Left leg pain hip to knee: Hip and leg pain: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments
Hip and leg pain: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments
Hip and leg pain can make it difficult and painful to take part in daily activities. There are many possible causes of hip and leg pain.
Some causes are temporary, whereas others can be long term. Anyone with severe or persistent pain in the leg or hip should see a doctor for a diagnosis.
In this article, we discuss some of the possible causes of hip and leg pain, including their symptoms, risk factors, and treatment.
Tendinitis, or tendonitis, is inflammation of a tendon, which can result from tendon tears or the tendon degenerating. Researchers are not sure exactly what causes tendinitis, but they believe that injuries may start the process that leads to it.
Symptoms
The symptoms of tendinitis may include:
- pain as a result of injury or stress
- weakness in the affected area
- difficulty moving the tendon
- a grating or cracking sensation when moving the tendon
- swelling
Risk factors
The most common risk factor for developing tendonitis is sudden or repetitive movements or activities, including:
- running and jumping
- incorrect posture
- incorrect technique when playing sports
- overexercising muscles
Diagnosis
A doctor will usually do a physical examination, but they may order an ultrasound to investigate the injury further.
If they suspect a bone injury, the doctor may also an X-ray.
Treatment
The first-line treatment for tendinitis is rest. A doctor may also recommend physical or occupational therapy to help manage the pain, or, sometimes, a short course of steroid injections.
In severe cases, a person may have to undergo tendon release surgery.
Arthritis is a condition that results in pain and joint inflammation. There are more than 100 types of arthritis, including:
- osteoarthritis
- rheumatoid arthritis
- gout
- septic arthritis
Symptoms
The symptoms of arthritis include:
- pain, swelling, and stiffness of the joints
- not being able to use the joints
- fatigue
- finding it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep
- the pain becoming worse over the course of the day
The symptoms of inflammatory arthritis, such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis, include:
- pain and prolonged stiffness in the morning
- pain when not using the joint
- increasing pain over time when using the joint
Risk factors
Risk factors for osteoarthritis include:
- becoming older
- being female
- previous injury to the joints
- having obesity
- genetic mutations
Risk factors for rheumatoid arthritis include:
- being female
- environmental factors, such as smoking
- having a close family member with rheumatoid arthritis
Risk factors for gout include:
- genetic mutations
- being unable to get rid of uric acid
- being male
- becoming older
- having chronic kidney disease
- consuming large amounts of alcohol over an extended period
- taking diuretic drugs
Risk factors for septic arthritis include:
- becoming older
- having a compromised immune system
- having diabetes
- using prosthetic joints
- having rheumatoid arthritis
- using injectable drugs
Diagnosis
A doctor will perform a physical examination to determine which type of arthritis a person has.
They may also order several imaging tests, such as X-rays and MRI, ultrasound, or CT scans. These can show how advanced the condition is and whether there are any problems with the surrounding tissue.
Treatment
The treatment options vary among the different types of arthritis.
Osteoarthritis
People may be able to reduce pain and other symptoms by undertaking physical therapy, using braces and acupuncture, and eating a healthful diet. A doctor may recommend taking anti-inflammatory medication.
In severe cases, a doctor may advise joint replacement surgery.
Rheumatoid arthritis
The main treatment for rheumatoid arthritis is disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). However, people may also need to take anti-inflammatory drugs alongside DMARDs to manage pain and swelling.
Gout
Anti-inflammatory medications may help reduce pain and make gout more manageable. A doctor may also prescribe corticosteroid injections. People who have recurring gout or chronic kidney disease may need to take a medication that decreases the amount of uric acid in the body.
Septic arthritis
A healthcare professional may treat septic arthritis by draining the joint and prescribing a course of antibiotics.
