The diagnosis

The most important component for the diagnosis of buttock pain is the medical history. Often, further description of the pain makes it clear that the cause is not in the buttock muscles themselves, but elsewhere. In order to exclude nerve involvement such as in the case of a herniated disc, Piriformis syndrome or ISG blockage, the question of whether the pain radiates into neighboring body regions is groundbreaking.

When muscles are tensed, a hardening of the musculature can often be felt from the outside. Together with the questioning after previous activities, this can give indications of an incorrect strain of the muscles. In the case of orthopedic diseases of the back, CT or MRI images can be taken for diagnosis.

The treatment

The therapy can be symptomatic or causal. Many causes of pain in the buttock resolve themselves within days to weeks. Especially sore muscles, pulled muscles or tensions can be treated symptomatically.

Herniated discs and other orthopedic diseases do not always have to be treated either. Symptomatic therapy primarily includes pain medication that can be taken in tablet form. Painkillers of the NSAID group are often used because they have an additional anti-inflammatory effect.

The main representatives of this group are ibuprofen, diclofenac or indometacin. For certain orthopedic problems, a more specific symptomatic therapy can also be applied. Injections of cortisone, which are injected specifically into the painful region, are a common alternative therapy.

Cortisone has a strong anti-inflammatory effect. In some clinical pictures it inhibits the inflammation in such a way that the problem zone is relieved for a few days to calm down and heal itself. In the case of blockages in the hip joint or ISG blockage, immediate partial relief can be achieved through targeted manipulation by the doctor’s hand movements.

A blockage can thus be healed or kept under control if it is chronic. A variety of complaints of the lumbar spine and intervertebral discs can be improved or prevented by training the back muscles. A strong musculature of the lower back prevents many aches and pains caused by lack of movement, long periods of sitting or lifting.

In acute situations, surgery may be necessary under certain circumstances. In the case of a herniated disc, the necessity of an operation must always be carefully considered. Nowadays, surgery for a herniated disc is very rarely necessary.

With chronic rheumatic complaints, no causal therapy is possible in the multitude of cases nowadays. They are permanently kept under control with inflammation inhibitors and symptomatic approaches. Tips for a healthy back can also be found in our article Back Training. ,