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Top 5 Causes For Shooting Pain In Leg

Even though leg pain occurs commonly, you must never overlook a shooting or sharp pain in your leg, especially if it is unforgiving and persistent. Such pain in your leg can take several avenues of care. Experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen are there to help you diagnose your stabbing pain in leg. They develop a care plan that works to treat your symptoms and prevent future injuries. Let us look into the top five reasons why you might be suffering sensations of such pain in your legs. So, continue reading to find out more about it.

Reasons Behind Sharp Shooting Pain In Leg That Comes And Goes

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that mostly follows right after a stroke, injury, or even surgery. CRPS generally impacts the legs or even arms, which quite explains why you might be experiencing sharp pain in leg. Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) can be of two different types. Both of them form from a dysfunctional interaction between the peripheral and central nervous systems.

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  1.   Type One CRPS – It typically occurs right after a minor injury that does not lead to nerve damage. It accounts for approximately 90 percent of CRPS cases.
  2.   Type Two CRPS – It commonly develops after infection or severe injury in which a nerve might have been damaged. If it is left untreated, it can get worse, which might result in nerve damage and sharp pain in leg when walking. Our specialists treat severe cases of CRPS with industry-leading practices after a detailed consultation.

What It Feels Like

Where It Occurs

It feels like a throbbing and burning pain that might equal any initial injury. Mostly in hands, feet, legs, and arms, generally after surgery or injury.

 

Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is yet another type of shooting pain in calf or leg that is a result of injured nerves relaying pain signals straight to the brain. This pain is often labeled as sharp, stabbing, shooting, burning, and/or sudden pain in the leg. It can arise due to a number of conditions, such as:

  1.       Alcoholism
  2.       Cancer
  3.       Carpal tunnel
  4.       Cubital tunnel
  5.       Diabetes
  6.       Herniated disk
  7.       Multiple sclerosis
  8.       Stroke
  9.       Spinal stenosis
  10.       Shingles

Our experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen treat this pain with a number of pain management techniques. These treatment options will not only treat your symptoms of stabbing pain but will also prevent any further injuries from occurring.

What It Feels Like

Where It Occurs

Electric shock-like, stabbing, and sharp pain, mostly accompanied by tingling or numbness. It can arise anywhere in the body, mostly in areas affected by chronic conditions or nerve damage.

 

Sciatica

This pain arises when the sciatic nerve compresses. Stabbing and sharp shooting pain is signaled from the lower back straight down the leg. It makes day-to-day activities and tasks unbearable. Getting treatment for this pain by our experts at Jersey JSR is imperative to speedy recovery and prevention of further shooting pain in leg.

What It Feels Like

Where It Occurs

A radiating or shooting pain that travels from the lower back straight down the leg. Throughout the pain of the sciatic nerve from the lower spine down the back of the leg.

 

Fractures And Stress Fractures

Loads of pressure, such as a fall, can result in fractures. Usually, fractures are visible, with severe swelling, deformation, and bruising. They normally receive urgent medical attention. Stress fractures are smaller and result in shooting pain from ankle to knee that occurs from repetitive stresses sustained during sports. They mostly arise when the intensity of an activity increases too quickly, such as during running-intensive sports. Pain might begin earlier during every exercise session and eventually become persistent.

What It Feels Like

Where It Occurs

Localized and intense pain that worsens with pressure or movement. Commonly arise in bones that are under constant stress, such as feet, arms, legs, and ribs.

 

Hamstring Strain

Acute trauma leads to strains and sprains. A sprain refers to the tearing or stretching of a ligament. A hamstring injury or strain is very common in athletes. It can lead to acute and shooting pain in left leg or right leg at the back of the thigh muscle, mostly because of a partial tear. Strains and sprains mostly develop due to insufficient flexibility training, not warming up before an activity or overstretching. Carrying on with exercising while injured is only going to increase the risk of developing this pain.

What It Feels Like

Where It Occurs

Sharp and sudden pain at the back of the thigh, mostly accompanied by bruising or muscle weakness. This pain typically rises in the back of the thigh from tearing or overstretching of the hamstring muscles.

 

When To See A Doctor For Shooting Pain In Leg?

If you experience the below-given symptoms related to your leg pain, then take it as your cue to seek immediate medical attention:

  1.       Legs feeling very cold to the touch
  2.       Lack of pulse at the top of the foot or in the ankles
  3.       Legs starting to appear discolored or blue
  4.       Severe pain in the legs that does not get better with rest

These symptoms might indicate that you are experiencing severely affected blood flow and might need urgent medical attention. If you keep on ignoring these symptoms, you might lose your leg or toes due to a lack of blow flow. You must talk to a doctor if you are suffering from chronic leg pain, even if it goes away after resting. A healthcare expert can increase your circulation and detect any underlying causes. Treating your pain is vital to help reduce the risks that your activity levels are affected negatively.

Summing It All Up

Quick sharp pain in leg can occur due to many different reasons, and the symptoms might overlap. If they worsen, persist, or make your life difficult, then you must contact a doctor. Upon doing so, you can receive treatment based on the cause of your leg pain. You can reduce the chances of getting shooting pain in your legs by massaging, stretching, and staying hydrated. To get genuine help, we suggest you seek help from our experienced healthcare professionals at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen.

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