Hip, knee, or ankle dislocation can cause hip and leg pain. The most common causes include injuries sustained during activities such as jumping or playing sports. An accident, such as a motor vehicle crash or fall from a height, can also cause dislocations.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a hip dislocation include:
- hearing a clunking or popping sound
- immediate pain after an injury
- the joint socket looking “loose”
Symptoms of a knee dislocation include:
- pain
- being able to extend the knee more than 30 degrees farther than usual
- swelling around the knee
Symptoms of an ankle dislocation include:
- pain and tenderness
- swelling around the joint
- in severe cases, a loss of skin around the joint
Risk factors
Risk factors for joint dislocation include:
- participating in high impact sports
- taking part in activities with a risk of falling
- having obesity
Diagnosis
A doctor may diagnose a dislocation by carrying out a physical examination and asking the person what caused the injury.
They may also use imaging tests, such as X-rays, to examine the area and determine the severity of the dislocation.
Treatment
Most of the time, a healthcare professional can “pop” a joint back into place. In some cases, joint dislocations appear alongside bone fractures, which a doctor or healthcare professional will also treat. In other cases, a person may have to undergo surgical treatment.
Bursitis is the inflammation or swelling of a bursa. Bursae are little sacs that sit between the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the body.
A common cause of bursitis is putting pressure on the bursa for a prolonged period. For example, people who spend long periods kneeling without padding can develop bursitis in the knee.
Repetitive movements of a joint can also lead to bursitis.
Symptoms
Symptoms of bursitis include:
- pain when touching the bursa
- a decrease in joint movement
- a slight increase in the temperature of the skin around the bursa
Risk factors
Risk factors for bursitis include:
- doing a job or activity that puts a lot of pressure on the bursa
- doing sports or other activities that involve repetitive motions
- being female, for some types of bursitis
- having obesity
Diagnosis
A doctor can diagnose bursitis from a physical examination, but they may also order imaging tests to rule out other conditions.
Treatment
Bursitis usually goes away by itself. People can speed the healing process by using the RICE method:
- R: resting the area
- I: icing the area
- C: compressing the area
- E: elevating the area
People should also make sure that they are padding the affected area to protect it from further pressure. Pain relievers, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can also help with symptom management.
In some cases, doctors may recommend corticosteroid injections, sometimes with a local anesthetic, to provide relief.
Sciatica is a condition in which people feel pain or weakness as a result of the impaction or compression of the sciatic nerve.
Symptoms
Symptoms of sciatica include:
- pain along the spine and down the hip
- pain or burning sensation in the buttocks
- weakness or heaviness in one leg
Risk factors
Risk factors that may lead to sciatica include:
- working as a machine operator or driver
- having a herniated disk in the back
- misalignment of the spine
- back or pelvic muscle spasms and inflammation
Diagnosis
A doctor will usually be able to diagnose sciatica by taking a person’s medical history and performing a physical exam.
If the pain is severe or has lasted for 6–8 weeks, a doctor may order some imaging tests to rule out any other conditions and determine the best treatments.
Treatment
People can treat sciatica at home by:
- using hot or cold packs to reduce inflammation
- avoiding activities that trigger the pain
- performing gentle stretches and doing low impact physical activities, such as swimming and walking
- using the proper technique to lift heavy objects
A doctor may prescribe a short course of anti-inflammatory medication, as well as muscle relaxants. If the anti-inflammatories are not effective, a doctor may order a course of oral corticosteroids. People may also have corticosteroid injections.
Deep tissue massage and physical therapy can also be helpful in managing the symptoms.
Many different conditions may cause hip and leg pain. Some may go away by themselves, or with treatment, but others require ongoing pain and symptom management.
It is important to make an appointment with a doctor if any hip or leg pain is causing interference with daily life and activities.
Is My Leg Pain Coming From the Back or Hip?
Published December 2018
How to Tell the Difference
If you have leg pain without significant back pain, it can be hard to tell if the problem is your back or your hip. Vinita Mathew, MD, FAAPMR, is a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist at Northwestern Medicine Integrated Spine Center. Here, Dr. Mathew explains what to look for and what to expect if you see your physician for leg pain.
Leg Pain From Back Disorders
Leg pain coming from the low back, or the lumbar spine, is commonly referred to as sciatica. Sciatica could involve pain in the buttocks, down the thigh, into the leg or in the foot. It is often associated with numbness or tingling, and sometimes weakness.
