Back Pain and Hip Pain: Understanding the Connection

Your hip pain may not be because of anything wrong with your hip. It may be referred pain from back problems. Likewise, you can get back problems from issues in the hip.

Hip Pain Causes

• A number of reasons may lead to hip pain. According to Medline Plus, causes include arthritis; osteonecrosis of the hip; Trochanteric bursitis; tendinitis from repetitive or strenuous activity; strain or sprains; and low-back pain, such as from sciatica or infection.

Sciatica

• Sciatica is the name of a set of symptoms that are caused by compression of the sciatic nerve in your lower back. If your hip pain is felt in the buttock, your sciatic nerve may be compressed.

Arthritis

• If your hip joint feels stiff in addition to painful, and you have pain in other joints, you may have arthritis. Try an anti-inflammatory medication.

Ruptured Disc

• Look out for hip pain that moves. According to the Familydoctor.org, "If the pain shoots down your leg near your knee or to your foot, this could be from a ruptured disc."

Action

• If the pain is debilitating and you cannot walk, go to the emergency room. You may have a hip fracture. Otherwise, make an appointment with your doctor to determine the exact cause of your pain.