Leg pain does sometimes indicate heart problems but leg pain can also be from overuse, muscle strain, blocked or clogged arteries in the legs and congestive heart failure.
The leg pain that is related to heart is leg pain from congestive heart failure and venous thromboembolism also known as a blood clot in the leg.
A blood clot in the leg that leads to leg pain can be a sign of heart disease.
Your leg pain can be related to heart conditions such as congestive heart failure or blood clot in the legs if the leg pain gets worse over time and or if you experience leg pain when you walk but not sitting.
Peripheral Artery disease is associated with leg pain and clogged arteries can lead to leg pain.
Longer than a few days or more is too long for leg pain and can indicate you have another serious issue that should be checked out by a doctor.
However some people have chronic leg pain that lasts longer than a few days without having other health issues but you should still get it checked out.
In some cases the leg pain that lasts too long or gets worse could be a sign of a serious problem such as a blocked artery in the legs.
The red flag symptoms of leg pain are unexplained fever, severe leg pain and swelling, loss of appetite and or unexplained weight loss, nausea, excruciating pain, excruciating back pain, progressive leg numbness and or weakness and loss of normal bowel and or bladder function, edema and hematomas.
You should go to the ER for leg pain if you have leg pain that is very severe or gets worse or does not go away or you experience leg pain when walking or you have swelling, warmth or redness in your lower leg.
If your leg pain is sudden severe or persistent you should see a doctor, go to the ER or urgent care center.
Muscle strains and sprains causes leg pain between the knee and ankle.
Other causes of leg pain between the knee and ankle are sudden movements, not warming up, overexertion and even Peripheral Artery Disease.
Peripheral Artery disease causes reduced blood flow to your lower limbs which can result in cramping, pain and fatigue during physical activity.
Getting pain in your legs when you walk can be a sign that you have arteries that have narrowed or become blocked and as a result the legs don't get the proper blood flow which leads to the legs to cramp and cause pain when you walk, exercise or climb stairs.
Leg pain when walking can also be to walking too much but if it continues or gets worse you should seek medical attention.
You should be concerned about leg pain if the leg pain is constant and comes back often or gets worse or you have any swelling or redness along with the leg pain.
Other signs that your leg pain may be serious include.
You have leg pain during or after walking.
You have swelling in both legs.
Your leg pain gets worse.
The most common leg pain is leg pain from muscle strains.
The muscle strains that cause leg pain are an injury that occurs when you tear or pull a muscle and is one of the most common injuries and especially during sports.
Most leg pain often results from normal wear and tear or overuse.
The leg pain also can result from injuries or health conditions in joints, bones, muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves or other soft tissues.
Some types of leg pain can also be traced to problems in your lower spine.
Leg pain is usually not serious but it can be in some cases.
Some signs that your leg pain are serious include.
You have leg pain during or after walking.
You have swelling in both legs.
Your leg pain gets worse.
Your symptoms don't get better after a few days of treating them at home.
Things that can result in and cause leg pain without injury include.
Dehydration or low amounts of potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium in the blood.
Medicines (such as diuretics and statins)
Muscle fatigue or strain from overuse, too much exercise, or holding a muscle in the same position for a long time.
To stop your legs from hurting some things you can do include.
Rest as much as possible.
Elevate your legs.
Apply ice for up to 15 minutes.
Gently stretch and massage cramping muscles.
Take over-the-counter pain medicines such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin).
There's no rule for how long leg pain lasts, given that many different health conditions may be behind it.
But if you can't take a few steps without severe pain and the need to sit down, you should seek medical care immediately.
One of the biggest differences between muscular and vascular pain is whether it is chronic and if there is seemingly no explainable reason for the pain.
In other words, you haven't been exerting yourself with exercise and can't point to a specific injury or illness.