Sciatica has multiple possible causes, such as:
- Herniated or ruptured disc
- Nerve root compression
- Arthritis in the spine
- Lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing of the canal through which the nerve root travels)
Leg Pain From Hip Disorders
When the hip is affected, you may have groin pain on the affected side, reduced range of motion of the hip, thigh pain, knee pain, or buttocks pain. The pain usually does not go down below the knee, and there is no associated numbness or tingling. You may feel more pain when walking or standing, and the pain improves with rest. You may sense a limited range of motion when trying to get out of the car, chair or bed.
Occasionally, pain in the hip could be secondary to inflammation of a hip bursa. This can happen if you have tight hip abductor muscles, difference in leg length or hip arthritis. Hip pain can also be caused by something more serious but less common, like fractures, tumors, infection or avascular necrosis.
Accurate Diagnosis Is Key
If your physician examines your hip joint and notes no hip pain, and then examines your back and notes leg pain, the spine is usually the source of the problem. Some people may have localized hip pain without leg pain, but are found to have a normal hip and an abnormal spine. Others may have only leg pain, but are found to have an abnormal hip and a normal spine. Therefore, in addition to a good physical examination, imaging is important.
Plain X-rays may be helpful, but sometimes an MRI is needed as well. If imaging does not determine the source of the pain, the next step would typically be to perform an injection of pain-relieving medication directly into the area suspected of causing pain. Whether you get pain relief from the injection can help your physician better understand where the pain is coming from.
Treatment Options
Your physician may recommend anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy or injections. If these treatments don’t help, or your condition continues to get worse, surgery may be an option./2549387-article-causes-of-calf-pain-5a70fb720e23d90036a5fa54.png)
If you are experiencing leg pain, schedule an appointment with your physician for an evaluation. Treatment options exist that can help you return to the activities you enjoy.
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I had so much pain with arthrosis, my joint was shorter.
but the thigh ached. I took a picture. and the course of injections helped me a lot, although there were injections from nature. substances, not anesthetics
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5 safe exercises to relieve leg pain
Photo: ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Training is sometimes overshadowed by pain in different parts of the body, one of the most unpleasant is pain in the knee joints. Unpleasant sensations in the knees occur for various reasons. This may be a disease of the knee joint, abnormal load, improper exercise technique, injuries, and so on.
If you experience pain, you should consult a doctor to determine the cause of the pain syndrome.
Based on this, the specialist will prescribe exercises. So, if the pain syndrome is associated with an inflammatory process, it must be removed and only then proceed to the exercises. If the pain syndrome is associated with the execution technique, we correct it.Quadriceps exercises
Technique
Sit on the buttocks, stretch your legs in front of you
Place a massage roll under one knee. If it is not available, a towel rolled into a roller will do. The knee joint should be in flexion (heel and buttock touching the floor).
While inhaling, pull the toe of the working leg towards you, straighten the knee joint.
As you exhale, lower your leg and straighten your foot.
Perform 15-20 reps on each leg.
Biceps and Glutes Exercises
Technique
the width of the pelvis and parallel to each other.
Feel the support in the back of the head, thoracic spine, sacrum and feet.
Hands lie along the body with palms down.Inhale and as you exhale raise your pelvis, lifting vertebra by vertebra off the floor, rise to the shoulder blades.
Inhale at the end point and lower yourself as you exhale. The legs do not fall apart, the knees look up.
Repeat 10-15 times.
Calf Exercise
Technique
Stand next to a support (table, wall). Place your feet hip-width apart, feet in a neutral position for you.
Holding on to the support, rise to the toes, keeping the support on two points of the foot (the base of the big toe and little toe).
Slowly lower yourself back down.
Do 15-20 times.
Belly Curl
Technique
Lie on your stomach, stretch your legs back hip-width apart. Hands under the head, shoulders lowered.
Perform knee bends alternately.
Repeat 10-15 times on each leg.
Sitting Curl
Technique
Lie on your back, resting on your forearms, shoulder joints above the elbows, shoulders lowered.
Based on this, the specialist will prescribe exercises. So, if the pain syndrome is associated with an inflammatory process, it must be removed and only then proceed to the exercises. If the pain syndrome is associated with the execution technique, we correct it.
Hands lie along the body with palms down.