Even though leg pain is common, you must never ignore the shooting or sharp pain in your leg, especially if it is persistent. Such pain in your leg can take several avenues of care. Our experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen are here to help you diagnose the stabbing pain in your leg. 

We develop a care plan that works to treat your symptoms and prevent future injuries. But, before that, we want you to understand the reasons why you develop such excruciating pain in the first place. So, let us look into the top five reasons why you might be suffering sensations of such pain in your legs.

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Warm Feeling In Lower Leg That Comes And Goes? These Could Be The Reasons

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) is a chronic pain condition that usually occurs right after a stroke, injury, or surgery. CRPS generally impacts the legs or even arms, which quite explains why you might be experiencing sharp pain in leg. 

• What It Feels Like: A throbbing and burning pain that might equal any initial injury.
• Where It Occurs: Mostly in hands, feet, legs, and arms, generally after surgery or injury.

There are two types of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Both arise from a dysfunctional interaction between the peripheral and central nervous systems. After a detailed consultation, our specialists treat severe cases of CRPS using industry-leading practices.

Neuropathic Pain

Neuropathic pain is yet another type of pulsing pain in leg that arises due to injured nerves relaying pain signals straight to the brain. This pain is often labeled as sharp, stabbing, shooting, burning, and/or sudden leg pain. It can arise due to a number of conditions, such as:

1.       Alcoholism
2.       Cancer
3.       Carpal tunnel
4.       Cubital tunnel
5.       Diabetes
6.       Herniated disk
7.       Multiple sclerosis
8.       Stroke
9.       Spinal stenosis
10.       Shingles

Our experts at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen treat this pain with a number of pain management techniques. These treatment options will not only treat your symptoms of stabbing pain but will also prevent any further injuries from occurring.

• What It Feels Like: Electric shock-like, stabbing, and sharp pains in legs, mostly accompanied by tingling or numbness.
• Where It Occurs: It can arise anywhere in the body, mostly in areas affected by chronic conditions or nerve damage.

Sciatica

This pain arises when the sciatic nerve compresses. Stabbing and sharp shooting pain is signaled from the lower back straight down the leg. It makes day-to-day activities and tasks unbearable. Getting treatment for this pain by our experts at Jersey JSR is imperative to speedy recovery and prevention of further shooting pain in leg.

• What It Feels Like: A radiating or shooting pain that travels from the lower back straight down the leg.
• Where It Occurs: Throughout the pain of the sciatic nerve from the lower spine down the back of the leg.

Fractures And Stress Fractures

Loads of pressure, such as a fall, can result in fractures. Usually, fractures are visible, with severe swelling, deformation, and bruising. They normally receive urgent medical attention. Stress fractures are smaller and result in random shooting pain in foot or pain from the ankle to the knee caused by repetitive stresses sustained during sports. They mostly arise when the intensity of an activity increases too quickly, such as during running-intensive sports. Pain might begin earlier during every exercise session and eventually become persistent.

• What It Feels Like: Localized and intense pain that worsens with pressure or movement.
• Where It Occurs: Commonly arise in bones that are under constant stress, such as feet, arms, legs, and ribs.

Hamstring Strain

Acute trauma leads to strains and sprains. A sprain refers to the tearing or stretching of a ligament. A hamstring injury or strain is very common in athletes. It can lead to acute and shooting pain in the left leg or right leg at the back of the thigh muscle, mostly because of a partial tear. Strains and sprains mostly develop due to insufficient flexibility training, not warming up before an activity or overstretching. Carrying on with exercising while injured is only going to increase the risk of developing this pain.

• What It Feels Like: Sharp and random leg pain, mostly accompanied by bruising or muscle weakness.
• Where It Occurs: Typically rises in the back of the thigh when the hamstring muscles tear or overstretch.

When To See A Doctor For Shooting Pain In Leg?

If you experience the below-given symptoms related to your leg pain, then take it as your cue to seek immediate medical attention:

1. Legs feeling very cold to the touch
2. Lack of pulse at the top of the foot or in the ankles
3. Persistent and sharp stabbing pain in knee comes and goes
4. Legs starting to appear discolored or blue
5. Severe pain in the legs that does not get better with rest

These symptoms might indicate that you are experiencing severely affected blood flow and might need urgent medical attention. If you keep on ignoring these symptoms, you might lose your leg or toes due to a lack of blow flow. You must also talk to a doctor if you feel your legs burning or if you are suffering from chronic leg pain. Treating your pain is vital to help reduce the risks that your activity levels are affected negatively.

Summing It All Up

Quick and sharp pain in calf can occur due to many different reasons, and the symptoms might overlap. If they worsen, persist, or make your life difficult, then you must contact a doctor. Upon doing so, you can receive treatment based on the cause of your leg pain. You can reduce the chances of getting shooting pain in your legs by massaging, stretching, and staying hydrated. To get genuine help, we suggest you seek help from our experienced healthcare professionals at Jersey Joint, Spine, & Regen.