Signs That Your Hip Is The Source Of Your Pain
One of the biggest signs that your pain is caused by a problem in your hip is the presence of groin pain. Your hip joint is located behind the groin, thats why groin pain usually means the hip is the root cause of pain. In some cases, this groin pain will radiate downward toward your knee.
Another obvious sign that your hip is the source of your pain is pain around or over the hip joint. However, hip problems can also refer pain to your low back, contributing to the confusion over where the true source of the pain is located.
Hip-related pain is most often caused by osteoarthritis in the hip. In addition to groin pain, people who have osteoarthritis in their hip joint often report pain in their buttock, front of thighs, and knees. They may also limp when they walk and report reduced range of motion in their hips, pain that worsens with activity and improves with rest, and discomfort that begins as occasional but becomes more regular.
While osteoarthritis is the most common cause, hip pain may also derive from piriformis syndrome, avascular necrosis in the hip, and/or sacroiliac joint dysfunction.
- Piriformis syndrome causes dull, mild pain in the low back and buttocks and can cause pain radiating down the legor sciatica.
- On the other hand, the hip pain associated with avascular necrosis is severe and constant.
- Sacroiliac joint pain might be attributed to both the hip and the low back, as the sacroiliac joints connect the sacrum in spine to the hip bones.
How Doctors Get To Root Of Your Pain
If you have pain in your lower body and arent sure whether your back or hip is to blame, a good first course of action is to visit your personal doctor. He or she will review your medical history and may perform a series of physical exam tests to get to the root of your pain. Alternatively, your personal doctor may refer you to a doctor who specializes in the hip or spine to make an accurate diagnosis.
Your doctor will ask you to describe your pain, including its location, when it worsens/is relieved, and what the pain feels like .
After listening to your description of your pain, your doctor may have you perform several maneuvers or movements as part of a physical exam. The goal of these maneuvers is to determine what movements recreate your pain. One such maneuver is called the Flexion Abduction External Rotation test, which helps determine if the disorder is sourced in your hip and may illuminate sacroiliac joint problems. During this test, you lie down your back while flexing and rotating your hips. Your doctor may also palpate the area of pain.
Next, your doctor may also order imaging scans, such an x-ray to view your bones or an MRI to view soft tissues , which may help reveal the true nature of the spinal or hip problem. It is important for your doctor to then determine if your complaints and exam findings can be explained by what is seen on the images.
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.
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Pain From Abdominal Issues
Now you should have a good understanding of how your muscles, organs, and bones are interconnected and can affect each other when one isnt functioning properly. Youve also seen that your body alignment can get disrupted if your muscles are too tight. When your body alignment is disrupted, there is increased potential for organ discomfort or abdominal issues to arise as well.
Gluteal Muscle Tear Or Avulsion
The gluteus medius is a muscle that sits on the outside of the hip area. This muscle is used for standing upright and walking. When injured, these muscles will cause a limp. If these muscles are torn, it can cause severe pain when walking, sitting, or sleeping. Treatment usually involves rest, physical therapy, and sometimes surgery to repair the torn muscle, if no other treatments bring relief from pain.
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The Low Back Pain In Patients With Hip Osteoarthritis: Current Knowledge On The Diagnosis Mechanism And Treatment Outcome
Weijun Wang, Minghui Sun, Zhihong Xu, Yong Qiu, Wenjie Weng
Department of Joint Surgery The Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School , , China
Contributions: Conception and design: W Wang, Y Qiu, W Weng Administrative support: Y Qiu, W Weng Provision of study materials or patients: W Wang Collection and assembly of data: W Wang, M Sun, Z Xu Manuscript writing: All authors Final approval of manuscript: All authors.
Correspondence to:
Abstract: The low back pain might be the most common comorbidity of hip osteoarthritis , with reported incidence of 21.2% to 100%. Its critical to identify the LBP secondary to the HOA for treatment protocol making. A throughout history, physical examination, differential diagnosis test, and understanding on the pathogenesis of LBP are needed to different the sources of LBP. The LBP secondary to HOA could be relieved by the treatment of HOA, such as total hip arthroplasty.
Keywords: Low back pain hip-spine syndrome sagittal alignment range of motion arthroplasty
Received: 20 May 2016 Accepted: 03 June 2016 Published: 28 June 2016.
doi: 10.21037/aoj.2016.06.03
Figure 1
What Is Sacroiliac Joint Pain
The SI joints are located between the iliac bones and the sacrum, connecting the spine to the hips. The two joints provide support and stability, and play a major role in absorbing impact when walking and lifting. From the back, the SI joints are located below the waist where two dimples are visible.
Strong ligaments and muscles support the SI joints. There is a very small amount of motion in the joint for normal body flexibility. As we age our bones become arthritic and ligaments stiffen. When the cartilage wears down, the bones may rub together causing pain . The SI joint is a synovial joint filled with fluid. This type of joint has free nerve endings that can cause chronic pain if the joint degenerates or does not move properly.
Sacroiliac joint pain ranges from mild to severe depending on the extent and cause of injury. Acute SI joint pain occurs suddenly and usually heals within several days to weeks. Chronic SI joint pain persists for more than three months it may be felt all the time or worsen with certain activities.
Other terms for SI joint pain include: SI joint dysfunction, SI joint syndrome, SI joint strain and SI joint inflammation.
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Treating The Root Cause
When you visit the back doctor with any sort of pain, their goal will be to determine the root cause of your problem and address that issue directly. Your initial conversation on your first visit with the chiropractor will be about your symptoms, medical history, and goals. With this information, they can develop a personalized plan to address your short term pain as well as your long term health. They will work to reset your bodys central nervous system by realigning the spine.
Unlike other solutions that are more invasive, like medication or surgery, chiropractic care is a natural approach to treatment. Because it is working towards a sustained fix, it may take some time before your digestive problems resolve fully. In addition to spinal adjustments to correct misalignments, your chiropractor may also discuss lifestyle changes like diet and exercise to help alleviate symptoms.
Whether you are suffering digestive issues or in need of a back doctor, AICA Orthopedics will work with you to develop a plan that fits your needs. Our chiropractors are able to work with a wide range of specialists to develop holistic treatment protocols to address your spinal and digestive health together. Call today to schedule your first consultation and begin feeling relief today!
Is It Lower Back Pain
Finally, when the pain is not from the hips or groin, it is most of the time due to the lower back. The lower back is made up of the lumbar spine. This is the lowest part of the spine that rests directly between the two hips. So, lower back pain can be from muscle pulls, but it can also be from spine injuries. The spine itself contains vertebrae and cartilage that form the upper, middle and lower back. Injuries to the discs cause severe lower back pain and chronic conditions. If the lower back pain grows, the pain may feel like a groin or hip condition. However, true lumbar spine and lower back pain resemble these symptoms:
- Pain extending to the middle back or buttocks
- Deep pressure when sitting down
- Unable to stand up straight or standing straight is painful
All three of these pains should not be taken lightly. Whether the pain traces to the lower back, groin or hip, look for options that will address the symptoms and causes. If you have questions or need clarification about lower back, groin and hip pain, contact an orthopedic physician in your area.
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Could Digestive Issues And Low Back Pain Be Caused By Tight Hip Flexors
Many people act as though health issues are specific and isolated. It’s time for a new angle. The systems in your body are intricately connected: if youre experiencing problems in one area it can directly affect another.
This domino effect is especially prevalent when it comes to your back, hips, and digestive system.
Your abdominal region is packed full of tissues and necessary systems that you use 24/7. It is home to your bladder, kidneys, female reproductive system and can also be ground zero for potential dysfunction, from ovarian cysts toirritable bowel syndrome .
Many of these internal organs in your abdomen are also adjacent to the iliopsoas or hip flexor muscles. Thats why it isnt uncommon for patients to ask me: can IBS cause hip and groin pain?
Im going to walk you through the inner workings of your abdominal region so you can better understand your body and how your organ health directly relates to your muscle health.
