Pain that originates from muscles and/or joints of the pelvis or hip can travel down into the leg and may also affect the foot. The hip joint, sacroiliac joint, and the piriformis muscle are common structures that may cause leg pain. Pain from these structures can mimic radiculopathy or nerve pain.
In This Article:
- Leg Pain and Numbness: What Might These Symptoms Mean?
- Nerve Pain in the Leg
- Leg Pain Caused by Blood Vessel Issues
- Musculoskeletal Problems and Leg Pain
- Causes of Leg Pain Video
Hip osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis in the hip due to wear and tear is a common source of leg pain.
Wear-and-tear of the hip joint (osteoarthritis) commonly causes:
- Deep aching pain in the hip and groin region that radiates to the front of the thigh and the knee, sometimes including areas below the knee,
- Locking, sticking, or grinding sound (also called crepitus) that occurs during hip movements
The pain is usually worse in the morning, after prolonged sitting or resting, or after performing physical activities.
Read more about Hip Osteoarthritis on Arthritis-health.com
Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
Abnormal motion of the SI joint, such as hypermobility, is a potential source of leg pain.
The SI joint in the pelvis may cause pain due to abnormal motion or malalignment. Typical symptoms include:
- Pain that originates in the lower back and buttock area and is referred to the back and side of the thigh.
- Effect of posture, such as standing from a seated position and/or sitting on a hard surface typically increases the pain.
SI joint pain may be relieved while lying down or walking.
Piriformis Syndrome
The piriformis muscle located deep in the buttock may sometimes compress the sciatic nerve as the nerve leaves the pelvis, causing piriformis syndrome. Commonly, the following symptoms occur:
- Shooting, burning pain that travels down the back of the leg
- Tingling the back of the leg
- Numbness in the buttock and hip
Piriformis syndrome pain may increase or flare-up while getting out of bed or while sitting for prolonged periods of time.
Leg pain can also occur due to a variety of other factors, such as pulled muscle issues, trauma, aging, strain, dehydration, or from being sedentary with minimal hip and leg movements. An accurate diagnosis of the underlying cause can help formulate an effective treatment for the specific condition.
