DR. RUSSELL SCHIERLING
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
  • HOME
  • BLOG
  • WE HELP...
    • CHRONIC NECK & BACK PAIN
    • HEADACHES
    • TENDINITIS / TENDINOSIS
    • SHOULDER PROBLEMS / ROTATOR CUFF
    • OSGOOD SCHLATTER'S SYNDROME
    • PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME / CHRONIC BUTT PAIN
    • BURSITIS
    • PULLED MUSCLES / TORN MUSCLES / MUSCLE STRAINS
    • DEGENERATIVE OSTEOARTHRITIS / PROPRIOCEPTIVE LOSS
    • PLANTAR FASCIITIS
    • SHIN SPLINTS
    • MYSTERY PAIN
    • T.M.J. / T.M.D.
    • THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME -- TOS
    • POST-SURGICAL PAIN
    • CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME
    • DeQUERVAIN'S SYNDROME
    • FIBROMYALGIA
    • ILLIOTIBIAL BAND (ITB) SYNDROME
    • PATELLAR TRACKING SYNDROME / PATTELO-FEMORAL PAIN SYNDROME
    • CHRONIC ANKLE SPRAINS
    • DUPUYTREN'S CONTRACTURE
    • SKULL PAIN
    • SPORTS INJURIES
    • RIB TISSUE PAIN
    • INJURED LIGAMENTS
    • WHIPLASH TYPE INJURIES
    • CHRONIC TRIGGER POINTS
    • MIGRAINE HEADACHES
  • TESTIMONIALS
  • SERVICES
    • WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?
    • WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION >
      • PHARMACEUTICAL GRADE FISH OIL
      • HSO PROBIOTICS
      • LIGAPLEX
    • SCAR TISSUE REMODELING >
      • BEST NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS FOR SCAR TISSUE REMODELING
      • PICTURE PAGE
      • THE COLLAGEN "SUPER PAGE"
      • BEST STRETCHES PAGE
    • SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY
    • COLD LASER THERAPY
  • CHRONIC PAIN
  • FASCIA
  • TENDINOSIS
    • ROTATOR CUFF TENDINOSIS
    • SUPRASPINATUS TENDINOSIS
    • TRICEP TENDINOSIS
    • BICEP TENDINOSIS
    • LATERAL EPICONDYLITIS / TENNIS ELBOW
    • MEDIAL EPICONDYLITIS / GOLFER'S ELBOW
    • WRIST / FOREARM FLEXOR TENDINOSIS
    • WRIST / FOREARM EXTENSOR TENDINOSIS
    • THUMB TENDINOSIS / DEQUERVAIN'S SYNDROME
    • GROIN / HIP ADDUCTOR TENDINOSIS
    • HIP FLEXOR TENDINOSIS
    • PIRIFORMIS TENDINOSIS / PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME
    • SPINAL TENDINOSIS
    • KNEE TENDINOSIS
    • QUADRICEPS / PATELLAR TENDINOSIS
    • HAMSTRING TENDINOSIS
    • ACHILLES TENDINOSIS
    • ANKLE TENDINOSIS
    • ANTERIOR TIBIAL TENDINOSIS
    • POSTERIOR TIBIAL TENDINOSIS
    • APONEUROSIS / APONEUROTICA TENDINOSIS
  • FAQ
    • FAQ: SCAR TISSUE REMODELING
  • ABOUT / CONTACT
  • NEW

WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF BUTT PAIN?

4/20/2013

13 Comments

 

WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF BUTTOCK PAIN?

What Causes Butt Pain
Paul E (Zanzibarski) - Nederland - Pixabay
"Prevalence of piriformis syndrome was 6.25%.  Piriformis syndrome is one of the differential diagnoses of low back/buttock pain with Sciatica. Individuals of all activity levels can be affected. Females are more affected than males. Causes are overuse, prolonged sitting, trauma, and vigorous massage."  From the abstract of a 2013 study from the Indian Medical Society called Prevalence of Piriformis Syndrome Among the Cases of Low Back / Buttock Pain with Sciatica: A Prospective Study

Butt pain.  We've all had it at one time or another.  Maybe you sat too long on a hard chair.  Or maybe you fell on your rear end on the ice --- or while playing sports or roller skating.  Or maybe you were like me and got your hind end SPANKED on a fairly regular basis as a child.  These are all causes of butt pain --- but not the kind of butt pain that we will be discussing today.  Today I want to address a few of the potential diagnoses in people who end up with debilitating buttock pain.

