What Causes Pain And Discomfort In Left Lower Leg?

Posted on Mon, 29 Jun 2015

Question: I have pain/discomfort in my left leg from the knee down, it feels like a tourniquet is on it.

Answered by Dr. Kathy Robinson (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Is there swelling? Has there been any trauma

Detailed Answer:
There are many things that this could be. Some are minor like a bursitis and some are serious like a blood clot. If you have swelling of the leg from the ankle up then you need to go to the Emergency Department and make sure that you do not have a blood clot in that leg.
If there has been any trauma to the knee then there is a possibility of fracture so depending upon the amount of pain you are in you may need an xray today or tomorrow.
If there is no swelling of the lower leg and there has been no trauma then the possibilities are a bursitis, arthritis or tendonitis. Try using ice or heat and repeat it if one of them seems to relieve the pain. You can also use acetaminophen or ibuprofen if you do not have any reasons that you are not supposed to take them. If pain is severe see your doctor for an exam as soon as possible.
Regards,
Dr. Robinson

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar