Hip Buttock Pain

Hip buttock pain can be caused by a number of different conditions and disorders. This article will list and describe some of the most common. But this list is not exhaustive, and there are some causes that can only be diagnosed with the help of a medical professional. 

For purposes of this article, we'll consider the words hip buttock pain to mean pain that is felt in the general vicinity of the buttock area, or the rear area of the hips.

Pain in the hip and buttock areas is most often caused by nerve, blood vessel and muscle problems.

Sciatica, or sciatic pain, tops the list. The sciatic nerve is huge, and it extends from the spine, through the buttocks, and down into the legs and feet.

The sciatic nerve can become damaged in a number of ways. Sitting in the same position for a long time, as many truck drivers have to do, can compress the sciatic nerve. Bad posture can stretch it or pinch it. Or it can be damaged by trauma, like a fall or an accident.

Whatever the cause, sciatica can cause a stinging pain in the hip and buttock area that just won't go away quickly.

Pinched nerve This is a common term for injury or damage to a nerve anywhere in the body, including the hip and buttock area.

Referred Pain Pain of this type usually originates somewhere in the spine. But it travels along a nerve pathway and can be felt in the hips, buttocks, or other places. For a more detailed discussion of this type of pain, click on nerve pain.

Piriformis syndrome occurs when there's a disorder involving the piriformis muscle, which is located deep inside the buttocks. Piriformis syndrome can cause hip and buttock pain that ranges from mild to debilitating.

Claudication This happens when certain blood vessels in the buttock region don't get a sufficient supply of blood. It's usually because of an arterial obstruction. Usually, you feel pain from claudication during walking or exercising. But it disappears when you rest.

Claudication may be a symptom of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) which results from blockage or narrowing of arteries in the legs. Decreased blood flow to the muscles of the buttocks will cause pain in the hip area.

Arthritis Arthritis causes inflammation in the joints. Since there are several huge joints in the hip area, arthritis can present as hip and buttock pain.

Bursitis Bursitis pain comes from an inflammation of the fluid-filled sac between a tendon and skin, or between a tendon and bone. Several forms of bursitis can affect the buttocks and hips.

Osteoporosis When bones the pelvic region become weak and brittle, pain will appear in the hips and buttocks.

Sacroiliitis Sacroiliitis occurs due to inflammation of one or both of the sacroiliac joints. These joints the lower spine and pelvis.

Sacroiliitis can be caused by number of other disorders and conditions, including injury, pregnancy, arthritis, or an infection.

There are some serious conditions in the organs of the lower abdomen that can cause hip and buttock pain. Various forms of cancer are the most serious.

Colon cancer and rectal cancer usually present no symptoms in the beginning. But as they advance to later stages, they can cause hip and buttock pain.

Cancer can also occur in the bones of the pelvis.

Hip and buttock pain can also be caused by simple constipation. Though constipation can be a symptom of a number of serious diseases, it's usually harmless and temporary.

Finally, pregnancy can cause pain in the joints and muscles of the buttocks because a woman has to carry the additional weight of an unborn child. This pain usually goes away after delivery.