Conditions
Sciatica, not just a pain in the bum.
ciatica is commonly diagnosed as hip or buttock pain radiating along an area of the leg. More often than not this is a misdiagnosis. Genuine sciatica is an impingement of the sciatic nerve which originates from spinal levels L4 to S3 and results in lower back or gluteal region pain (depending on impingment point), pain or paraesthesias (numbness or tingling) along the posterior thigh radiating down to the heel of the foot. The nerve impingement can be caused by spinal stenosis, osteophytic growns, disc herniation or in some cases around the pelvic region by a tight piriformis muscle (also known as piriformis syndrome). Other causes of lower back pains which radiate to the thigh can vary but this is for your practitioner to ascertain by examination, testing and if necessary imaging.