Sciatica Or Other Back Pain
Up to 85% of Americans experience some type of back pain during their lives. But this doesn’t always involve the sciatic nerve. In many cases, back pain is the result of overextending or straining the muscles in the lower back. What most often sets sciatica apart is the way the pain radiates down the leg and into the foot. It may feel like a bad leg cramp that lasts for days.
Symptoms Of Lower Back Pain
Image sourced from afcchiropractic.com
Lower back or spine problems produce pain in the hips, more commonly known as sciatica. Most lower back pain is caused by the pinching of the sciatic nerve. Because this long nerve runs through the legs, you may feel discomfort in your buttocks and the backside of the thigh. You may have a spine problem when you experience:
- Pain in the lower back
- Pain in the backside of the thigh, sometimes down your leg
- Pain becomes worse when sitting or bending
- Pain becomes better when standing or walking
Another common cause for most lower back problems is a herniated disc. Often, a herniated disc is more painful when sitting and relieved by standing or walking. However, to assess the symptoms properly, its best to consult with a doctor or physician, which brings us to
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What Causes Low Back And Hip Pain When Walking
Once again, poor posture could be the culprit in back and hip pain while walking. To potentially improve your pain, make sure to:
- Avoid looking down too much when you walk, which reduces neck and back strain.
- Avoid slouching when you walk.
- Keep your hips level when walking, avoid unnatural hip swaying.
- Pull in your stomach and engage your core to take the pressure off your lower back.
- Make sure your feet hit the ground heel-first, then roll through the ball of your foot.
- Own comfortable shoes, especially if you have flat feet which can cause back pain.
Another potential cause of hip and back pain when walking is being overweight. According to a review by the American Journal of Epidemiology, people who are overweight are at a higher risk of developing sciatica. This is because the lower back supports more weight as a person gets heavier, naturally causing pain. Stretches that target your back and hips can ease the pain, and frequent exercise keeps you fit while fighting muscle pains caused by a sedentary lifestyle.
If improving your posture, stretching, and exercising doesnt improve your back or hip pain, stop by SPORT Orthopedics + Rehabilitation and well take care of you.
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Study: Femoroacetabular Impingement And Gluteus Medius Tendinopathy
Another study done in 2020 looked at the hips of 2452 patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement, where the tranchantor of the femur does not glide smoothly in the socket of the acetabulum. They found that 10.7% of the patients had gluteus medius tendinopathy.
Because the structures of the body are highly interdependent, it is not enough to just treat the locus of pain. It is critical to look for compensation patterns in other areas of the body and treat them as well, to restore total body synergy.
How To Work These Stretches And Exercises Into Your Routine:
The next time youre in the gym try adding these to your warm-up. You could even go a step further and begin adding them into a daily routine, multiple times a day if you can. The more frequently you address the problem, the quicker you will be to making it subside. If you have any questions, please ask Fitness Floor staff or a Personal Trainer. They can aid in applying these ideas to your workout and help you to gain the benefits of attending to the health of your hips and low back.
Rubin Dl. Epidemiology and Risk Factors for Spine Pain. Neurol Clin. 2007 May 25:353-71.
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Can Hip Flexors Cause Lower Back Pain
The hip flexors and lower back are very close structures, but what is the connection between hip flexors and lower back pain? And is it really possible that tight hip flexors can cause lower back pain?
The answer is yes. Hip flexor muscles can contribute to lower back pain. If the hip flexors happen to be tightened or shortened, the lower back can suffer consequences such as pain or discomfort. The main reason is the influence of the hip flexor on the position of the pelvis, which leads to the anterior pelvic tilt. Such pelvic position is unfavorable for the lower back and is usually the result of muscle dysfunction in the pelvic region.
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Back Aches And Injuries Are Common Among Older Adults But Some Simple Stretches Can Help
by Stacey Colino, AARP, March 17, 2022
Stevica Mrdja / EyeEm
Whether its chronic, acute or episodic, low back pain is a common problem among adults, causing more disability around the world than any other condition.
At least one-fourth of U.S. adults report having low back pain in the last three months, national survey data shows. And research suggests that as many as 80 percent of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives, meaning if you havent had it yet and you dont have it now, theres a good chance that you will in the future especially since back pain becomes more frequent with advancing age.
