Lower leg pain

Calf muscle strain or tear

A calf muscle injury typically affects the gastrocnemius and/or the soleus muscles at the back of the lower leg. These muscles are responsible for plantarflexion (pointing the foot downwards) and are heavily involved in activities like walking, running, jumping, and climbing stairs. When the muscles are overloaded, often due to sudden or forceful movements, a tear can occur.

Symptoms:

  • The most common symptom is a sudden, sharp pain in the back of the lower leg, which often feels like a "kick" or a snap in the muscle.

  • Swelling and Bruising:

  • Tenderness to Touch:

  • Difficulty Walking or Moving the Foot:

  • Weakness:

  • A "Pop" or "Snap" Sensation:

Medial tibial stress syndrome

Commonly known as shin splints, MTSS refers to pain and discomfort along the inner edge of the tibia (shin bone), typically in the area where the posterior tibial tendon attaches to the bone. It is often associated with overuse or repetitive activity, it’s very common in runner, particularly people new to running or those increasing their training loads too quickly in preparation for an event.

MTSS Symptoms:

  • Pain Along the Shin, usually felt along the inner edge of the shin, particularly in the lower third of the tibia. It often starts as a dull ache and can gradually worsen with continued activity.

  • Pain After Exercise (particularly in the early stages of the condition)

  • Pain During Exercise.

  • Tenderness to the touch.

  • Swelling in more severe cases.

Sural nerve entrapment

Sural nerve entrapment refers to the compression or irritation of the sural nerve, a sensory nerve that runs along the outer side of the lower leg and foot. It provides sensation to the lateral aspect of the foot and lower leg, including the heel and outer side of the foot. When the sural nerve becomes compressed, it can cause pain, tingling, numbness, and other sensory disturbances along its distribution.

Symptoms:

  • Sharp, burning, or dull aching pain along the lateral aspect of the foot, heel, or outer ankle.

  • Paresthesia (tingling, pins and needles) in the outer foot, ankle.

  • Numbness or loss of sensation along the lateral foot or ankle.

  • Pain Exacerbated by Activity

    Tenderness to touch.

  • Weakness can occur but is rare.

Leg pain referred from the lumbar spine

Leg pain referred from the lumbar spine is a common issue and typically occurs due to nerve irritation or compression in the lower back, often associated with conditions such as sciatica, lumbar disc herniation, or spinal stenosis. When nerves in the lumbar spine are irritated, the pain can radiate down the leg, following the path of the nerve. The pain may vary in intensity, and its nature can range from sharp and shooting to dull and aching.

Common symptoms:

  • The hallmark symptom is radiating pain that travels from the lower back or buttocks down to the leg, often following a specific nerve pathway.

  • Numbness or Tingling down the leg or into the foot.

  • Weakness in the leg or foot.

  • Pain Worsened by Certain Movements.

  • Stiffness or Decreased Range of Motion.

  • Pain Relieved by Rest.