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Leg Injury

Is this your symptom?

Injuries to the leg (hip to foot)
Injuries to a bone, muscle, joint or ligament
Excluded: muscle pain caused by too much exercise or work (overuse). Overuse is covered in Leg Pain care guide.

Types of Leg Injuries

Fractures. Fractures are broken bones. They can be caused by a direct blow, twisting injuries, or falls/jumps from a height and landing on the feet. If a bone is broken in the leg, it will be hard to put full weight on the leg. There will be pain and swelling. A broken ankle is one of the most common broken bones in adults. It can be hard to tell an ankle break from a bad sprain. Other common fractures occur in the hip, thigh bone (femur), around the knee and in the shin bones.
Microfractures. These can happen along the surface of a bone due to repeated minor injuries. Shin splints happen this way, often due to repeated running or not running in the proper footwear. They cause pain in the bone, but often go away with lengthy rest.
Dislocations. This happens when a bone is pulled out of its joint socket. Dislocation of the ankle often happens with fractures of the joint. It may need surgical repair.
Sprains. Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments. These often occur in sports injuries when ligaments are stretched and pull away from the bone they are attached to (or even snap). These injuries can cause the joint to be unstable (feel wobbly). Unless just a minor sprain, may need surgical repair.
Strains. Strains are stretches and tears of muscles. These can range from minor to severe tears, causing a lot of pain, swelling and bruising.
Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can occur without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse is from hard work or sports.
Muscle Bruise from a direct blow.
Bone Bruise from a direct blow.
Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scrape or bruise. All are common with leg injuries.

Pain Scale

Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from most normal activities. Work, chores and sleep are not changed.
Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Leg Injury

When to Call for Leg Injury
Call 911 Now Leg is crushed or has many broken bones Major bleeding that can't be stopped Bone or object is sticking through the skin You think you have a life-threatening emergency Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Can't put full weight on the leg or walk normally or the leg gives way when walking Severe swelling Severe pain Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots Sudden increase in pain and/or swelling a few days after the injury You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Very large bruise or swelling Increasing redness, pain or swelling around the wound You have a cast that : is too tight or too loose feels uncomfortable has gotten wet Pain not starting to improve after 3 days Injury limits work, sports, or school Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Wound is not getting better after 7 days Pain lasts more than 2 weeks You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow Minor leg injury

Call 911 Now

Leg is crushed or has many broken bones
Major bleeding that can't be stopped
Bone or object is sticking through the skin
You think you have a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Can't put full weight on the leg or walk normally or the leg gives way when walking
Severe swelling
Severe pain
Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots
Sudden increase in pain and/or swelling a few days after the injury
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Very large bruise or swelling
Increasing redness, pain or swelling around the wound
You have a cast that :
- is too tight or too loose
- feels uncomfortable
- has gotten wet
Pain not starting to improve after 3 days
Injury limits work, sports, or school
Dirty cut or hard to clean and no tetanus shot for more than 5 years
Clean cut and no tetanus shot for more than 10 years
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

Wound is not getting better after 7 days
Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow
Minor leg injury

Care Advice for Minor Leg Injuries

What You Should Know About Minor Leg Injuries:
- During sports and activities, muscles and bones get bruised.
- Muscles get stretched.
- These injuries can be treated at home.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Pulled Muscle, Bruised Muscle or Bruised Bone Treatment:
- Pain Medicine. To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol). Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Use as needed. Ibuprofen works better for this type of pain.
- Cold Pack. For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth. Put it on the sore muscles for 20 minutes. Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed. Reason: helps with the pain and helps stop any bleeding. Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice or cold pack. Don’t put the ice or cold pack directly on the skin.
- Heat Pack after 48 Hours. If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the sore muscle. Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth. Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed. Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Don’t put it directly on the skin. For stiffness all over, take a hot bath instead. Move the sore leg muscles under the warm water.
- Rest. Rest the injured part as much as possible for 48 hours. Keep the toes and other joints moving gently, if you can.
Mild Sprains (stretched ligaments) of Ankle or Knee Treatment:
- First Aid: apply ice now to reduce bleeding, swelling, and pain. The more bleeding and swelling there is, the longer it will take to get better. Wrap with an elastic bandage.
- Pain Medicine. To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol). Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Use as needed but do not take more than the maximum recommended dose as listed on the package. Continue for at least 48 hours.
- Treat with R.I.C.E. (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Small Cut or Scrape Treatment
- Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding. Do this for 10 minutes or until the bleeding stops.
- Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Try to rinse the cut under running water if you can, or in the shower.
- Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
- Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then, cover with a bandage. Change daily.
What to Expect:
- Pain and swelling most often peak on day 2 or 3.
- Swelling should be gone by 7 days.
- Pain may take 2 weeks to fully go away.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain is getting worse or becomes severe
- Pain is not better after 3 days
- Sudden increase in pain and/or swelling a few days after the injury
- Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
- You think you need to be seen
- Your symptoms get worse or are not improving

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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