION
MAKE AN APPOINTMENT
TO SEE YOUR DOCTOR if you cannot identify a possible cause for your leg pain from this chart.