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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

Leg pain can occur anywhere from where your leg joins your hips to your heels. Leg pain can be constant or intermittent, develop suddenly or gradually, and affect your entire leg or a localized area, such as your shin or your knee. It can also take a number of forms — stabbing, sharp, dull, aching or tingling.

Some leg pain is simply annoying, but more severe leg pain can affect your ability to walk, put weight on your leg or feel stable. What's more, leg pain doesn't always originate in your leg. Spinal problems or injuries can cause pain that radiates into your leg from your lower back.

MY00080

Sept. 10, 2008

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