An injury doesn’t necessarily precede a leg pain as there could be multifarious non-traumatic causes. Leg pain is a pain or discomfort that happens from the hip joint down to the heels. It can affect any of the joints, tendons, ligaments, muscles, nerves and blood vessels of a leg.

A muscle cramps, also called as charley horse, is a common type of leg pain with non-traumatic cause. It can be a result to a muscle fatigue or strain due to too much exercise, overuse or holding the muscle in a position for a long time.

Other non-traumatic causes are associated with diseases. A peripheral artery disease, for instance, may cause a pain in one or both legs due to a decrease in arterial blood supply because of the narrowing of blood vessels to the leg. An inflammation of the sciatic nerve or known as sciatica causes low back pain that may spread into the buttocks and the legs. Leg pain may also occur due to a peripheral nerve inflammation also known as peripheral neuropathies. Chronic illnesses such as vitamin deficiencies and diabetes may also lead to nerve pain affecting both legs. Joint pain like arthritis (with swelling) and arthralgia (pain without swelling) are non-traumatic causes of leg pain.

Leg pain caused by trauma is often due to a fall or twist damaging a bone, muscles, joints or combination. A fracture is a broken or cracked bone that leads to leg pain arising from its nerve endings. Leg pain is also due to sprain or strain. Sprain is a ligament injury occurring from a stretched, or from partially or completely torn ligament fibers. Strain results from stretched or torn muscles and tendons.

An appointment with an orthopedic professional is the first step for a proper diagnosis of the pain. Specific treatment and therapy to your condition will be provided as soon the diagnosis is confirmed.