Sciatica is a common cause of pain from the lower back to the leg.
Burning leg pain can refer to many different types of sensations in the legs. A burning sensation, for example, could be the result of paresthesia, or tingling, or it could be the result of overuse of the muscles. The pain will be different in either case, although both sensations can fall under the label or description of burning pain in the legs. Perhaps one of the most common causes of burning sensations in the legs is muscle overuse, but sciatica can also be the cause of the sensation, as can neurological problems that result from nerve damage.
A bulging disc in the spine can compress the sciatic nerve and cause leg pain.
Athletes often complain of burning pain in the legs after strenuous physical activity. This pain can be the result of overuse of the muscles. Muscles begin to tighten as they tire, which can cause a burning sensation or tightness in the legs. The sensation can be made even worse by the buildup of lactic acid in the legs. Lactic acid is a byproduct of spent glycogen, which is the body’s preferred fuel source during intense physical activity. As lactic acid builds up, you often feel a feeling of stiffness, pain, or burning in your legs. Athletes can work to prevent this sensation by increasing the lactic acid threshold, which is essentially the amount of time an athlete can spend during physical activity before the buildup of lactic acid becomes debilitating.
If the sciatic nerve becomes irritated, it can cause pain and numbness in the legs.
Sciatica can cause leg burning, tingling, numbness, or sharp pain in each leg. As the sciatic nerve is compressed, often due to tight muscles in the lower back and hips, or due to a bulge or herniated disc in the spine, leg, hip and the buttocks can feel the pain when the sciatic nerve exits from the bottom. back through the buttocks and hips and down the back of the leg. Sciatica pain can be felt down to the lower calf, regardless of where the nerve is compressed. Stretching and exercise often relieve sciatica, although in more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to correct the problem.
Physical therapy can be used to relieve burning leg pain caused by overuse of the muscles.
If a nerve is severely damaged, neurological problems can occur. This can manifest as leg weakness, lack of coordination or strength, or severe pain. The pain can be a burning pain in the leg or a sharp pain in the legs, or even a dull ache. Neurological problems due to nerve damage are considered a serious condition and should be treated by a doctor right away.