  • SCIATICA:  Firstly, I want you to understand that SCIATICA is not so much a diagnosis as it is a symptom of an underlying problem.  In the same way that it is not really helpful to go to the doctor with a headache, which he then miraculously diagnoses as a "headache," it is none too helpful to have a doctor tell you that your problem is Sciatica.  There is always an underlying cause of Sciatica.  Truth be known, there are lots of causes of Sciatica.  Pinch or irritate one of the nerves that comes from your low back / pelvis area and you could easily end up with Sciatica, as it's a very common problem.  And one of the most common causes of Sciatica is..........
  • PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME:  Despite the fact that many people have never heard of it, according to a 2005 study done at UCLA's Mount Sinai Medical School in Los Angeles, PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME is the most common cause of Sciatica and Buttock Pain (40% as opposed to the 6.25% touted above).   Although the incidence probably falls somewhere in the middle, when severe, this poorly understood problem can destroy one's will to live (HERE).  By the way, the large discrepancy between the two numbers likely has to do with the fact that Piriformis Syndrome is usually misdiagnosed as.......
  • DISC PROBLEMS:  These can be in the form of things like DEGENERATIVE JOINT DISEASE, SPINAL STENOSIS, or HERNIATED DISCS.  The problems with disc diagnoses come into focus once you begin to grasp the concept of ASYMPTOMATIC DISC HERNIATIONS. Because all of these diagnoses have the ability to cause Sciatica, they all have the ability to cause severe buttock pain as well.  HERE is a simple test for helping to differentiate between Disc problems and Piriformis Syndrome.  Far from foolproof, but definitely a start.
  • CUTANEOUS NERVE ENTRAPMENTS: This is an ultra common problem that I feel is way too often being diagnosed as Piriformis Syndrome (which also helps account for the 35% discrepancy discussed a moment ago).  When CUTANEOUS NERVES (superficial nerves) become "entrapped" in FIBROTIC FASCIA, it can cause pain.  Although this is super common to find just about anywhere, it is ultra common in the areas around the hip / buttock (HERE).
  • SACROILIAC (SI) PAIN:  You can find your SI joints by feeling for the two bony knobs of bone on either side of your spine at your belt line.  I wrote an article awhile back on differentiating SI problems from Piriformis Syndrome (hint: it can often be difficult to do).  To understand a little bit more about SI pain and its relationship to Piriformis Syndrome, go HERE.
  • BURSITIS:  The ischial tuberosity (the butt-bone that you sit on, often referred to as the "sits" bone) has a BURSA on it.  If it gets inflamed it is known as WEAVER'S BOTTOM.  In similar fashion to people with PS, these folks cannot sit down unless maybe they are sitting on a pillow or cushion of some sort.
  • TENDINOSIS:  Although TENDINOSIS can happen at any muscle tendon in the body, it is not terribly rare to have HAMSTRING TENDINOSIS.  And because the hamstrings attach to the ischial tuberosity (the butt-bone), the pain is frequently felt in the region of the lower buttocks.  If these are bad enough, they will be seen with MRI.  People with hardcore tendinosis of the upper hamstring cannot sit down without major discomfort.  Tendinosis can also occur in the piriformis or any of the other hip rotator cuff muscles.
  • TAIL BONE PAIN:  This is pain that can be felt in the Sacrum (the triangular bone that the lowest spinal vertebrae sits on), or it can be in the tail bone (the coccyx --- the tip; just above the anus).  Although this is frequently the result of a fall or even having a baby, there are many cases of "Coccydinia" that have unknown origins.
  • TRAUMA:  Fall on your butt, and you are likely to end up with a bruise --- or even a broken tail bone (super common).  I have seen many of these type of injuries result in both SCAR TISSUE and TRIGGER POINTS that can lead to buttock or hip pain, which, by the way, commonly manifests in the HIP FLEXORS as well. 
  • OTHERS:  Truth be known, there are a number of other causes of Pain in the Butt (CANCER, tumors, INFECTIONS, WEIRD NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS, labral tears, FAI, pelvic floor issues, etc, etc, etc).  The really cool thing is that......

