Pain in Buttocks Shooting Down Leg
You're not alone if you're experiencing pain in your buttocks that shoots down your leg. Several conditions can cause this pain, including Herniated disc, Spinal stenosis, and Deep gluteal syndrome. If you're experiencing this kind of pain, you'll likely want to seek medical attention. A physician can help reduce your pain and help you get back to your daily routine.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a type of low back pain that shoots down the leg and can be extremely painful. It can cause weakness in the legs and can even make you limp. The pain is usually worse when you're sitting for long periods. Fortunately, sciatica is treatable, and symptoms can usually go away with time. A doctor will take a medical history and examine your spine to determine whether you have sciatica.
Sciatica pain is typically caused by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve. This pain may come on suddenly and last only a few hours. It can also lead to numbness in the saddle area and severe leg weakness. In extreme cases, it can even lead to paralysis.
Deep gluteal syndrome
A patient may complain of deep gluteal syndrome, a condition characterized by pain in the buttocks and leg that often worsens with sitting and activity. The condition is often unilateral, but it may also affect both sides. It can result from an injury or trauma that results in the entrapment of a sciatic nerve. A detailed physical examination is the first step in diagnosing deep gluteal syndrome.
If the pain is accompanied by numbness or tingling, it may be caused by a herniated disc. In this case, the jelly-like filling of the disc pushes through the outer covering and exerts pressure on nearby nerves. This can cause weakness, tingling, and pain in the buttocks and leg. The risk of developing a herniated disc increases with age.
Spinal stenosis
When you have spinal stenosis, you may experience pain in your buttocks, legs, and back. The pain will typically get worse as you move, especially while walking. There are several options to treat your pain. One treatment is physical therapy. This therapy will help strengthen your back muscles and improve your flexibility. Aside from physical therapy, you may also want to consider surgery.
This condition results in a narrowing of the space around the spinal cord, putting pressure on the nerves in the surrounding area. It can develop due to age, osteoarthritis, or general wear and tear. The affected nerves may also degenerate, putting pressure on the facet joints in the spine.
Herniated disc
Disc herniation is a complication that affects the spinal cord, a complex structure that is not visible on plain x-rays. The herniated disc diagnosis is usually confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). An MRI produces clear images of soft tissues and helps diagnose spinal disorders.
Herniated discs are caused when a disc, which is rubbery and sits between the vertebrae, herniates and pushes through a tear in the outer covering, causing pressure on nerves nearby. This pressure can cause many symptoms, including numbness, weakness, and pain, particularly in the buttocks and legs. As we grow older, our risk of developing herniated discs increases.
Sacroiliitis
Sacroiliitis is a painful disorder in which the sacroiliac joint is inflamed, sending pain down the leg. Diagnosis can be challenging because symptoms are similar to many common musculoskeletal problems. Sometimes, a physician may need to perform a diagnostic injection to rule out other underlying conditions. In most cases, conservative treatment will alleviate the pain. However, surgical treatment may be necessary if conservative methods do not work.
The typical patient for sacroiliitis is a woman in her 30s or 40s. This is because, after childbirth, the ligaments that attach to the sacroiliac joint do not completely relax. In addition, minor trauma, such as a fall, can partially dislocate the sacroiliac joint and cause pain. Younger women may also develop the condition after playing sports or other physical activities. Men, however, are less likely to develop this condition, and those cases are usually a result of more severe injuries.
