Hip, knee and ankle pain in one leg: What could it be?

If you’ve started experiencing frequent hip, knee and ankle pain in one of your legs, you’re likely wondering what the cause might be. This type of pain can stem from many different health conditions. Often, an injury or condition that starts in one area of the body can progress to other areas, causing more pain and problems than what you started with, like poor gait and balance. 

What are some of the most likely causes of hip, knee and ankle pain in one leg?

Various factors can cause persistent hip, knee and ankle pain. If you haven’t identified the source of your pain, take a moment to review these possibilities. A licensed physical therapist can help you accurately pinpoint the root of your pain and determine the best way to treat it.

• Osteoarthritis — Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes the joints and bones in the body to deteriorate over time. A person with osteoarthritis may develop pain in an affected leg around the hip, knee and ankle joints.

• Sprain or strain — Sprains and strains can also cause pain to occur in the tissue on one side of the body. A sprain or strain in the tissue caused by traumatic injury or frequent overuse can lead to pain in the hip, knee or ankle. An injury to just one of these can lead to pain in the others if you adjust your gait to compensate for one.

• Tendinitis — When the tendons become inflamed from injury or overuse, it can cause pain and swelling. Tendinitis that causes pain in multiple locations along one leg usually first originates in one area of the body. Pain in more than one area of the leg usually comes from compensating for the pain during walking or other activities.

• Sciatica — Sciatica, a condition involving chronic nerve pain in the lower half of the body, can cause a person to experience hip, knee and ankle pain in one leg. The sciatic nerve starts at the base of your spine and splits through the length of each leg. People with sciatic nerve pain often only experience pain in one leg.

• Bursitis — The bursae, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the joints, can become inflamed from repetitive overuse and traumatic injury. When bursitis occurs, it typically causes pain at the hip or knee but can cause pain in other areas due to compensation while walking. 

What can improve hip, knee and ankle pain that occurs in one leg?

If you’re experiencing hip, knee and ankle pain in one leg, there are ways you can improve your condition, such as: 

• Physical therapy — The best way to improve your hip, knee and ankle pain in one leg is by visiting a physical therapist. Physical therapists are specialists in addressing health conditions through specialized treatment. They’ll help you determine the cause of your pain and subsequently develop a plan to improve your condition and reduce any pain or discomfort over time.

• Anti-inflammatory medication — A second way to improve the hip, knee and ankle pain you have in one leg is by taking anti-inflammatory medications, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). NSAIDs can reduce pain and swelling for a few hours and relieve pain while you take additional steps to recover.
  
• Adjust your daily activities — If you perform any activities that exacerbate your pain, it’s best to adjust how you do them to avoid making your pain any worse.

Let Advent Physical Therapy guide you toward relief from your hip, knee and ankle pain in one leg

If you’re experiencing pain that occurs when you have hip, knee and ankle pain in one leg, our physical therapists can help. At Advent Physical Therapy, we use a variety of evidence-based PT treatments to help each one of our patients improve their physical condition.

Our patients’ health and wellness is our first priority at Advent Physical Therapy. We understand how much getting back into peak physical condition means to you. Whether you’re dealing with an injury or aiming to improve your performance during play, we want to help you reach your unique goals. We’re a team-oriented group of professionals who work with each of our patients jointly to create the best outcomes for all. 

We can help you create a treatment plan to optimize your health even years from now. Advent PT values building relationships with our patients and helping them prevent pain and discomfort from occurring in the future. If you want to start treatment with us, let us provide a free screening to help us address your health.

Contact our team today for more information on how we can help ease your pain or to schedule an initial appointment with us.