Achilles Tendinitis or Rupture
This is a less common injury. It occurs when the tendon in your heel becomes damaged. It can be caused by overuse, overtraining, or running too fast on an uneven surface. A pop sound often accompanies Achilles tendon rupture. Then it triggers very severe pain in your lower leg that does not easily improve and makes it almost impossible to bear any weight.
- Blood clots: You can also have a blood clot in your leg, which usually gives you pain in your calves. This is known as deep vein thrombosis, which can become a severe condition. You can suspect a blood clot if you have the following symptoms: pain or tenderness in your calf muscles, redness around your ankle, and a feeling that your leg is swollen or bruised. If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately, especially if you have known blood clotting problems or blood circulation problems, if you recently had surgery, endured trauma, or are obese or pregnant. A blood clot in your leg can be fatal if you don’t treat it right away.
- Sciatica and other nerve entrapment problems: Sciatica is usually described as pain in the back of your legs and sometimes up into your butt. It’s caused by irritation of the sciatic nerve, which runs down the back of your leg. The sciatic nerve is several nerves that come together in the lower part of your back. They’re all connected, and when irritated, they can cause pain, a numbing sensation, muscle weakness, and a sensation of electricity running through your legs all at once. Other nerve entrapment problems, like sciatica, can feel similar but may not travel down to your leg from your lower back.
- Peripheral arterial disease and claudication: Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition where the arteries of the legs become hardened and narrowed, causing reduced blood flow to the legs. This can lead to pain, cramping, numbness, or tingling. PAD can trigger a problem known as claudication, a type of sudden pain triggered by walking short distances. It can be experienced in any part of your legs and buttocks; some people experience these symptoms at night when the disease worsens.