Common causes of lower back pain include overuse injuries , muscle or ligament strains or sprains, trauma , degenerative discs, spinal stenosis, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis, experts say. Another prime culprit: sedentary behavior. A 2019 study in the journal Applied Ergonomics found an association between static sitting behavior and chronic low back pain among people who worked at a call center.
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How Does Hip Pain Cause Back Pain
Anatomy of the hip and low back
When we walk, the hips must move fluidly to allow symmetry in our walking pattern. When the hip does not move properly or there is a pain in the hip, other areas of the body must move to compensate for the lack of hip joint movement. The low back is the most common area that has to compensate with extra movement.
When the hip does not extend behind the body, the spine has to rotate and extend more than normal to allow efficient walking. Over time, the extra movement in the lower back can lead to wear and tear. Eventually, the low back can become painful.
Hip arthritis and limited flexibility are 2 common reasons for limited hip mobility.
How Long Does A Lower Back Strain Take To Heal
According to Shoreline Orthopaedics, back muscle strains can heal within a few days up to a few weeks, typically between 3 to 4 weeks. While these symptoms typically heal with time, its best to refrain from vigorous activities too quickly as it may cause re-injury, which can be worse than the initial injury.
The best thing to always remember is that staying consistent with physical therapy is the key to solving the problem once and for all. Be sure to listen to your doctor or physician for the best outcome. At the end of the day, your health is your number one priority.
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What Is Radiating Pain
Radiating pain is pain that “radiates” from one area of the body to other areas of the body. When pain in one area of the body causes pain in other areas, this is known as “referred pain.” In fact, radiating lower back and hip pain can cause pain in all kinds of places near these areas like
- Thigh muscle pain
- Pain back of the knee
- Knee pain at night
- Pain in the upper thigh
- Numbing of nerves in leg
- Hip and groin pain
- Pain in the back of leg behind the knee
- Pain in one side side
- Pain in the calf
- Pain in back of the knee
- Hip and groin pain
- Sharp pain in the toes
- Lower calf pain
Note your symptoms from the list above and use these to learn your diagnosis with our helpful descriptions of symptoms, possible causes, and when you should get to a doctor or emergency room to know how to treat your injury.
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When To See A Doctor
If your hip pain is often disturbing your sleep, you should see your GP. Disturbed sleep can affect your physical health and mental wellbeing.
Your GP will ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They may perform a physical examination to check for pain, swelling and tenderness around your hip, and for your range of motion reduced range of motion is a sign of arthritis. They may also refer you for blood tests or imaging tests, such as an X-ray or MRI scan to rule out certain conditions or confirm a suspected diagnosis.
You should go to A& E if your hip pain is caused by an accident or injury, and/or if you have any of the following symptoms:
- A deformed joint
- Cant move your leg or hip
- Cant bear weight on your affected leg
- Severe hip pain
- Signs of infection ie a fever, chills and/or redness in your hip area
- Sudden swelling of your hip
Causes For Lower Back And Hip Pain On One Side
There are a number of causes of lower back and hip pain that radiates from one side. Usually, these are innocent causes such as an awkward sleeping position, overworked muscles, sitting for too long, landing on the ischial tuberosity, or sports injuries. Radiating lower back and hip pain can also result from underlying medical issues that require medical diagnoses. The following are common reasons for lower back pain and hip pain on one side of the body:
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Your Pain Is Worse At Certain Times Or In Certain Positions
If your back pain wakes you up in the middle of the night or appears when youre in certain positions, such as lying down, then this could be a sign of a more serious problem. It could be a sign of a more systematic problem such as an infection, fracture, severe nerve compression or even cancer.
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Unexplained Acute Low Back Pain
Unexplained low back pain means chronic pain that comes on gradually, over time, with no specific injury, event, or illness causing it.
Common causes:
- Prolonged sitting and lack of fitness can weaken back muscles and cause pain from lack of support.
- Ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis.
- Spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal column that puts pressure on the spinal cord.
- Certain types of cancer, in rare cases.
Those most susceptible are over 30, overweight and/or pregnant, and not physically fit. Smoking interferes with healing after any sort of stress to the back.
If there are additional symptoms, medical care should be sought: fever, unexplained weight loss, leg weakness or numbness, or trouble urinating.
An exact diagnosis is made through blood tests and through imaging such as x-rays, CT scan, or MRI.
Once more serious causes are ruled out, treatment may include medications to ease pain, swelling, and inflammation. Steroid injections are useful in some cases.
Overall, exercise and maintaining a healthy weight can be very helpful with easing chronic low back pain.
