OrthoNeuroSpine & Pain Institute

Exercise and repetitive stress and strain, improperly performed activity, or heavy lifting may cause strain in the legs. In addition, many conditions in the trunk of the body may produce symptoms that radiate into the limbs.

Leg cramps, one of the more common leg pain complaints, can result after exercise or can be due to an imbalance in the body's chemicals. Circulatory problems, such as blocked arteries and blood clots, are another cause of leg pain.

If you have been diagnosed with herniated or bulging discs, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis, then your leg pain may be due to nerve compression or inflammation, resulting in radiculopathy that begins in the low back and frequently causes leg pain.

Spinal stenosis, which may cause compression of spinal nerves, can also manifest itself as pain in the legs. Leg pain may also result from neuropathies, such as from diabetes or chronic alcoholism.

A physical examination by your doctor is the first step in identifying the source of leg pain. An individual's physician may perform several tests to determine the potential cause of the pain. These tests may include orthopedic or chiropractic tests, x-rays, other imaging studies of the low back, nerve conduction studies, laboratory blood work, doppler ultrasound to test blood flow, or a special blood pressure measurement in the legs.

Relief of leg pain involves treating the cause. If the cause of your leg pain is from your lumbar spine and you have herniated discs, bulging discs, sciatica, or degenerative disc disease, then you may benefit greatly form non-surgical spinal decompression therapy.

Additional management may involve lifestyle modification to improve circulatory or nerve health, medications, and/or physical therapy.

Lifestyle changes, such as maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular exercise as well as quitting smoking, may prevent the onset of certain painful leg problems.