Back Hip and Leg Pain – Causes of the Pain
Back hip and leg pain can be caused for a variety of reasons and by different medical conditions. It’s common for back hip and leg pain to originate in the lower back area, go to the hip, and then spread down one of both legs, depending on where the pain originates. Sometimes back hip and leg pain is due to pinched nerves or a form of irritation, but it can have other causes. The pain can be sharp, but in many cases is more of a persistent, dull ache. It’s not unusual for the pain to get down as far as the feet. There are two kinds of pain that affect people more frequently, and both are known as referred pain.
Back hip and leg pain is sometimes radicular. This means that the back hip and leg pain is caused by irritation to some of the nerves in the lower back. It’s also known as nerve root pain. It’s not always easy for a doctor to diagnose the source of the pain. When various areas in the lower back or around the area of the pelvis are pressed, the source of the pain may be discovered because the area will be more sore or tender to the touch. However, sometimes x-rays must be taken and local anesthesia used to pinpoint the problem area.
When radicular back hip and leg pain is present, the pain is usually very sharp and may shoot all the way down the leg to the foot. Symptoms may include numbness or a pins and needles sensation. Radicular back hip and leg pain is generally caused by inflammation in the nerves. Lower back pain can be persistent but not always sharp. However, radicular back hip and leg pain due to a damaged nerve may not be severe until inflammation starts.
The second type of back hip and leg pain is somatic referred pain. This type of back hip and leg pain may be more sharp or persistent in a certain area; most often close to the source of the pain. Unlike some other forms of back hip and leg pain, it doesn’t originate from pressure on any nerves in the spine, but the origin can be anywhere in the back where nerves are located. If the origin of the pain can’t be found, doctors sometimes use spinal injections to determine where the pain is coming from. Treatments for chronic pain may include acupuncture, heat, massage, and stretching exercises.
