What Causes Radiating Leg Pain?
Many people suffer from radiating leg pain. More often than not, radiating leg pain is not due to problems with legs and hips, rather it is more a problem with the lower back. Many common low back disorders cause pain to radiate to the legs and feet, which explains why most physicians include an examination of the low back in diagnosing leg pains. However, some doctors misdiagnose the true causes of radiating leg pain.
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Illness
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Radiating leg pains are often misdiagnosed as simple muscle cramps. The real cause, however, can be due to serious illnesses that may need immediate medical attention. Leg pains can be the symptoms of diabetes, osteoarthritis, spine and back problems or sciatica.
Injury
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Radiating pains in the leg can be due to injuries from an inflamed tendon, bone fracture, torn or over-strained muscles or from shin splints caused from jumping or running.
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Cramps
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Leg pains can be associated with muscle cramps commonly known as a "charley horse." The cramps can be due to dehydration, low amount of potassium, calcium, sodium or magnesium in the blood; medications such as diuretics or statins; or muscle fatigue caused by overuse and strain of the muscles.
Uncommon Causes
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Leg pains can also be linked to less common causes such as slipped capital femoral epiphysis, tumors or cysts in the femur or tibia, malignant bone tumors, Legg-Carve-Perthes disease and osteosarcoma.
Additional Causes
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Pain in the legs can be caused by reasons such as arthritis, gout, varicose veins, claudication or blockage of arteries, deep vein thrombosis or clotting of blood, osteomyelitis or infection of the bone, and cellulitis or infection of the skin or soft tissues.
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