Hip Pain That Radiates Down Leg: What’s Happening?
It may feel like a burning or pins-and-needles sensation
Medically reviewed by Oluseun Olufade, MD
Hip pain that radiates down the leg can occur due to many causes, such as sciatica, arthritis, bursitis, labral tear, greater trochanter pain syndrome, endometriosis, and more. If your symptoms worsen during certain activities or when laying down, this could be an indication to the cause of the pain.
Pinpointing the cause of your symptoms can help you get the most appropriate treatment.
In this article, learn more about what causes hip pain that radiates down the leg and how to treat it.
AJ_Watt / Getty Images
Causes of Radiating Hip Pain Down Legs
To understand the causes of pain that radiates from the hips down the legs, it's important to first understand the joints in this area of the body.
The hips are complex ball-and-socket joints, in which the thigh bone (femur) connects into a depression in the pelvis (acetabulum). Because we bear weight on this joint, and it has many ranges of motion, it is prone to injury.
Likewise, hip pain that radiates down the legs can also originate in the sacroiliac (SI) joint, rather than the hip joint. The SI joint is where the tailbone (sacrum) connects with the back of the pelvis (ilium). Issues in this area can cause pain that radiates down the back of the legs.
Below are possible causes of hip pain that radiates down the legs.
Sciatica
Sciatica refers to nerve pain that travels down the legs due to compressed or irritated spinal nerve roots. In addition to pain, it can also cause tingling, burning, numbness, and weakness in the leg, typically on one side.
Causes of sciatica:
Herniated disc
Cyst, abscess, or tumor near the spine
Misaligned vertebrae (spondylolisthesis)
Piriformis syndrome (muscle compresses a portion of the sciatic nerve)
Risk factors for sciatica:
Older age
Excess body weight
Smoking
Occupational factors such as heavy lifting or long periods of sitting
Previous spinal or pelvic surgery
Living with endometriosis
Related: Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy
Arthritis
Arthritis refers to a group of inflammatory conditions that cause pain and inflammation in joints, including the hip joint. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are both types of arthritis that could cause hip pain that radiates down the leg.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and leads to the "wear and tear" of smooth cartilage that cushions the joints. With this condition, your pain may be worse when walking or you may have stiffness after moving.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune condition, and occurs when the body's immune system attacks the synovial fluid in joints leading to inflammation, pain, and deformities. You may be more likely to have pain and stiffness when you wake up, or after long periods of not moving.
Related: Four Stages of Osteoarthritis of the Hip
Bursitis
Bursitis is another possible cause of hip pain. The bursa are fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, muscles, and tendons in the joints. Bursitis occurs when bursa become infected or inflamed.
Pain from bursitis can be sharp in the first few days before leveling off to a dull ache. It worsens during transfers (such as getting out of bed or the car), after being stationary for a long time, and after sleeping on the affected side.
Causes of bursitis include:
Overuse or repetitive movement of the hip
Injury to the hip
Infection of the hip
Bone spurs (bony growths at the edge of bones)
Uneven leg length
Scoliosis (sideways curvature of the spine)
Gout (inflammatory arthritis that causes pain in the joints, especially that of the big toe)
Labral Tear
Pain that is felt at the front of the hip or groin area and radiates down the leg may be the result of a labral tear.
The labrum is a type of tough cartilage that stabilizes ball-and-socket joints (the hips and shoulder). A tear in the hip labrum can lead to joint instability, the inability to absorb shock, locking and clicking sensations in the hip, and pain.
This pain can worsen during twisting movements, or when sitting, standing, or walking for long periods of time.
Causes of a hip labral tear include:
Overuse or repetitive movement
Abnormally shaped femur or pelvis
Injury, particularly from pivoting or twisting
Degeneration from age and wear and tear
Greater Trochanter Pain Syndrome
Greater trochanter pain syndrome (GTPS) is a cause of hip pain that occurs on the side of the hip.
The greater trochanter is a large knob on the lateral side of the thigh bone (femur). GTPS is a syndrome that encompasses pain in this area due to injury to the tendons of the gluteus medius or minimus muscles.
Signs that your hip pain is caused by GTPS include:
Morning stiffness
Pain when lying or sleeping on the affected side
Pain upon activity like walking or exercise
Tenderness at the side of the hip
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is another possible cause of hip pain that radiates down the legs. It is not as commonly mentioned but is also important to consider.
Endometriosis is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows elsewhere in the body, leading to pain, inflammation, and other symptoms.
