In medicine, the cheek describes the muscles of the buttocks and the subcutaneous fat layer, which on the one hand cushions the weight of the body in a sitting position, but on the other hand also carries out powerful muscle movements. A pain in the buttock can have many different causes. Overloading can lead to pulled muscles or torn muscle fibers. Furthermore, back pain is a common problem, as it can radiate into the buttocks up to the foot. Irritation of the nerves, especially the sciatic nerve, can also cause burning pain.
Causes of pain in the buttock
Pain in the buttocks can be centered in only one place or radiate into the legs or back. In many cases, the pain in the buttocks is due to muscular causes. However, depending on the location of the pain, nervous irregularities and/or problems at the level of the bony structures can also be the cause.
In addition, diseases of the spine can cause pain in the buttocks area in many patients. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the human body. It runs from the spine to the foot and can be damaged in its course.
The nerve is responsible for the sensation at the buttocks and can cause pain when irritated. Due to its anatomical proximity, this is often caused by a squeezing of the sciatica by a tense hip muscle (M. piriformis), also known as piriformis syndrome, or an inflammation of the nerve. In addition to pain in the buttock, pulling down to the leg is often described.
This can be caused by prolonged sitting, a wrong or jerky movement or a permanent malposition when standing or walking. Physiotherapy, gait training and massages are suitable for therapy. Anti-inflammatory painkillers such as Diclofenac help to relieve the pain, especially when the sciatica is inflamed.
An operation is rarely indicated. The piriformis muscle is a small pear-shaped muscle located in the pelvis at the transition to the back of the thigh. This muscle can be irritated, especially by overstraining, and hardening of the piriformis can lead to pain in the buttocks and back of the thigh.
The piriformis muscle can also irritate the sciatic nerve, which can cause shooting pain in the entire leg and the affected buttock. It can also cause sensation and numbness. The sacroiliac joint connects the sacrum on both sides with the iliac bones.
It is part of the pelvic ring. The ISG is a so-called amphiarthrosis, i.e. it is a joint with a very limited range of motion. It is stabilized by muscles and ligaments.
A blockage of the sacroiliac joint can be triggered by a variety of causes. Often, a muscular imbalance of the back and abdominal muscles is the cause of the discomfort. This can be triggered by unphysiological movements, heavy physical work, especially lifting, or pelvic obliquity.
Falls or other traumas can also cause an ISG blockage. This usually manifests itself with unspecific back pain, which often radiates into the buttocks and thighs. Lying on the back with stretched legs is not possible with an ISG blockade.
ISG blockage occurs particularly frequently during pregnancy. Here the joint is put under a lot of strain due to the growing baby, and the ligaments are also loosened by hormone release of the expectant mother. Often the symptoms of an ISG blockage are similar to those of a slipped disc.
Here a thorough clarification is important, because the blockage can be treated well by chiropractic and physiotherapy. Pain that occurs in the area of the buttock can have various causes. In many cases, diseases of the hip can be detected.
Mostly it is pain that radiates from the hip. One of the main causes for the development of such complaints is the so-called hip arthrosis. Osteoarthritis is a disease characterized by pronounced cartilage damage.
In many of the patients affected, the actual reason for the occurrence of this cartilage damage cannot be determined even after extensive diagnostic procedures. In other cases, however, postural defects and/or incorrect weight bearing can be identified as the cause. Another cause of pain on the buttock is the so-called “bursitis trochanterica”.In this clinical picture, pronounced inflammatory processes can be detected in the area of the bursae of the upper thigh parts.
The direct cause of this disease is the friction of the tendon plate of the outer thigh (fascia lata) against the bony greater trochanter. Bursitis trochanterica can occur in all age groups. However, persons who are frequently active in sports and thus place great demands on the thigh muscles are particularly at risk.
In addition, a hip joint bottleneck syndrome (impingement of the hip joint) can lead to groin pain in the affected patients, which radiates into the buttocks. The reason for the occurrence of this bottleneck syndrome is an unfavorable anatomical shape of the femoral head and/or the acetabular roof. Sore muscles in the gluteal muscles are a very common cause of pain in the buttocks.
This is caused by unusual strain or an extreme increase in load. It is often hiking over mountains or long squats that lead to this. It is the so-called gluteal muscles that are responsible for the sore muscles.
There are three of them: one large, one medium and one small (Musculus gluteus maximus/medius/minimus). The muscle soreness typically reaches its maximum on the second day after exertion and then subsides of its own accord. Hemorrhoids can also cause painful discomfort in the area of the buttocks.
Hemorrhoids are the term used to describe networks of blood vessels in the anus region. These occur in all people and usually do not cause any complaints. On the contrary, they are even very important for fecal continence, because they close off the rectum from air and also liquid stool.
Disease value, however, has an expansion of this network beyond the normal extent. Then parts of this network can fall down from the anal canal and become visible externally. The first signs of hemorrhoids are usually bright red blood deposits on the stool.
During the course of the disease, however, the function of the vascular plexus can be impaired to such an extent that small amounts of mucus or stool leak out between bowel movements and cause irritation of the anus. This then leads to itching, weeping, burning and also pain in the anus region. It is important to know that haemorrhoids are usually easy to treat and can be cured.
The earlier the hemorrhoids are treated, the better the healing success. However, since many people are reluctant to address these complaints out of shame, most patients endure the complaints much longer than necessary. You can find more information on this topic here: hemorrhoids.
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