Choose a symptom and answer simple questions using our physician-reviewed symptom checker to find more information on your health issue.
Do you have pain in your leg or ankle after a fall or injury?
Choose an option below.
Is there a deformity of your leg, or are you unable to stand or put pressure on your leg?
You may have BROKEN BONE, such as the TIBIA or FIBULA in the lower leg, or the FEMUR in the upper leg (especially if you aren’t able to bear any weight on your leg).
Did you hear a popping or grinding sound at the time of the injury?
You may have a SPRAINED ankle, but it’s possible to break a bone of the lower leg and still be able to stand on it. You also may have ruptured or tore a LIGAMENT in your knee or ankle.
Is there bruising or swelling of your calf or ankle?
You may have a partial or complete TEAR of the ACHILLES TENDON that attaches the calf muscle to the heel. This injury will cause pain and difficulty pointing the foot down or walking. A TORN CALF MUSCLE will cause pain with walking and might produce bruising.
A MUSCLE PULL or STRAIN will cause pain and stiffness in the calf muscle without any bruising or swelling.
Do you have pain or mild swelling in the front or inner part of your lower leg that may have developed soon after starting or increasing physical activity, such as running, jumping or marching?
You may have SHIN SPLINTS, inflammation of the ligaments and other connective tissue along your TIBIA bone, or a STRESS FRACTURE, a tiny crack in the bone. These injuries are often caused by overuse during physical activity.
Do you have pain, swelling, redness, or warmth in your calf? Is one calf bigger than the other?
You may have a DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS, a clot in the veins of the calf muscles, often caused by prolonged inactivity, injury, or an underlying blood clotting problem.
Do you have twisted dark blue or purple veins near the surface of the skin of your calf, and do you have pain or cramping in your calf or leg that is worse after standing or sitting for a long time?
You may have VARICOSE VEINS, swollen veins caused by weak valves and vein walls. A milder version of this is often called SPIDER VEINS.
Do you have a tender red area or a red streak anywhere on your leg?
You may have an infection, such as CELLULITIS (infection of the skin), LYMPHANGITIS (infection of the lymph channels leading to lymph nodes) or OSTEOMYELITIS (infection of the bone).
Do your calves ache after walking, and is the pain relieved with rest?
The pain may be caused by CLAUDICATION caused by PERIPHERAL ARTERIAL DISEASE (PAD), narrowing of the arteries that carry blood to your leg muscles.
Do you have swelling in both of your feet or lower legs?
You may have EDEMA, a build-up of fluids that may be caused from CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, ACUTE OR CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE or blockage of blood returning to the heart.
EMERGENCY See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away. Apply ice to the affected area.
EMERGENCY See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away, especially if your knee is swollen. Apply ice to the affected area.
See your doctor as soon as possible. Apply ice and use an anti-inflammatory medicine, such as ibuprofen. Avoid activities that cause pain.
Apply ice and use an anti-inflammatory medicine. Avoid activities that cause pain.
Get plenty of rest and avoid activities that cause pain. Use an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen and apply ice to the area. See your doctor if pain or swelling gets worse or doesn’t get better.
EMERGENCY See your doctor or go to the emergency room right away. A blood clot in the legs could break away and block an artery in the lungs (causing pulmonary embolism), or in the brain (causing a stroke).
Wear support/compression stockings or hose. Alternate periods of standing with sitting. See your doctor if the varicose veins are very prominent, or if they become painful and red or the skin over top of them begins to thicken or change.
Apply mild heat and an antibiotic ointment. Call your doctor if you have a fever or if the red areas or pain get worse or do not go away.
See your doctor as soon as possible.
See your doctor as soon as possible. If you are experiencing shortness of breath associated with this swelling, have someone drive you to the closest emergency room or call an ambulance.
For more information, please talk to your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call your doctor right away.
DISCLAIMER
Symptom Checker content is provided for informational purposes only. This tool may leverage certain generative artificial intelligence tools to generate results, but you should not rely on this tool as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about your health or the information provided when you use this tool, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Do not disregard, avoid, or delay obtaining medical or health related advice from your healthcare professional because of something you may have read using this tool or on the FamilyDoctor.org website. Use this content solely at your own risk. If you think you may have a medical emergency, dial 911.