Notably, people with endometriosis frequently describe their pain as "radiating" from the pelvis down the lower limbs. This could be due to lesions affecting nearby nerves, which can lead to pain in the hips, backs, and legs, among other areas of the body.
Related: Endometriosis Hip Pain: Nerve Symptoms and Relief
Describing Hip Pain That Radiates Downward
Because there are various causes of hip pain that radiates down the lower limbs, naturally, symptoms can be quite different depending on the cause.
It's important to be able to accurately describe your pain to offer clues to your healthcare provider about what is causing your pain. For example, pain in the joint vs. muscle can feel different, and pain from nerve involvement will also feel different.
Some ways to describe hip pain that radiates downward include:
Tender
Sharp
Radiating
Numb
Tingling
Burning
Aching
Stabbing
Weakness
Locking
Clicking
It is also important to note when you have pain and when you don't. Consider if your pain is constant or only occurs or worsens when you're doing certain things, such as:
Sleeping on one side
In the morning
After sitting for long periods
During transfers (for example, standing from a chair or getting into a car)
When walking
When exercising
During twisting or pivoting movements
During certain times of the menstrual cycle
How to Relieve Flaring Hip Pain That Radiates
There are some ways to relieve your pain at home. Be cautious and seek help from a medical professional if your pain is severe or impacting your day-to-day life.
Remedies for hip pain that radiates:
Over-the-counter (OTC) medication: OTC pain relievers such as Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), Tylenol (acetaminophen), aspirin, and Aleve (naproxen) may help with mild pain and inflammation in the short term.
Stretches: Certain stretches, such as these SI joint stretches, may help relieve pain in the hips, low back, and legs.
Rest: In some cases, where your pain is caused by an overuse injury, it may be best to rest and avoid exercise or heavy lifting for a few days and see if that helps.
Ice pack: For acute onset hip pain or pain that's flaring up, you might benefit from applying an ice pack to the painful area. Do this for a maximum of 20 minutes, every two to three hours.
How to Sleep Better with Radiating Hip Pain
Unfortunately, hip pain can often impact sleep quality, especially for side sleepers since this position puts pressure on the affected joint. For increased comfort, try sleeping on your back. If this feels unnatural for you, use a pillow under your knees and/or along your sides to help maintain this position.
Medical Interventions for Radiating Hip Pain to Leg
Treatments can differ vastly depending on the cause of your hip pain, so your first step is to seek help from a medical professional in order to correctly diagnose the cause of your radiating hip pain.
Potential medical interventions for radiating hip pain include:
Medication: A health provider may prescribe stronger painkillers depending on your symptoms, or arthritis medications if that's the cause of your pain.
Physical therapy: You may be referred to physical therapy for your hip, where you will learn personalized therapeutic exercises and other techniques to improve your hip strength, range of motion, functional mobility, and symptoms.
Occupational therapy: You may also be referred to an occupational therapist if your hip pain is affecting your day-to-day life and ability to do the things you need to do. An occupational therapist will evaluate your situation, and offer modifications to your movement patterns, environment, or equipment in order to maintain your independence.
Injections: Some causes of radiating hip pain may benefit from injections of medications. For example, corticosteroid injections are a treatment for arthritis and sciatica.
Surgery: In some cases, surgery will be recommended. For example, a labral tear often benefits from surgical repair. A herniated disc causing sciatica can also be treated with surgery in some cases. Hip replacement surgery is another option for some people. In short, there are many types of surgery but they are typically a last resort, and will depend on what is causing your radiating hip pain.
Living With Chronic Hip or Leg Pain
Living with chronic hip or leg pain can be debilitating and affect everything from your physical ability to your mental and emotional state. Give yourself grace.
In addition to the traditional medical treatments mentioned above, you may also benefit from mental health counseling to cope with the impacts of living with chronic pain. Staying engaged in low-impact exercise and accessible hobbies that bring you joy and meaning are also important.
When to Consult a Healthcare Provider
Seek help from a healthcare provider if your symptoms worsen, last more than a week or so, or start to affect your day-to-day life or sleep. Getting an accurate diagnosis for the cause of your radiating hip pain will set you on the path toward treatment and recovery.
Summary
Hip pain that radiates down the leg can be caused by multiple mechanisms within the hip joint, SI joint, or the muscles, tendons, and nerves in this area. Possible causes include sciatica, arthritis, bursitis, GTPS, labral tear, endometriosis, and more. Treatment will depend on what is causing your hip pain so it's important to get a proper diagnosis.
Read the original article on Verywell Health.
