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Types of Leg Injuries

• 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 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 happen 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 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 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, activities 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.