Many people at some point in life suffer from joint pain. Feeling upset, uncomfortable, with less strength and energy or suffering from insomnia are some of the symptoms that cause these types of problems. Both the hip and the knee are very important joints, which help people to manage independently, but what happens when they are both sore, what happens if this pain worsens and prevents daily activities?
In this FastlyHealarticle, we explain everything you need to know about the causes of hip and leg pain , its treatment and what home remedies to use to get relief.
Table of Contents
Causes of hip and leg pain
One of the two discomforts may have started first, for example, a pain in the knee (due to tendonitis, ligament injury, etc.) and as this causes an unbalanced gait, later, the other area suffers. It is something very common to see. Often times, when the cause of the initial pain is treated, the other pain improves next. Among the conditions or conditions that can cause hip and leg pain, we find:
Osteoarthritis
It is a cartilage wear, it can happen in only one joint or in several at a time, with the knees, hips and spine being the most affected, so leg and hip pain can be due to this cause . It is usually accompanied by stiffness, loss of flexibility, sensitivity in the area. This wear sometimes occurs due to previous injuries to the damaged joint, poor eating habits, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, diabetes, among others.
Ileotibial band syndrome
It is less common than osteoarthritis , it usually occurs in runners or cyclists who have made an unusual effort, who do not stretch after activity or who are not in shape to perform such activities. It consists of inflammation of the ileotibial band, which is formed by a tendon that runs from the hip to the back of the knee, consequently, it generates pain in these areas, especially at the beginning of the exercise and improves with the heating. After a while, the pain does not go away and is worse when sitting or going down a hill.
Bursitis
It is the inflammation of the synovial bag, that is, the one that covers the joints. It usually occurs mainly on the hips, knees, or elbows. It is also produced by the repeated use of the joints, causing the same movement over and over again to end up pressing said bags, favored by being overweight, poor efforts, lack of stretching and warm-up. If you suffer from bursitis, in addition to the pain (at rest and even more when moving), you will feel some stiffness and you can see that the area is swollen or red.
Strain or tear of the hamstrings
It is an injury that causes pain and inflammation in the posterior area of the thigh. Depending on the severity, it can also cause pain in the hip and knee, especially when walking.
Treatment for hip and leg pain
There can be different causes of hip and leg pain, which is why sometimes the treatments can also vary depending on one or the other.
After interviewing you and conducting a physical examination, your doctor may request different studies and, based on this, reach the diagnosis and indicate one or another treatment, which may be one of the following:
- Analgesic medications : in general, a painkiller / anti-inflammatory can always be indicated at first, even before having the final diagnosis. Paracetamol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen, or diclofenac are usually prescribed. Always remembering that all of them have adverse effects and that they cannot be taken for a long time, therefore, it is advisable that they be indicated by a professional, especially if you suffer from any other disease.
- Local cold : in case of trauma, arthritis, bursitis and ileotibial band syndrome, the placement of cold compresses in the painful area may be indicated, this will relieve inflammation and discomfort.
- Local heat : When the knee and hip joint are not swollen, warm compresses may be indicated on the thigh muscles.
- Physiotherapy : depending on the pathology that generates the pain, it will be the type of treatment that the physiotherapist will perform, but it will always bring great benefits to be able to achieve greater muscle strength, elongation and, therefore, improve the disorder.
- Physical exercise : in cases of osteoarthritis, regular exercise is recommended in order to keep the joint moving, give flexibility and muscle strength to the area that supports that joint. It will prevent osteoarthritis from progressing and decrease pain. A good way to do this is through exercises in the water (swimming, aquagym) or cycling. In the case of ileotibial band syndrome, it is recommended to heat the area before exercising and do a good warm-up, likewise, if running or cycling continues the discomfort, gentler exercises (such as swimming) are recommended.
- Rest : in the case of strain or tear of the hamstring muscles, it is advisable to rest with the leg elevated to reduce inflammation. In this case, if the injury is severe, sometimes surgical intervention may be needed. The return to exercise should be very moderate. In the case of bursitis, a good rest is essential for a complete recovery, indeed, it is sometimes the only treatment necessary.
- Orthopedic bra : the use of knee braces, insoles, canes or crutches is recommended in case you feel instability or if the pain decreases using them.
- Corticosteroids in the joint : in chronic cases, especially osteoarthritis or ileotibial syndrome that do not improve with physical therapy, the trauma specialist may indicate the injection of corticosteroids directly in the painful area. This procedure cannot be performed indefinitely, because it can cause greater damage.
- Lubricants in the joint : hyaluronic acid can be injected into the arthritic joint or joints, this will make more water reach the area and, therefore, the cartilage is more moisturized.
- Acupuncture : it has been seen in different studies that acupuncture is a valid treatment to reduce hip and knee pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Home remedies for hip and leg pain
Here are some tips and home remedies for hip and leg pain:
- Healthy eating : it is the key to recovering from any bodily problem, and this is so because adding raw fruits and vegetables, legumes, seeds, sweeteners and nuts, the body is provided with what it needs for its recovery. In particular, the following foods are beneficial in case of joint pain: blackberry, pepper, cabbage, melon, soursop, orange and lemon. Any pain, any discomfort will be increased and will not happen if toxins such as: dairy, processed (canned, flavorings, dyes), sausages, tobacco, alcohol, refined foods (salt, sugar, wheat flour), alcohol are not avoided , tobacco, among others.
- Losing weight : both diet and exercise are essential in achieving this goal. The hips and knees are the joints that have to bear the most weight, therefore, if your body weight is higher than it should be, you will most likely continue to be in pain.
- Ginger tea : it is anti-inflammatory, it works in a similar way to aspirin. You can take up to three cups a day of an infusion with natural ginger.
- Water with lemon : the same freshly squeezed mixed with pure water can be taken every day away from meals (1 hour before or 2 hours after), it is very useful to cleanse the body and widely accepted for its easy performance. You can also perform an internal cleaning based on lemon juice for 10 days, this accompanied by a healthy diet.
- Horse strain grass : an infusion is prepared with 30 grams of grass per 1 liter of water. It is very effective in joint pain. A maximum of 3 cups should be drunk per day, away from meals.
- Carqueja or broom herb : used for different joint and bone diseases, it reduces pain and discomfort by reconstituting their structure. It should be drunk as an infusion away from meals (by tablespoons and up to 3 cups per day). To do it, 20 grams of grass should be placed in a liter of boiled water and let it rest.
- Gentian herb : 7 grams of root are cooked in a liter of water. Drinking three or four cups a day are very useful to treat bone and joint pain. It should be avoided in pregnant women and people suffering from gastric ulcer bleeding.
- Mustard baths : Anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties have been found in mustard baths, very useful in joint pain, lung problems and menstrual pain. To do this, a cloth bag with the mustard grains should be placed in the hot water with which you are going to take the bath. For a small bath with about 5 liters of water, 20 grams of mustard grains should be placed and if you want to make a complete immersion bath, 150 grams should be placed.
- Yoga : through this discipline, you can perform gentle exercise routines, with muscle stretching and strengthening. It is convenient that you do it with a trained person so that you can transmit your problem and adapt the practices to your particular situation.
- Wear comfortable shoes .
- Sleep on the side that does not hurt , it may also help to place a pillow between your knees.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Hip and Leg Pain: Causes, Treatment and Home Remedies , we recommend that you enter our Bones, Joints and Muscles category .
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.