[Leg pain--the contribution of the neurologist].

Pain syndromes in the lower limbs are a particular challenge for the clinical neurologist. Pain may be due to various disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system or muscles of different etiologies. There is a continuum from slightly unpleasant sensory disturbances to nociception. Differential diagnosis must be sought according to topological and pathophysiological interpretation of the clinical findings. This will determine the necessary diagnostic requirements and therapeutic procedures. Within the central nervous system lesions of the nociceptive projections of the spinal cord or brain may lead to pain in the lower limbs. Furthermore, different pathologies of the peripheral nervous system (root, plexus, peripheral nerve) or muscles can cause pain. Finally, pain syndromes are known in clinical syndromes with disturbances of the muscle tone (extrapyramidal syndromes, spasticity) and secondary to postural problems in patients with muscular dysbalance due to paralysis.