What causes leg and hip pain at age 50?

Question

Hi doctor,

My client is a 50-year-old female who is having some kind of pain in her legs and hips occasionally. She complains that sometimes there is a stretch of pressure from the nerves in the leg/hip area.

This pain is particularly more noticeable during cold weather and while travelling. My client once lost balance while using a scooter which led to a strain in her leg.

Please assist.

Thanks a lot.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern and I will try my best to solve it.

I am sorry to hear that she is suffering from this pain problem, which affects her travel and other day-to-day activities. Pain in the hip and leg, associated with stretch or compression of the nerves, could be due to many conditions.

Common among them are irritation and compression of the sciatic nerve, strain of the muscles due to loss of balance while riding the scooter, arthritis of the hip joint, or lower back or lumbar radiculopathy.

Joint and nerve pains are usually exacerbated during cold conditions due to stiffening of the muscles and soft tissue in the body.

In cases where there is pain radiating from the lower back/hip down to the legs and accompanied with numbness, tingling, burning, or weakness, this could be a sign of sciatica or nerve compression. Pain localized at the hip joint region with stiffness while moving, could also be caused by osteoarthritis.

As the symptoms have continued even after the strain, she needs to see a neurologist.

I am suggesting an X-ray of the hip and lower back as well as an MRI scan if there is nerve compression.

For now, she should refrain from sitting for long periods of time, jerky motions, and lifting anything too heavy. Stretches, heat packs, proper posture while traveling, and physiotherapy will help greatly.

A simple painkiller might temporarily relieve her pain if she is able to take it. But if she has weakness in her legs, incontinence of bladder/bowel, numbness, or increasing pain, she must see a doctor at once.

Hope I have answered all your questions and concerns.

Feel free to reach out to me whenever necessary.

Thank you.