Lower Back Pain vs. Hip Pain
Even though hip pain can occur with back pain, back pain can sometimes be mistaken for hip pain and vice versa. The proximity of the hip joint to the lumbar spine means that hip injuries can result in back pain. Back pain can also affect the hip and pelvis joints. You can still tell the difference.
Due to its proximity to the spine, hip pain can cause groin pain. Hip issues may result in sporadic pain that progressively intensifies. You may also have standing or walking pain or a limp.
Back pain usually affects the back and buttocks, but stress can affect the hips. Back pain can cause leg pain. Sitting or bending may worsen it, while standing and walking help.
Hip and Back Pain Causes
Lower back and hip pain have many causes. Muscle strains, pinched nerves, herniated discs, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, arthritis, and others are examples. Here are the reasons:
- Sprains and strains: Acute back pain often results from muscle strains. Overstretching or tearing ligaments causes back sprains. Stretching and tearing muscles and tendons causes back strains.
- Pinched nerve: A "pinched nerve" is nerve damage. Could be compressed, constricted, or stretched. A pinched nerve can cause numbness, pins and needles, shooting pain, or radiating pain.
- Sciatica: Injury or irritation to the sciatic nerve causes pain. Two sciatic nerves run through each hip, buttock, and leg, one on each side. Sciatica causes back and buttock numbness and leg pain. Lower back, hips, buttocks, legs, and feet are affected by sciatica.
- The cushioning disc between the vertebrae slips out of place, causing a herniated disc. The disc may press on nerves and cause lower back tingling and burning. It can cause hip and leg pain and sciatica.
- Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: The SI joints connect the pelvis to the lower spine. Back and hip pain can result from limited movement or overexertion. SI joint dysfunction causes stiff, achy lower back and activity-aggravated pain.
- Different types of arthritis can cause lower back and hip pain. Spinal arthritis inflames the spine's facet joints or SI joints, while hip arthritis causes hip pain and stiffness. Back and hip pain can result from spine cartilage breakdown in osteoarthritis. Without this cushioning, bones will rub together and strain lower back and hip nerves. Back and hip pain can result from rheumatoid, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic, and juvenile inflammatory arthritis.
- Spinal lumbar stenosis: Lower back spinal canal narrowing. Due to degeneration, older adults often have it. Hip and back pain, leg cramping, and leg numbness and weakness are symptoms.
- Piriformis syndrome: A rare sciatic nerve and piriformis muscle disorder. The buttocks' thin piriformis muscle rotates the hip and points the leg and foot outward. When the piriformis muscle presses on the sciatic nerve, pain, numbness, and tingling result. Long sitting, walking, running, and stair climbing worsen pain.
- Paget's bone disease: This rare bone disorder affects bones. It prevents bone growth and softens bones. This condition increases bone pain and fracture risk. Hip, lower back, and pelvis issues are common in Paget's disease.
- Pelvic floor dysfunction: The rectum, urethra, and vagina pass through the pelvic floor muscle. Uncontracted or relaxed pelvic, lower back, genital, and rectum muscles can cause pain syndromes. People can have trouble defecating and urinating.
- Menstrual cramps, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and adenomyosis can cause pelvic or lower back pain. This pain may be menstrual.
Medical Treatment for Hip and Lower Back Pain
Few people need extensive medical treatment for lower back and hip pain. OTC pain relievers, topicals (gels, patches, and creams), and self-care can help.
However, your doctor of Dallas pain clinic may prescribe medications or physical therapy for additional relief. Complementary and alternative therapies may help. Surgery is a last resort for back and hip pain.
Physical Therapy
If back and hip pain lasts more than a few weeks and interferes with daily life, your doctor may recommend physical therapy. PT reduces lower back hip pain and improves mobility and function. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to manage symptoms, provide manual therapy, and advise you on how to move and participate in activities to better manage pain.
Alternative and Complementary Therapies
Some complementary and alternative therapies may help lower back pain. Supplementary therapies are used with traditional medicine, while alternative medicines are used instead.
Among such therapies:
- Acupuncture Massage
- Chiropractic adjustments
- CBT cognitive therapy
- Methods of relaxation
Always consult your hip pain doctor in plano before starting any complementary or alternative treatment. Safety and whether a therapy is right for you can be discussed.
Surgery
Surgery is reserved for structural issues that have not responded to nonsurgical treatment. It may also help people with nerve compression that causes muscle weakness, limits daily activities, and lowers quality of life.
Conclusion
Combining lower back and hip pain may indicate an injury or underlying condition. Hip and back pain can make daily life harder, but early treatment can help. Rest, stretching, anti-inflammatory drugs, prescription drugs, physical therapy, alternative medicine, and surgery are lower back hip pain treatments. If you have persistent, nighttime, or inflammatory pain, see a doctor. Lower back and hip pain must be treated to maintain mobility and quality of life. To aid recovery, consider lifestyle changes. Remember that improvement takes time, so be patient and follow your treatment plan.