Has anyone ever told you “You might want to sit down for this?” Well you might want to stand up for this post, because that sudden pain in your butt may be from sitting down too much.
Dozens of musculoskeletal problems can be the cause of lower back/buttocks pain, so it may be difficult to diagnose on your own. Only a comprehensive exam can give you definite answers but knowing the answers to these questions is a good step in the right direction:
- Is the pain chronic (persistent/constant) or acute (sharp and sudden)?
- Is the pain really in your buttocks and not radiating there from somewhere else?
- Is the pain worse when you are sitting?
The two most likely causes for this type of pain are inflamed cluneal nerves or piriformis syndrome. Cluneal nerves are located in the lower back/upper buttocks. They can become pinched in the curved part of the hipbone on each side of your buttocks and cause a lot of pain. This can be caused by any sort of trauma or event obesity. If your physical therapist suspects cluneal neuropathy the, initial treatment is usually nerve gliding (specialized stretching procedures for elongating nerves) or deep tissue massages.
Piriformis syndrome’s main symptoms are discomfort and pain after sitting too long. The piriformis is a very small muscle in the lower back near the sciatic nerve. In some more complex cases, an orthopedic physician is needed to team up with the physical therapist to determine if the piriformis isn’t working correctly. Therapists will concentrate on improving the muscle’s flexibility and strength though specific exercises. Once the muscle has improved, reconditioning the entire lower back will also be needed. Just another reason why daily stretching, if nothing else, is part of your routine!
We don’t want anyone to suffer through any kind of pain, especially one that keeps you from doing something so basic. Call us today or request an appointment online so we can help your healing begin!