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Pain in the lower leg

Dolor Crura (Latin name)

By Bjarne Lühr Hansen PhD, MD and Philipp Skafte-Holm MD, Mentor Institute

Pain in the lower leg may be due to many different diseases. The most serious is a blood clot in the leg and the disease erysipelas. The symptoms of a blood clot in the lower leg are pain in the leg and swelling of the leg. At erysipelas, a delimited area of ​​the skin becomes red, hot and sore while giving you fever. Both diseases require emergency treatment.

Pain in the lower leg may be indicative of severe and acute treatment-intensive diseases, but in most cases, it will be a sign of overloading your leg. Pain in the lower leg may occur due to various diseases of the skin, muscles and blood vessels. 

In the skin

  • Most often, it erysipelas, which is an inflammation of the skin. Erysipelas occurs frequently on the lower leg. The skin becomes hot, red, painful and sore in a sharp bounded area. Fever, headache and nausea with vomiting are common. Erysipelas is treated with antibiotics. 

In a blood vessel

  • A blood clot in the deep veins of the leg muscles is shown by pain in the leg, which is exacerbated by pressure in the leg. The entire lower leg raises simultaneously. A blood clot is treated with blood thinning medication.

  • Inflammation of the lower leg of the lower leg is not rare. The inflammation shows when a varicose vein becomes hard, red, hot and tender. Irritation of the varicose veins is treated with relief and painkillers.

  • Lack of blood supply to the leg gives very strong pain while the leg becomes completely white. The condition can be seen by sealing the blood vessels that lead blood to the leg. The treatment is surgery. 

In muscles

  • Fibrillation in the lower muscles is not uncommon. In general, it occurs when the leg muscle is stressed in connection with sports. The pain comes as a snap and then it is difficult to support the leg. The treatment is relief and painkillers.

  • Blow to the lower leg may cause bleeding under the skin of the muscles. Typically, a sore bump occurs which disappears after a few days. The treatment is relief and painkillers.

  • Shinbone inflammation is a frequent strain injury to runners and jumpers. The pains are located on the front and inside of the lower leg. The pain comes when you run and last for some time after you stop running. The treatment is relief and painkillers.

Click here to assess the sick.

What can you do?

Overload or direct damage to the lower leg is treated with relief and painkillers. The relief is that the leg is held high and not supported on. The painkillers can be bought over the counter (Paracetamol).

Contact the doctor tomorrow

If your pain does not get better after relieving and painkillers.

Contact the doctor immediately

If you suddenly get pain in the leg and your leg raises. If the skin turns red, warm and sore and you also experience fever.