Most buttock pain, whether chronic or acute, can be dealt with using conservative methods (without DRUGS, surgeries, or EXPENSIVE TESTS).  CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS, understanding INFLAMMATORY CONDITIONS, TISSUE REMODELING, LASER THERAPY, CORE STRENGTH, or SPINAL DECOMPRESSION THERAPY will change most of these conditions.
13 Comments
Diane M. Morrison
5/14/2015 10:13:33 am

I believe I have what you have diagnosed as Periformis Syndrome. I developed it maybe a year ago and it wasn't as constant or severe as it is now. I would get it from time to time. I have a sit down job and find that it is worse upon sitting for long periods of time. Although when it really flares up even long hours of standing in one place (ex: cooking) I will feel the nagging pain. It is a sharp stabbing pain in the left side of the buttocks and if it is severe enough I get sciatica pain down the left side of the leg to the knee. Hot and cold packs relieve the pain but then it starts all over again. Sleeping on that side for any length of time will cause the pain as well and it will cause me to wake. I have been seeing a chiropractor for years but it helps for a day and then it returns. I don't hold an adjustment and he always tells me my pelvis is off. When he applies deep tissue pressure to the area, I do find relief so I know whatever he his is doing it is working. He recommended doing the PS stretching exercises. I also saw them on your site as well and doing the others as well. Sometimes I find even walking is irritating to that area especially if its inflamed. My questions to you is does this condition ever go away with the tissue remodeling and stretching exercises? Does a sedentary job cause this? What are the other causes of this condition?

Thank you for all the great information on your website. It helped to understand this particular condition that I never heard of before.

Regards,
Diane

Reply
Dr. Russ
5/14/2015 10:44:57 pm

Hello Diane,

In a nutshell, yes and yes. To see examples, start looking at my posts on Video Testimonials (at the bottom of the right hand column of key words on my blog). Not that every case can be resolved, but many certainly can --- some that people have struggled with for decades.

Sincerely,
Dr. Russ

Reply
Timothy Sikorski
12/29/2015 08:08:54 pm

Dr Russ,
I'm not quite sure what my condition is. It started several years ago when I was deadlift in at the gym. I felt a pop in my upper buttock/lower back region. Pain was immediate. It was a sharp tbrobbing of the area just above the buttock and radiating down the leg and even into the hip. I treated it with ice and anti inflammatory drugs. The pain subsided after 2 or 3 days. Now, every few months or so, it will again pop usually when I'm performing a deadlift movement at the gym. I'll experience the same pain only now there always seems to be a lingering soreness and sensitivity to the area. I was hoping you might have some insight into what this could be.

Reply
Dr. Russ
12/30/2015 02:27:41 am

Not sure what it is --- impossible to say from a blog comment. However, it would be good to figure it out and address it as you do not want to develop a full blown Piriformis issue. BTW, there are any number of tissues that can "pop".

Sincerely,
Dr. Russ

Reply
Maureen
2/24/2018 10:32:07 am

1-cartilage repair. 2 backache. 3severe pain on the buttocks

Reply
Dwaine Willmek
3/28/2018 01:36:27 pm

I was in a car accident ocer 35 years ago. I was a passenger in a halfton truck and we were racing another carload of friends. Suddenly the driver of the truck that i was in decided that he was going to pass them on the right hand shoulder of the road. I wasn't wearing my seatbelt but as soon as i saw what he was going to do i instantly grabbed for my seatbelt and tried to get it on but before i could we suddenly spun around on the highway facing the other direction and as soon as we hit the shoulder on the other side of the highway i was thrown partially out of the window and the truck rolled right over top of me several times. 8 times in all according to the police. Anyway on the very last roll the entire weight of the truck was on the rear cab corner which was directly on my ass. I have had problems ever since but after i started a new job operating equipment. After a few years the pain became so severe that i have been unable to work for the last 3 years. Do you have any suggestions for me as to what it could be? I have had mri's of my hip tailbone and almost my entire back and they showed nothing serious except for one compressed disc between t11 and 12. But i Can't sit down for more than 15 mins and im even starting to have a hard time standing and laying. I have had to resort to painkillers because the pain was so bad i just could not tolerate it. I was losing weight severely and had to do something. Now i have no idea where to go from here.