Rarity: Common
Top Symptoms: lower back pain, back pain that shoots to the butt, fever, back pain
Symptoms that always occur with unexplained acute low back pain:lower back pain
Symptoms that never occur with unexplained acute low back pain:buttocks numbness, thigh numbness, involuntary defecation, fever
Urgency: Self-treatment
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Leg Pain From Hip Disorders
When the hip is affected, you may have groin pain on the affected side, reduced range of motion of the hip, thigh pain, knee pain, or buttocks pain. The pain usually does not go down below the knee, and there is no associated numbness or tingling. You may feel more pain when walking or standing, and the pain improves with rest. You may sense a limited range of motion when trying to get out of the car, chair or bed. Occasionally, pain in the hip could be secondary to inflammation of a hip bursa. This can happen if you have tight hip abductor muscles, difference in leg length or hip arthritis. Hip pain can also be caused by something more serious but less common, like fractures, tumors, infection or avascular necrosis.
What Are The Symptoms
The symptoms of sacroiliitis can look similar to other lower back issues. However, it is specifically an inflammation in the joint. The more common symptom is pain in the lower back, hip, buttocks, and down the legs. This is sometimes accompanied by a low-grade fever.
The pain will usually be worse after standing for a long time, going up or down stairs, or running or walking with long strides.
The causes of sacroiliitis can include:
- damage to the sacroiliac joints from falling or after a car accident
- joints becoming loose during pregnancy to prepare for birth
- an altered gait during pregnancy
- osteoarthritis and ankylosing spondylitis
- an infected sacroiliac joint
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Pain And Stiffness In The Lower Back And Hip
A feeling of stiffness can accompany pain in the lower back and hip. This symptom is typically a protective mechanism of the body to prevent further injury in the area. Stiffness that occurs with pain can be debilitating and reduce function in the back, hip, and leg considerably. Here are a few common conditions that may cause these symptoms to occur together.
What Is The Fastest Way To Heal A Hip Flexor Strain
Some common ways to help treat hip flexor strain are:
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Best Stretches For Lower Back And Hip Pain
At some point or another, everyone has felt pain in the small of their back, hips, or shooting pains felt in the legs. At times the shooting pains go all the way down to the feet, and when this happens, patients are commonly seen walking into the doctor office listing to one side and holding the painful area.
Most doctors offer pain medications as well as muscle relaxers, and others recommend exercising the pain away. What they rarely reveal to a patient is which muscles are responsible for which pain. Sure, the exercises decrease lower back and hip pain. Why? How do the muscles work?
We thought people prone to small of the back and hip troubles should know more about the muscles found there. Where are they located? What do they move on the body? What exercises ease the pain? Read on to learn more about the bet stretches for lower back and hip pain.
The Abdominal Muscles Involved
The spinal column houses the nerves and flexes when the body moves, holds the body upright, and muscles line the column for protection. These vital muscles begin at the base of the skull, and continue down the column into the buttocks, with some attaching to the upper legs.
The muscles are arranged in three layers, with the innermost layer attaching from disc to disc for the further protection of your spine. The next layer acts as a cushion and attaches to a few discs. Its the top layer of muscle that most people feel beneath their hands when they hold the painful area.
Other Muscles Involved
You Have Unexplained Weight Loss
If you experience sudden weight loss that cant be explained by diet and lifestyle changes, then you should always pay attention to what your body is telling you. This is especially true when the unexplained weight loss is accompanied by back pain. See your doctor to rule out the possibility of a more severe condition, such as an infection or tumor.
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Signs That Your Spine Is The Source Of Your Pain
Whereas groin pain is a telltale sign that the pain is linked to the hip, pain above the waistline that travels down the body typically indicates a low back issue. A low back problem may also be responsible for other types of lower body pain, including thigh, buttock, and below-the-knee pain.
Among the most common degenerative conditions that affect the lumbar spine are herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis. These conditions cause pain by irritating your low back nerves, resulting in pain that shoots down your legs , weakness, numbness, and reducing your range of motion.
The pattern of pain coming from the lumbar spine can be variable, depending of the specific issue causing the pain. Commonly, pain from arthritis of the spine occurs during transitions such as getting out of bed in the morning or raising up from sitting. It can often then improve after getting moving. In contrast, pain from spinal stenosis or nerve pressure is often worse with prolonged standing or walking and relieved with sitting.