Can Sciatica Cause Hip Pain?

At Modern Pain Management, we specialize in treating conditions like sciatica, which is caused by irritation or compression of the sciatic nerve. This condition can cause sharp, burning, or tingling pain that radiates from the lower back through the hips and buttocks down each leg. It may also cause numbness, weakness, or difficulty controlling the leg or foot.
 
If you’re experiencing hip pain, it’s important to determine if it’s a result of sciatica or another condition. Sciatica pain is often characterized by sharp, burning sensations rather than a dull ache. It’s typically felt on one side of your body and can be intensified by sitting for prolonged periods. Sciatica pain often extends beyond the hip, radiating from your lower back into your buttock, thigh, calf, and even your foot. Accompanied by numbness, tingling, or muscle weakness in the affected areas, these are common signs of sciatica. Diagnostic tests like the straight leg raise test and neurological examinations assess reflexes, muscle strength, and sensation in the affected leg and foot. These tests help determine if symptoms are caused by sciatica or other conditions such as hip arthritis, bursitis, muscle strain, or tendonitis.

It’s crucial to seek immediate medical attention if you’re experiencing severe hip pain that does not improve with home treatment, especially if it’s accompanied by neurological symptoms such as numbness, weakness, or difficulty controlling the leg.

Sciatica is a condition we see frequently in our clinic, and we understand the various ways it can manifest, including causing hip pain. Dr. George Atallah, DO, and Dr. Shervin Harandi, MD, along with our team, are well-versed in identifying the underlying mechanisms at play, such as nerve compression, muscle spasms, piriformis syndrome, nerve sensitization, or bone spurs.

Once we diagnose the root cause of your pain, we develop a custom treatment plan to manage your symptoms and restore your quality of life. Our comprehensive approach may involve physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve flexibility, or medication to manage pain and inflammation. In some cases, minimally invasive procedures or surgery may be recommended.

If you’re experiencing hip pain, it’s vital to seek professional help to determine the underlying cause. It’s not always sciatica, and our team is ready to help you navigate the complexities of your condition and find effective, long-lasting solutions.

At Modern Pain Management, we understand the complexities of hip pain and how it can significantly affect your quality of life. We know that hip pain can originate from various conditions and circumstances, including sciatica, a condition where pressure or damage to the sciatic nerve leads to pain, numbness, or weakness from the lower back down to the hip and legs.

However, it’s important to note that while sciatica can cause hip pain, it’s not the only culprit. Other conditions such as osteoarthritis, hip bursitis, hip fractures, sprains, tendonitis, muscle or tendon strains, and hip labral tears can also lead to hip pain. Even infections, certain cancers, and conditions affecting other parts of the body can manifest as hip pain.

We specialize in differentiating sciatica from other causes of hip pain by evaluating symptoms, conducting a physical examination, and reviewing your medical history. We may recommend imaging tests like X-rays or MRIs to confirm the diagnosis.

At Modern Pain Management, we recognize the impact of sciatica-related hip pain on daily life. This condition, causing pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness, is often due to pressure on the sciatic nerve. For minor injuries or strains, we typically recommend rest and over-the-counter pain relievers. However, if the pain is caused by more complex issues like a herniated disc, degenerative disc disease, or spinal stenosis, a more comprehensive treatment approach is required.

We offer advanced treatments for sciatica, including prescription medications and surgery when necessary. For severe pain or when conservative treatments fail, we may recommend corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation or surgery to address the underlying cause.

If you’re dealing with persistent hip pain, our team at Modern Pain Management is ready to help. We’ll work closely with you to identify the cause of your discomfort and create a customized treatment plan to relieve your symptoms and enhance your quality of life. Contact us or schedule an appointment today to get started on your journey to recovery. We have convenient locations to serve you in Sugar Land and Houston, TX. We serve patients from Houston TX, Sugar Land TX, Pearland TX, Jersey Village TX, Missouri City TX, Stafford TX, and Richmond TX.