The evaluation of leg pain begins with a history and physical examination.

Physical findings in someone with leg pain from an injury include:

• Leg bruise
• Leg deformity
• Tenderness over a bone in the leg
• Leg swelling (unilateral)
• Leg swelling (bilateral)

Physical findings in someone with leg pain from arthritis include:

• Joint swelling
• Joint pains
• Worse with motion
• Decreased range of motion in the joints

Physical findings in someone with leg pain from diseased blood vessels include:

• Weak or absent pulses in the legs
• Leg numbness (unilateral)
• Leg numbness (bilateral)

Tests may be required to determine the cause for the leg pain.

Tests that may be used to evaluate leg pain include:

• Complete blood count
• Rheumatoid factor
• Uric acid level

Additional that may be used to evaluate leg pain include:

• Bone x-rays:
• Normal tibia and fibula
• Fractured upper tibia at the knee
• Fractured leg just above ankle with x-ray
• Fractured lower tibia and fibula with x-ray
• CT scan
• MRI scan
• Bone scan
• Extremity ultrasound
• Arthrocentesis
• Arthroscopy
• Arteriogram
• MRI angiography