A warm sensation in the lower leg can be caused by various factors, including nerve damage, leg injury, exposure to extreme heat or cold, exposure to toxic substances, skin damage, burns, circulation problems, high-intensity exercise, and certain health conditions. Some of the common causes of a burning sensation in the leg below the knee are:
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Venous insufficiency: This happens when the veins in the leg aren’t properly circulating blood to the heart. The blood can back up, pool, and leak into the leg tissue, leading to a hot or burning sensation often accompanied by discoloration and itching.
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Meralgia paresthetica: This occurs when the nerve that provides sensation to the skin on your thigh is compressed, leading to a burning pain on the surface of your outer thigh. The outer thigh may also tingle or feel numb.
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Peripheral neuropathy: This is a loss of function of the nerves that relay signals from the body to the spinal cord and brain. It’s often associated with a burning sensation in the legs, along with tingling and numbness.
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Inflammation of arteries and veins: Inflammation of the arteries and veins in the leg can cause a warm sensation in the lower leg.
If you experience a warm sensation in your lower leg that comes and goes, it could be a sign of blood circulation issues in that area, which can be a sign of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) . A leg burning sensation may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as tingling, numbness, pain, redness, warmth, swelling, blistering, bleeding, aching or pain in the groin or buttocks, outer thigh pain, sensitivity to touch, changes in sensation, problems walking, foot problems, muscle weakness, and nerve pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, it’s important to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment.