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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

Leg and foot pain from running

by Savanna
(Tupelo, Ms)

I am having a weird pain in my leg mostly when I put pressure on it(walking etc..) I am very active and I haven't ever had any problems with this leg before. It started a day ago I haven't done anything to my leg or foot some I'm not sure what's wrong. I had to run across the building to fix something Friday and it didn't start hurting until Saturday morning. The pain starts right under the left knee(the muscle is tight on that spot) at the back and goes down to the top of the left foot(not any pain on the bottom) and now today it feels like the muscles in my thigh(toward the right inner area) are tight. I thought it might be a pulled muscle or a pinched nerve, should I have it checked out?


RESPONSE

Hi Savanna,

Because of the way the pain seems to be traveling and because this seems to have occurred as a resulting of running, my first guess would be that you strained a muscle, perhaps might even have partially torn a muscle.
I know nothing about your overall health or fitness or your age for that matter, but I do know that running on hard floors in a building is not the best surface to ever run on. I do not know if you were wearing dress shoes or sneakers, but certainly any thing less than sneakers would have made you susceptible to sustaining an injury.
The fact
that the pain started a day later would lead me more to the possibility of a muscle strain rather than a muscle tear, because if you had actually torn a muscle the pain would have begun immediately.
There is also the possibility of a stress fracture having occurred in your lower leg which can happen from running particularly on hard surfaces with or without proper running shoes. But, again, I would suspect that the leg would have started hurting immediately rather than a day later.
Now, it has only been a day since this injury occurred. Do you need to run to the doctor? If you are in a great deal of pain, then the answer would be yes as there could be other issues going on here.
But, if the pain is tolerable, not causing you to limp, then you could wait a couple of days to see if the pain subsides on its own. If you can tolerate them, you might consider some anti-inflammatory medication, along with moist heat (I only recommend ice during the first 24 hours after an injury). Additionally, I would refrain from any athletic activity for the next few days.
If you see gradual improvement each day, then you are doing fine. If you do not see any improvement, again, that might be an indication of something more severe than what I have discussed here and that too would be reason to seek medical attention in your area.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center
If you happen to live in the New York - New Jersey area and would like to visit our office

Dr. Marc Mitnick

151 Summit Ave.
Summit, NJ 07901
908-522-0761


To make an appointment online or for directions to our office click Dr. Marc Mitnick.

DISCLAIMER: The purpose of this site is purely informational in nature. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition. This information is not a substitute for advice from a medical professional. Please consult your healthcare provider for accurate diagnosis and treatment. The information presented here may be subject to errors and omissions.


SITE LAST UPDATED: July 2026




MY PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS
(items I prescribe in the office)


Orthotics for multiple types of foot pain
best buy in a pre-made orthotic
click link below


SuperStepOrthotics

Orthotics for heel and arch pain for those who must wear dress shoes
click link below


redithotics

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(location unknown)
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(location unknown)
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(location unknown)
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(location unknown)
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UK

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Unknown location

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Unknown location

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Anonymous



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New Zealand

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Arizona
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Poland
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South Carolina
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Natalie

unknown location


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Arlington, VA


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San Clemente, CA


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Pam

location unknown


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location unknown


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Bre

location unknown


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anonymous



Dr. Mitnick, Thank you, you were 100% correct. The pain finally brought me to the ER. I spent 8 days in the hospital. The Doppler you spoke of was able to show that there was no pulse in that foot. This was an arterial clot that split and traveled throughout my leg. My leg was almost amputated. I am in rough shape but have all my parts intact!! You certainly know what you are talking about. Thank you for taking the time to answer. Yours Truly!

anonymous



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Poland



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Seattle, WA


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Bonnie

location unknown



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New Jersey



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Debbie

location unknown



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Chrissy

location unknown



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Evansville, IA



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Jackie

San Diego, CA



Dr. Mitnick, Just want to say thank you so very much for your quick response and very informative reply! After reading what you had to say, I called the doctor's office and was able to get in and see him the same day as my injury. Toe was x-rayed and luckily, it is not broken or fractured. Very badly bruised and will probably lose the toe nail. And although my toe and toe nail are still very black and blue and very sore, they ARE both starting to feel a little better. So again, thank you! I am so very happy that I came across your website. The service you provide is outstanding and immeasurable!

Rivi,

Albany, NY



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Jill S.

location unknown



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Jackie

Whichita, KS



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mark

Boston, MA



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Colorado



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Colorado

Wonderful advice

by: Anonymous

This is the best site for foot problem info.

Thank you for this information. This description fits my pain and inflammation behind my 2nd toe perfectly.

by: Max

location unknown
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Canada
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location unknown
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Wisconsin
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Julie

location unknown
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Renae

North Carolina
Many Thanks Dr Marc!
Thank you for your response. It sounds like a good plan to me. He did not cut the wart out first ...

KG

location unknown

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Bessie Mae

Florida
Dear Dr. Mitnick, Thank you so very much for taking your time to answer my question. You have greatly relieved my anxiety related to the continual tingly I feel in my feet. I will share your response with my podiatrist next week. God bless you for having this question and answer page on your website! Most gratefully,

Lynne T.

location unknown
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Robert

New Jersey


Thank you. you were more detailed than what others have told me they finally called from the last xrays and my son is now in a cast for 2 weeks he did have a fracture that was not noticeable.

a mom

location unknown


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Melody

Lenoir, NC


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Bellevue, WA


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Jodi

location unknown

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