Our legs are vital body tools. They keep us up and going, and allow us to walk or run. However, when the legs feel pain, it can have a debilitating effect on our daily activities. Shooting leg pain usually feels like a burning or tingling sensation, which is prominent in the calf muscles. While it is mostly felt in the calf muscles, it may also mean that the problem is not just located in the leg, and may be the result of other underlying causes. The shooting pain in the leg may be related to other conditions such as fibromyalgia, sciatica or blood circulation issues.

Blood Flow Problems Can Cause Shooting Pain In The Legs

For those who sit in one position for such a long time, they usually feel a sharp throbbing pain in the legs. Why does this happen? When a person sits too long without moving, and such is the case when the individual is in a long-distance flight, blood flow in the legs is impeded, or some arteries are temporarily blocked. However this type of pain quickly goes away once the leg is set in motion again.

Shooting Pain in The Legs May Signal The Onset of Sciatica

The shooting pain in the legs may also indicate the onset of sciatica. The sciatic nerve is known as the longest of all the nerves in the body, because it originates from the lower part of the back, and stretches all the way to the ends of the feet. The sciatic nerve also supplies sensation to the legs, so when a part of the sciatic nerve gets compressed or inflamed, the disorder is then referred to as sciatica, which causes the aching and shooting pain in this region.

The Shooting Pain May Also Indicate Fibromyalgia

The throbbing and intense pain in the leg calf can also be an indicator of fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia is known to trigger arthritis-like symptoms, which means that joint and muscle pain is widespread all over the body. It’s estimated that around 6 million people in the United States suffer from fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia sufferers generally experience chronic fatigue and lack of sleep, and the disorder is also known to last for years.

Once your physician determines the root cause for the shooting leg pain, he or she will be able to suggest an appropriate treatment form. The treatment form may vary, and your physician may suggest that you do stretching exercises, undertake physiotherapy, or take some over-the-counter muscle relaxants and pain relievers.