Association Between Sciatica and Buttock Pain
Sciatica is caused by a pinched nerve in the lumbar spine and the pain from this condition often manifests in the buttock. Buttock pain affects countless people each year and is sometimes referred to as wallet sciatica because the condition can be the result of the pressure placed on the sciatic nerve by men’s wallets when they sit.
Sciatica is a collection of symptoms that result when the sciatic nerve or nerve roots connected to the sciatic nerve are compressed because of a spinal injury or natural degeneration. Some spinal problems that commonly lead to sciatica include facet cysts, herniated discs, bone spurs and thickened ligaments.
How to tell if your buttock pain is sciatica
Sciatica is a very common cause of pain in the lower back, buttocks and legs. However, not every pain in those areas is the result of sciatica. Sciatica is a form of nerve pain, with the following distinctive symptoms:
- Pain and tingling radiating from the lower back into the buttocks, legs and feet
- Difficulty or increased pain while sitting or standing
- Loss of sensation or numbness and weakness in the legs
- Pain present only on one side or the other
If you experience these symptoms and an MRI has shown some type of source for a pinched nerve, then your doctor may recommend a conservative or surgical treatment plan depending on the severity of your symptoms.
How to relieve sciatica buttock pain
Sciatica can be especially difficult to live with if it is causing pain in your buttocks while sitting or standing. However, there are a few things you can do to help relieve your sciatica pain and restore normal function. Possible methods may include:
- Icing the area to reduce inflammation and calm the nerve
- Lying down to take pressure off the nerve and avoiding uncomfortable positions
- Doing stretching exercises that elongate the spine
- Trying yoga, Pilates, aquatic therapy or finding other gentle ways to introduce movement
- Taking anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or epidural steroid injections
Always check with your doctor before starting any new exercise or self-treatment routine to make sure it is safe for you. If you have sciatica buttock pain and conservative treatments do not work for you, call our Boca Raton Spine Center specialists at 888-409-8006. Our spine specialists are here to help.