Hip pain radiating down the leg to the foot may be caused by inflammation of the sciatic nerve, osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, bone spurs, a herniated disc, a dislocated hip, or a hip fracture.

This type of pain can be acute or chronic and may be experienced as burning, numbness, or tingling. It may also cause weakness in the leg and difficulty walking.

Hip pain radiating down the leg to the foot is treated by an orthopedic specialists and may involve medications, physical therapy, or surgery. Treatment will vary based on the cause.

woman with hand on hip and other hand on waist twisting toward the hip

Main causes

The main causes of hip pain radiating down the leg to the foot are:

1. Inflammation of the sciatic nerve

Inflammation of the sciatic nerve can cause hip pain radiating down the leg to the foot due to compression of the nerve from spine problems like a herniated disc.

This type of pain typically comes on suddenly in the form of numbness, tingling, and a feeling like an electric shock in the hip, back, glutes, leg, and sole of the foot.

What to do: Sciatica stretches and alternating ice and heat therapy can help reduce inflammation and relieve pain.

Pain that does not improve or is accompanied by symptoms like difficulty walking, sitting, or performing day-to-day activities should be evaluated by an orthopedic specialist who can recommend the best treatment.

2. Osteoarthritis of the hip

Hip pain radiating down the leg to the foot can also be caused by osteoarthritis of the hip, which is a wearing down of the cartilage due to natural aging.

Osteoarthritis of the hip is a progressive condition that can cause severe pain and stiffness in the hip, making it difficult to carry out day-to-day activities like getting out of bed or walking.

While osteoarthritis is more common in older adults, it can also affect young people as a result of accidents or hip dysplasia, for example.

What to do: Osteoarthritis is treated by an orthopedic specialist, typically with the use of medications like analgesics, anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, or opioids.

A provider may also recommend physical therapy and, in some cases, surgery.

3. Herniated disc

A herniated lumbar disc can cause pinching or compression of the sciatic nerve and provoke symptoms like back and hip pain radiating down the leg to the foot.

Pain is generally experienced as a burning or tingling sensation or weakness in the affected leg.

A herniated disc occurs when an intervertebral disc (located between the vertebrae of the spinal column) moves out of position or ruptures, causing compression of the nerves in that region.

What to do: Treatment of a herniated disc is done by an orthopedic specialist and may involve medications like analgesics and anti-inflammatories as well as physical therapy to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.

Surgery may be indicated in the most severe cases.

4. Hip bursitis

Hip bursitis is inflammation of the iliopsoas bursa in the front of the hip or the greater trochanteric bursa located on the side of the hip.

The bursa is a small fluid-filled sac that serves as a cushion to reduce friction between the bones, tendons, and muscles of the hip joint.

An inflamed bursa can cause symptoms like hip pain that radiates to the leg, glutes, or knee.

What to do: Hip bursitis should be managed with rest and applying cold packs for 15 minutes, 2 or 3 times a day. An orthopedic specialist may also prescribe oral anti-inflammatories (taken by mouth) or corticosteroid injections directly into the bursa.

5. Bone spurs

While bone spurs more commonly develop on the vertebrae, they can also affect the hip joints.

Bone spurs are the result of excessive bone growth leading to the formation of a bony protrusion.

Bone spurs on the hip can cause pain that radiates to the leg, thigh, or knee, a tingling sensation, and even loss of strength in the hip and leg.

What to do: Treatment is managed by an orthopedic specialist and typically involves physical therapy and anti-inflammatories.

6. Hip impingement

Femoroacetabular impingement (hip impingement) is friction, compression, or abnormal contact of the head and neck of the femur with the hip socket, called the acetabulum.

This condition causes hip stiffness and pain that radiates down the leg or to the groin or thigh, reducing range of motion in the hip and even causing damage to the cartilage and contributing to the development of arthritis.

Hip impingement can be caused by genetic factors or playing sports that involve repetitive movements.

What to do: Treatment should be managed by an orthopedic specialist and typically involves the use of anti-inflammatories, physical therapy, and, in more serious cases, surgery.

7. Hip tendonitis

Hip tendonitis is inflammation of the tendons in the hip leading to hip pain that radiates down the leg to the foot and difficulty moving the leg.

This inflammation is more common in athletes like cyclists, runners, and soccer players but can also affect older adults due to wearing down of the hip joint.

What to do: People with hip tendonitis should consult an orthopedic specialist, who may recommend cold packs, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy.

In more serious cases, a doctor may recommend surgery to repair an injury to the tendon or arthroplasty to replace the hip joint with an artificial joint.

8. Dislocation

A dislocated hip is the displacement of the head of the femur from its socket (the acetabulum) and can affect the right or left hip joint.

A dislocated hip causes severe hip pain that radiates down the leg, joint instability, and difficulty moving the leg.

This condition occurs most frequently as a result of severe trauma to the hip from car accidents or falls from great heights.

What to do: A dislocated hip requires immediate medical attention and treatment at the closest emergency department.

Surgery is done at the hospital to to reposition the dislocated joint using a technique called reduction. Additional surgery may also be necessary to treat a hip fracture.

9. Hip fracture

Hip fractures can cause a sudden onset of pain radiating down the leg to the foot.

This type of fracture is more common in older adults from minor trauma due to weakness of the bones, but it can also happen to people of any age from an accident.

Athletes are also susceptible to hip fractures from trauma sustained from contact sports like wrestling or soccer.

What to do: People with a hip fracture need to be seen immediately in the emergency department. Treatment typically involves surgery to place pins in the bone or may involve a full or partial hip replacement.

Physical therapy is also necessary for recovery post-surgery.

10. Transient synovitis of the hip

Transient synovitis of the hip is inflammation of the synovial membrane that lubricates and reduces friction between the femur and the hip bone.

This inflammation can cause pain in the front of the hip that can radiate to the leg, thigh, groin, or knee that is worse with movement.

What to do: Transient synovitis of the hip usually improves on its own without the need for treatment and can be managed with warm compresses.

In some cases, an orthopedic specialist may recommend analgesics or anti-inflammatories to relieve hip pain.

Hip Pain Radiating Down the Leg to the Foot: 10 Causes & What to Do