Leg pain


InjuryDiseasesNutritionPoison
SymptomsSurgeryTestSpecial Topic
Overview Treatment Prevention

Leg pain (Osgood-Schlatter)
Leg pain (Osgood-Schlatter)
Lower leg muscles
Lower leg muscles
Retrocalcaneal bursitis
Retrocalcaneal bursitis
Shin splints
Shin splints
Varicose veins
Varicose veins
Alternative Names

Pain - leg; Aches - leg; Cramps - leg


Prevention

To prevent claudication and nerve damage:

  • Don't smoke or use tobacco.
  • Limit how much alcohol you drink.
  • Keep your blood sugars under good control if you have diabetes.
  • Reduce other heart disease risk factors, including high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

To prevent overuse injuries, like shin splints, muscle cramps, and other causes of leg pain:

  • Warm up before physical activity and cool down afterward. Be sure to stretch.
  • Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day, especially before, during, and after exercise.

References

Wilder RP. Overuse injuries: tendinopathies, stress fractures, compartment syndrome, and shin splints. Clin Sports Med. 2004; 23(1): 55-81, vi.

Gutt CN. Prophylaxis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis in general surgery. Am J Surg. 2005; 189(1): 14-22.

Vinik AI. Diabetic neuropathies. Med Clin North Am. 2004; 88(4): 947-999, xi.



Review Date: 10/20/2005
Reviewed By: Nikheel S. Kolatkar, MD, Clinical and Research Fellow, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.


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