General Information
Resources for your Thigh/Leg/Calf (alternatively visit our Hip, Knee, Ankle or Foot resource pages)
Many of us will experience thigh, leg and/or calf pain at some point in our lives. Although it can be painful, it very rarely due to a serious cause.
What causes leg pain?
- An increase or decrease in your normal activity / exercise
- A soft tissue sprain / strain to the muscles, ligaments or tendons
- Pain travelling from the back or hip
- Other health conditions e.g. osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, may decrease muscle strength, leading to pain
- Nerve problems affecting the feeling in your skin or leg strength
- Calf pain when walking which could be due to the decreased blood supply to the leg(s)
What are the symptoms?
You may experience constant or intermittent (comes and goes) symptoms that are aggravated by certain activities and reduced by others. They may include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Brusing
- Tight feeling in the muscles
- Tingling, pins and needles, numbness, burning
- Cramping
- Changes in skin colour and or temperature
Self Help
Most leg pain will normally resolve within 6-8 weeks without any medical intervention. Try some of these self-help strategies to aid your recovery:
- Try a short period of rest for 24-48 hours, with little and often movement of the affected area e.g. moving ankles, knees
- Short course of pain relief as advised by your Pharmacist
- Ice (a bag of frozen peas or ice pack) wrapped in a towel and applied to the area for up to 15 mins, up to 4 times per day. Use with caution if your normal sensation is impaired.
- Alternatively a warm bath or a hot pack may help to relieve symptoms
- Try to stay at work, or return to work as soon as you are able to. Your employ, GP or Health Practitioner should be able to support a graded return to your normal duties
- Good sleep habits and managing stress can help you cope better with your pain
- Try some of the exercises on these pages - start slowly and build up gradually
Should I refer myself to Physiotherapy?
If you have tried the self-help measures on these pages and the symptoms have not settled, you can self-refer to MSK Physiotherapy if you live in Leicester, Leicestershire or Rutland.
For more information on how to self-refer to MSK Physiotherapy visit our Service Page.
When should I seek urgent medical advice?
DVT (deep vein thrombosis)
Call 111 for advice or visit your local Walk-In Centre if:
- your calf is larger than the other side
AND you have any of the following risk factors
- pain that does not ease with rest
- you have had recent treatment for cancer
- you have been immobilised in a lower limb plaster
- you have recently been in bed for more than 3 days
- you have had major surgery in the last 12 weeks
- you are pregnant
- you are taking the contraceptive pill or HRT
- you have been on a long-haul flight
- you are overweight
- you are a smoker
- you have sudden pain, your skin becomes white or blue, is numb and cool to touch
- burning pain or a tingling sensation in the calf, back of the knee or groin area
- you have sustained a fall, and you are struggling to walk or weight-bear
- pain, swelling, heat, tingling and redness in the affected area
Useful websites and resources
Other Useful Advice or Information
Alternatively visit our Hip, Knee, Ankle or Foot resource pages.
Urgent / Out of Hours Health Care
If in doubt which service is best for you, call 111 for advice or visit LLR ICB Urgent Health Care for more information.
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