When to see a doctor

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
• Hear a popping or grinding sound at the time of a leg injury

See your doctor as soon as possible if you have:

• Signs of infection, such as redness, warmth or tenderness, or you have a fever greater than100 F (37.8 C)
• A leg that is swollen, pale or unusually cool
• Calf pain, particularly after prolonged sitting, such as on a long car trip or plane ride
• Swelling in both legs along with breathing problems
• Any serious leg symptoms that develop for no apparent reason

Schedule an office visit if:

• You have pain during or after walking
• You have swelling in both legs
• Your pain gets worse
• Your symptoms don't improve after a few days of home treatment
• You have painful varicose veins

Self-care

Minor leg pain often responds well to home treatments. To relieve mild pain and swelling:

• Stay off your leg as much as possible
• Apply an ice pack or a bag of frozen peas to the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day
• Elevate your leg whenever you sit or lie down
• Try over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve)