Pain may occur in one or both legs. There are many different causes, ranging from unimportant to life-threatening. When a person complains of leg pain, the healthcare provider will ask some questions about the pain. Sometimes, old injuries can cause pain for years after the injury. The hip and knee joints are commonly affected.
Nerve damage has many possible causes, such as diabetes and vitamin deficiencies.
Sciatica , which is an irritation of the sciatic nerve, may cause pain radiating down the back of the leg. For example, osteomyelitis , a serious bone infection, and cellulitis , a skin infection, commonly occur in the skin of the lower leg. There are other causes of leg pain. Sometimes, a cause cannot be found. Many cases of leg pain cannot be prevented, but prevention is related to the cause.