Pain in the buttock radiating to the left leg

Why does my buttock hurt and radiate to my leg?

Pain in the buttock, radiating to the leg, is a pathological phenomenon that occurs for various reasons. The bones of the lower extremity girdle, its free part and the gluteal muscles, like everything else in the human body, are closely interconnected. The functioning of the organs located in the abdominal cavity also affects the coordination of the bone and muscle tissues of the lower body.

It is within the competence of the doctor to establish the true origin of the pain that occurs by its nature and accompanying symptoms. The success of the fight against this insidious disease depends on the adequacy of the prescribed treatment. What are the potential causes of pain? What measures should be taken first before meeting with a specialist?

Causes of pain in the buttock radiating to the leg

As the body’s reaction to problems within itself, pain in the buttock area, radiating to the leg, can have its own characteristic symptom:

occur suddenly (spontaneously) during movement (walking, turning the body, climbing stairs or bending);

be present at all times, even when the person is in a lying or sitting position.

Among the additional symptoms, people experiencing such pain also call:

loss of sensitivity of the limb, its numbness;

inability to fully step on the foot;

shooting in the buttock and lower limb;

increased body temperature and general weakness.

In most cases, pain occurs for the following reasons:

1. According to doctors, about 75% of cases of etiology (origin) of pain in the specified location lie in the pathology of the lumbosacral spine and the presence of diseases of the musculoskeletal system .

With osteochondrosis and radiculitis, aching, nagging pain occurs in the buttock, radiating to the leg, which is dull in nature, but intensifies when lifting weights, shaking the body, after a long static position. A person more often takes a position that brings him relief (sleeping on the healthy side; walking bent over; dragging his leg). In this case, tingling, burning and itching also occur in the lower limb.

2. Exacerbations of types of arthritis and arthrosis , acute bursitis, caused by the destruction of cartilage tissue and inflammation of the periarticular bursa, can be accompanied by intense pain in the hip joint and provoked after errors in the diet (excessive consumption of meat, alcohol).

3. A terrible disease - rheumatism - often begins with acute, severe pain in the buttock, radiating to the leg. Only after it subsides will the symptoms of a disease of the heart and nervous systems of the body be obvious.

4. Injuries (hematomas, muscle strains, femoral neck fractures) often lead to pain and require consultation with a doctor. If you suspect damage to the lower spine after a blow or fall, you should not move the victim yourself. He is given complete rest until medical workers arrive.

5. Urolithiasis can occur in a latent form for a long time and manifest itself in the form of pain and frequent urination mixed with blood.

6. If the buttock hurts, it radiates to the leg in people suffering from sciatic neuralgia , they compare the pain with an electric shock. Exacerbations are especially common during damp, dank autumn and spring seasons.

A quarter of a percent of the causes of pain in the buttock are attributed to the probability of:

inflammatory process (in the genital organs of the pelvis in women, muscle tissue of the buttocks, rectum);

internal uncomplicated or strangulated hernia (inguinal, femoral);

tumors in the abdominal cavity.

Medical diagnosis

Due to similar symptoms, to clarify the diagnosis, a general practitioner prescribes a thorough examination using the following methods:

• Doppler ultrasound;
• magnetic resonance or computed tomography, radiography of the lumbosacral spine;
• Ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs (kidneys, intestines).

If pain occurs in the buttock, radiating to the leg, treatment requires an understanding of the holistic picture of disorders in the body. General and special urine tests, biochemical indicators of joint fluid, and blood concentrations help to compile it:

Additional consultations with doctors of a narrow specialty (gynecologist, urologist, trauma surgeon, osteopath, neurologist) are necessary.

Actions in case of pain

If there is sudden severe pain in the buttock, radiating to the leg, you should urgently call an ambulance service. To exclude, for example, renal colic or ectopic pregnancy and a host of other diseases that require urgent medical intervention.

When treating many diseases with a designated reflex or independent symptom, doctors traditionally prescribe painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, sedatives, and chondroprotectors. In parallel with this, to restore normal blood circulation in the area of ​​​​the painful hip joint and achieve good treatment results, it is advisable:

physiotherapy procedures;

massage and self-rubbing;

warming compresses;

therapeutic exercises (circular movements of the leg, body in different directions, bending and squats);

swimming, contrast shower;

riding an exercise bike and running.

As a preventive and therapeutic nutrition, it is recommended to include in the patient’s diet foods that are leaders in the content of vitamin and mineral complexes (vegetables, fruits, berries, nuts, cereals, olive oil, fermented milk products). Spicy and salty foods are prohibited, leading to stagnation of fluid in the tissues and swelling.

Proven traditional medicine recipes for internal and external use in combination with pharmaceuticals can gradually cope with the disease.

The advanced form of many diseases, when a person self-medicates and postpones visiting a doctor, most often leads to disability of the patient and a deterioration in his quality of life.