Can back pain lead to leg pain?

Yes: If the cause for back pain is a herniated disk, the leg can become painful over time. Typically a herniated disk will hurt in the back for a few days to a week. After that time, the pain in the back gets better and the leg starts to hurt.

In several ways: If a nerve is pinched either via disc hernation or simply vertebral dysfunction, leg pain can occur.Even without pinching, poor back mechanics can lead to pelvic & sacral movement problems, leading to muscle imbalance & poor leg muscle function - all of which can lead to marked leg pain. A good osteopathic hands-on exam & history might help determine an exact cause and treatment.