Hip Pain and Lower Back Pain: The Confusing Connection

Hip pain and lower back pain can pose a challenge for individuals seeking relief since trouble in one area can manifest as pain in the other due to both structural and neurological factors. If you are suffering pain in your lower body that interferes with everyday activities, it’s time to contact the highly skilled doctors at Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine. As physiatrists, our approach is holistic. We use only nonsurgical methods to relieve pain and increase mobility. 

We have the in-depth knowledge and extensive experience to determine where your pain originates and provide you with a customized treatment plan to restore your health and sense of well-being. It may help you to know that, although it’s easy to mistake back pain for hip pain (and vice versa), groin pain is a telltale sign that the pain is linked to the hip, while pain that travels down the body or is felt in the thigh, buttock or below the knee, is typically caused by a low back issue.

Regardless of the point of origin, most low back pain and hip pain are caused by normal wear and tear on the body due to aging or by injuries resulting from overuse. Lumbar sprains and strains, osteoarthritis, and herniated discs are common culprits when it comes to low back and hip pain.

How Lower Back Problems Can Be Felt in the Hip

Hip pain can sometimes be a sign of injury or damage in the lumbar region of the back, due to: 

• Osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition that results from the wear and tear of natural aging. It can be hastened or exacerbated by traumatic injury. When a patient has osteoarthritis, the cartilage at the joints wears away, resulting in bone-on-bone contact and pain, and results in the formation of bone spurs. The pain of osteoarthritis is sometimes felt in the hip.
• Spinal stenosis is characterized by narrowing of the spinal canal which can exert pressure on nerves that radiate towards the hip, causing pain that is felt in the hip itself.
• Sciatica, typically caused by lumbar disc herniation or spinal nerve compression, can cause radiating pain that extends from the lower back down to the hip and even into the leg. 
• Dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint, located at the base of the spine where it meets the pelvis, can also lead to referred pain in the hip region as well. 

How Hip Dysfunction Can Be Felt in the Back

• Hip osteoarthritis can result in altered gait and posture, leading to compensatory movements that strain the muscles and ligaments of the lower back. 
• Hip Injuries or surgery can result in back pain both because of the proximity of the spine and the hips, and the fact that these regions share some ligaments and nerves. Pain can move from one location to another and is often present in both.

Our Cutting-Edge Diagnostic Methods

Our doctors have well-earned reputations as excellent diagnosticians. After taking a thorough medical history and examining you carefully, we will use one or more of the following methods to determine the root cause of your pain so we can arrive at the best treatment plan:

• X-rays
• MRI or CT scans
• Ultrasound 
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Nerve conduction studies
• Injections guided by ultrasound or fluoroscopy

Once we know where your pain originates, we are ready to treat it efficiently and effectively.

Treating Your Pain, Wherever It Originates

At Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine, we use both traditional and complementary treatments, often in combination, to relieve your pain as quickly as possible. Depending on your particular symptoms, overall health, and preferences, we will come up with a treatment plan specifically designed for you that may include:

• Physical therapy to relieve pain, strengthen muscles, and improve flexibility.
• Epidural injections of anti-inflammatory medication (corticosteroids) to provide targeted relief.
• Acupuncture to relieve pain and inflammation, increase circulation, and promote healing and well-being.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to accelerate tissue repair and alleviate pain.
• Prolotherapy to jumpstart the body’s own repair mechanism with a dextrose solution.

Contact Long Island Spine Rehabilitation Medicine for Skilled, Compassionate Care

Whether your pain originates or manifests in your hip, lower back, or both, our experienced physiatrists are here to help you reclaim control over your health and return to the activities you enjoy. Contact us now for personalized attention and outstanding care.