Reply
Dr. Russ
4/15/2018 04:51:26 am

Hello Dwaine,
Hard to even speculate. Unfortunately, most of our modern tests don't show a fraction of what's really going on.

Reply
Chris
5/31/2018 10:01:27 pm

Dr.Russ,

In recent months my girlfriend has been experiencing severe sleep loss due to nerve pain in her posterior area along the area where the sciatic nerve runs. This only happens at night when she lays down to sleep and her body starts to relax. It escalates rather quickly to an almost jerking reaction in her legs that she can't control. I've tried massaging the area and it almost feels like she has what feels like gritty noduals along the nerve leading up into the hip area and it's very sensitive to pressure being applied to the area. Although it's hurts like crazy when I do the massage it relieves the pain and jerking response for a short time but it seems to come back rather quickly. From everyrhing ive read and looked up i belive it ro be PIRIFORMIS SYNDROME. What measures should we take next as far as branch of medical expert we need to see. This is effecting both of us as she is getting little to no sleep and we being myself and the dogs take a beating in our sleep.
Please help point us in the right medical direction.
Thank you,
Sleepless ...but not in Seattle!

Reply
Dr. Russ Schierling
6/2/2018 05:47:02 am

Very unlikely it's PS; it's probably a cluneal nerve entrapment.
http://www.doctorschierling.com/blog/can-adhesions-in-the-thoracolumbar-fascia-drive-sciatica-how-common-are-entrapments-of-the-superior-cluneal-nerve

Reply
Richard Rowan
7/18/2018 01:10:11 pm

I am a carpet cleaner Age 71. Was put on blood pressure medicine. After taking pill..i get a bad..sharp pain in my buttocks.Start over sweating and cannot finish my jobs. What can this be from? Been cleaning carpets for 40 yrs.

Reply
Dr. Russ Schierling
7/20/2018 05:29:21 am

Hello Richard, medications have an array of potentially bizarre side effects, most of which are rarely talked about, mostly because your doctor rarely reports them to FAERS. I don't even want to speculate on the mechanism, but talk to your doctor about getting off the meds or at least changing. Be aware that my site has numerous self-help articles for helping people change their lifestyles to where they no longer need the drugs.

Reply
Drew A
8/17/2018 06:33:39 am

Dr. Russ - I have been diagnosed with an L4-L5 herniation and it has affected my ability to enjoy any running related activities for about 5 yrs. I am 44 so this started in my late 30's. My pain is almost exclusively relegated to my lower back and my buttock muscles, i have never had pain down my legs. The pain in my butt usually arises when i am standing for more than 5 minutes, or i have been lying in bed for a long time. Recently I started do ing stretches to loosen and strengthen my butt muscles and now i have recently started to get a shooting pain in one buttock, it feels like I have a piece of glass in one side and it is ripping, I cant tell if it is a muscle issue from stretching or a sciatic issue, it comes and goes mainly when i stretch one way that seems to pull on the area i guess. I am hopefuly it is not a progression of sciatica and only a muscle tear or pull, but it is a pretty painful event, as opposed to the dull radiating pain I am used to.

Reply
Dr. Russ Schierling
8/19/2018 04:02:58 am

Tough to say Drew, but remember that sciatica is a symptom, not a diagnosis.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Russell Schierling

    Dr. Schierling completed four years of Kansas State University's five-year Nutrition / Exercise Physiology Program before deciding on a career in Chiropractic.  He graduated from Logan Chiropractic College in 1991, and has run a busy clinic in Mountain View, Missouri ever since.  He and his wife Amy have four children (three daughters and a son).