But What About The Low Back As An Origin Of Pain In The Shins
Yes, it is possible for shin pain to be caused by referred sciatic pain originating in the upper to mid lumbar vertebrae , says Dr. Tom Carpenter, corrective exercise specialist, certified personal trainer and chiropractor, inventor of Stand Corrected, a portable harness-like stretching tool that helps alleviate back, neck and shoulder pain.
Dr. Carpenter adds, It is important to determine if this in fact is the source of the problem, as other factors could be causing these symptoms also, such as a foot issue or muscular imbalance in the lower leg.
Sciatica is often referred to by laypeople as a pinched nerve. An MRI can determine if there is nerve compression originating from the vertebral column.
However, sciatica can also be caused by the piriformis muscle compressing against the sciatic nerve.
Tingling and numbness in the butt or leg may also result from sciatica.
Dont give up on finding out whats causing your shin pain.
The origin may very well be in your low back.
Used daily and over time, the Stand Corrected stretching tool can reverse back damage caused by years of poor posture.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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The Indirect Results Of Nerve Compression
Another reason you may be feeling pain in one of your hips is that when you have a pinched nerve in your back that affects one side of your lower body, you tend to favor that side. The pain may alter the way you move, which can place added stress on your already hard-working hips.
So, if your hip pain is more of a dull ache and youre also experiencing some of the more classic signs of sciatica, the two are likely related.
Causes Of Hip Pain In Women
When a female patient comes to Dr. Siegrist complaining of hip pain, she considers the patient’s age, build, and activity level. If the patient is a thin 20-year-old runner or a heavy, sedentary 80-year-old grandmother, the possibilities at the top of my list will be different, she says.
Among the most common causes of hip pain in women are:
1. Arthritis Chronic hip pain in women is often due to arthritis, particularly osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear kind that affects many people as they age. The ball-and-socket joint starts to wear out, Siegrist says. Arthritis pain is often felt in the front of your thigh or in the groin, because of stiffness or swelling in the joint.
2. Hip fractures Hip fractures are common in older women, especially those with osteoporosis . Symptoms of a hip fracture include pain when you straighten, lift, or stand on your leg. Also, the toes on your injured side will appear to turn out, a sign that can aid your doctors preliminary diagnosis.
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Spinal Stenosis And Hip Pain
Spinal stenosis is similar to a herniated disc in that the pain is a result of pressure on the nerves. However, with spinal stenosis, the pressure is caused by a narrowing of the spinal canal, not with a herniated disc. Some common causes for the narrowing of the canal are cysts, bulging discs, and arthritis.
Even though spinal stenosis may have a different root cause then herniated disc, the resulting symptoms may be similar. Both conditions can lead to pressure on the nerves in both conditions can lead to pain in the back, pain in the hip, and pain down the legs.
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The Spine And The Digestive System
Many common digestive conditions can be traced back to the spine. A range of spinal cord issues can cause problems in other parts of the body. The spinal cord sends nerve signals to the rest of your body, impacting its function, which can cause digestive problems. Issues that can lead to these problems include disc compression, herniated discs, or strained ligaments.
The lumbar spine, or lower back, is particularly important here. The sacrum is especially important when it comes to nerve function. Issues in the lower spine and sacrum can lead to symptoms like constipation, diarrhea, bloating, gas, or bladder malfunction. This occurs because the lower spine includes sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves that connect directly to the digestive system, so interference directly affects these processes.
This process can work in reverse, as well. If you are experiencing stress in one of your digestive organs, the organ will send a message back to your spinal cord through the same nerves. The muscle that corresponds to these nerves may become tense, contracted, or could trigger back pain.
That Hip Pain Could Actually Be A Sciatica Problem
Your hips are incredibly active joints and no strangers to the occasional ache and pain, especially as you get older. But searing pain in one of your hips may have nothing to do with your hip at all, but a pinched nerve root in your lower back.
At Healthy Life Family Medicinein Goodyear, Arizona, Dr. John Monroe understands the many conditions that can lead to radiating pain. One of the biggest culprits in this regard is sciatica, which develops when certain nerve roots in your lower back are irritated or compressed, causing symptoms to travel down your sciatic nerve.
Heres a look at how sciatica pain develops and why your hip pain may be a result of a problem in your lower back.
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