What are common leg injuries?

Common leg injuries include sprains and strains, joint dislocations, and fractures (broken bones). These injuries can affect the entire leg, or just the foot, ankle, knee, or hip. Certain diseases also lead to leg problems. For example, knee osteoarthritis, common in older people, can cause pain and limited motion.

Can you walk on a fractured leg bone?

A broken leg (leg fracture) will be severely painful and may be swollen or bruised. You usually will not be able to walk on it. If it’s a severe fracture, the leg may be an odd shape and the bone may even be poking out of the skin.

How do I know if my leg is fractured?

Signs and symptoms of a broken leg may include:

  1. Severe pain, which may worsen with movement.
  2. Swelling.
  3. Tenderness.
  4. Bruising.
  5. Obvious deformity or shortening of the affected leg.
  6. Inability to walk.

What are the three most common bone injuries?

Here are some of the most common bone fractures, how they happen, and what you can expect during treatment and recovery.

  • Collarbone Fracture. The collarbone, or clavicle, is one of the most frequently broken bones.
  • Wrist Fracture.
  • Ankle Fracture.
  • Vertebral Fracture.
  • Hip Fracture.
  • Forearm Fracture.
  • Shinbone Fracture.

When should you go to the doctor for a leg injury?

Call for immediate medical help or go to an emergency room if you: Have a leg injury with a deep cut or exposed bone or tendon. Are unable to walk or put weight on your leg. Have pain, swelling, redness or warmth in your calf.

Why is broken bone pain worse at night?

During the night, there is a drop in the stress hormone cortisol which has an anti-inflammatory response. There is less inflammation, less healing, so the damage to bone due to the above conditions accelerates in the night, with pain as the side-effect.

What is the hardest bone to heal?

Treatments ranging from casting to surgery can be required. Unfortunately, the scaphoid bone has a track record of being the slowest or one of hardest bones to heal.

What bone takes the longest to heal?

The femur — your thigh bone — is the largest and strongest bone in your body. When the femur breaks, it takes a long time to heal. Breaking your femur can make everyday tasks much more difficult because it’s one of the main bones used to walk.

How do you treat a leg injury?

Treatment. Treatment for a leg injury may include rest, ice, elevation, and other first aid measures (such as the application of a brace, splint, or cast), or physical therapy. Some leg injuries are treated with medicine or surgery, especially if a bone is broken.

How long does it take for a leg injury to heal?

It can take several weeks or months for a broken leg to heal fully. The time it takes depends on how bad the break was and how healthy you are. Younger people heal faster than those who are older. Most people get better in 6-8 weeks.

What kind of pain does a broken leg cause?

Knee or ankle pain. A broken bone in your leg may produce pain in your knee or ankle. Poor or delayed healing. A severe leg fracture may not heal quickly or completely. This is particularly common in an open fracture of your tibia because of lower blood flow to this bone. Bone infection (osteomyelitis).

What causes bone pain in arms and legs?

Some types of cancer, like leukemia, lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, and myeloma can all cause bone pain, most often in the arms, legs and ribs. The pain results from the cancerous cells gathering in the bone marrow.

Can a fall cause a lower leg bone to break?

A simple fall can fracture one or both of the lower leg bones. However, the thighbone is unlikely to be broken without more significant trauma. Motor vehicle accidents. All three leg bones can break during a motor vehicle accident. Fractures can occur when your knees become jammed against the dashboard during a collision.

What causes a broken leg in a car accident?

All three leg bones can break during a motor vehicle accident. Fractures can occur when your knees become jammed against the dashboard during a collision. Sports injuries. Hyperextending your leg during contact sports can cause a broken leg. So can a direct blow — such as from a hockey stick or an opponent’s body.