      NEWSLETTER

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    RSS Feed

    BLOG ARCHIVES

    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011

    Picture
    Chronic Pain
    Picture

    BLOG CATEGORIES

    All
    Addictive Carbs
    Adhd
    Adrenal Fatigue
    Aging Gracefully
    Allergies
    Anemia
    Antibiotics
    Apex Energetics
    Arthritis
    Aspartame
    Aspirin
    Asthma
    Atstill
    Autismvaccines
    Autoimmunity
    Beta Blockers
    B.J. Palmer
    Blood Sugar
    Brain Based Therapy
    Breakfast
    Breast Cancer
    Bursitis
    Cancer
    Candida
    Can You Help
    Cardio Or Strength
    Carpal-tunnel-syndrome
    Case Histories
    Cheat Days
    Chiropractic Miracles
    Cholesterol
    Christianity
    Chronic Pain
    Cold Laser Therapy
    Colic
    Core
    Corticosteroid Injection
    Coughs
    Current River
    Dangerous Foods
    Death By Medicine
    Degenerative Disc
    Degenerative Joint Disease
    Depression
    Dequervains Syndrome
    Diet Soda
    Drug Culture
    D's Of Chronic Pain
    Dysbiosis
    Ear Infections
    Elimination Diet
    Endocrine System
    Erectile Dysfunction
    Estrogen Dominance
    Ethiopian Adoption
    Evidence Based Medicine
    Evolution
    Ewot
    Face Pain
    Facet Syndrome
    Fascia Disease
    Fascial Adhesions
    Fever
    Fibromyalgia
    Fish Oil
    Flu Shots
    Football Concussions
    Functional-neurology
    Functional-problems-vs-pathology
    Geriatrics
    Gl1800
    Gluten
    Gluten Cross Reactivity
    Gout
    Gut Health
    Gym Equipment
    Headaches
    Health Pharisees
    Healthy Children
    Herniated Disc
    Hfcs
    H Pylori
    Hypertension
    Ice Or Heat
    Infertility
    Inflammation
    Inversion Tables
    Jacks Fork River
    Junk Food
    Ketogenic Diet
    Kettlebell
    Knee Pain
    Leaky Gut Syndrome
    Ligaments
    Low Carb
    Medical Merrygoround
    Migraine Headaches
    Mold
    Mri Overuse
    Msg
    Muscle-strains
    Narcotics
    Neck Pain
    Neuropathy
    Number One Health Problem
    Nutrition
    Obesity
    Osgood Schlatter
    Osteoporosis
    Oxygen
    Paleo Diet
    Parasites
    Pcos
    Piriformis Syndrome
    Platelet Rich Therapy
    Post Surgical Scarring
    Posture
    Prostate Cancer
    Re Invent Yourself
    Rib And Chest Pain
    Rotator Cuff
    Royal Lee
    Salt
    Scar Tissue Removal
    School Lunch
    Sciatica
    Setting Goals
    Sexual Dysfunction
    Shingles
    Shoulder Dislocation
    Shoulder-impingement
    Shoulder-pain
    Shoulder-separation
    Sleeping Pills Kill
    Smoking
    Soccer Headers
    Soda Pop
    Spanking
    Spinal Decompression
    Spinal Stenosis
    Spinal Surgery
    Standard Process
    Statin Drugs
    Stay Or Go
    Stool Transplant
    Stretching Post Treatment
    Sugar
    Sympathetic Dominance
    Sympathetic-dominance
    Systemic Illness
    Systemic-inflammation
    Tendinosis
    Tendinosis Treatment
    Tensegrity And Fascia
    The Big Four
    Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
    Thyroid Epidemic
    Tissue Remodeling
    Trans Fats
    Treatment Diary
    Trigger Points
    Unhealthy-doctors
    Universal Cure
    Vaccinations
    Vertigo
    Video Testimonials
    Weight Loss
    Whiplash
    Whole Body Vibration
    Winsor Autopsies

Picture
Copyright © 2018 Destroy Chronic Pain / Doctor Russell Schierling / Schierling Chiropractic, LLC. All rights reserved.
HOME   /   BLOG   /   WE HELP....   /   TESTIMONIALS   /   SERVICES   /   FASCIAL ADHESIONS   /   TENDINOSIS   /   FAQ   /   ABOUT US   /   CONTACT