Buttock pain and leg numbness that painkillers don't fix: what's really causing it?

Many people have probably had hip pain, deep buttock pain, or numbness radiating down the leg. Have you ever wondered why sitting for a long time is bad, and why painkillers do not make it go away? What exactly is a muscle trapping a nerve, how can you prevent it, and how much pain counts as a condition? Let's find out together. 

Causes of a muscle trapping a nerve

1. Habitually sitting cross-legged or shifting your weight onto one hip when sitting
2. Sitting at work for long periods
3. Driving for long periods
4. Exercising too hard, such as running
5. Lifting heavy objects or lifting with poor technique

Did you know? When we are in the positions above, a small muscle deep in the buttock has to work hard, contracting repeatedly until it goes into spasm and becomes injured. This usually happens to a muscle called the piriformis, and a large nerve passes through this muscle.

If this muscle becomes very tight, it squeezes the nerve and causes pain, leading to the following symptoms:

- Buttock pain
- Pain in the buttock cheek
- Pain with numbness radiating down the leg 
- A burning, flushing sensation in the buttock

If you have these symptoms, get treatment straight away and do not leave it for long. If the problem builds up over time, leg weakness may develop, because the nerve is squeezed so much that it cannot send nerve signals to control the muscles, which leads to leg weakness. 

Treatment

Initial treatment
- Muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory medication work well in the early stage. If the muscle pain and tightness are not severe when they start, you can take medication to relieve them. 

So why do some people take medication for a long time without their pain improving?

Because the medication only relieves symptoms temporarily. If the problem piriformis muscle is still tight and squeezing the nerve, the radiating pain will continue and will not go away.

    Physical therapy with us is therefore an option for treating muscle pain and tightness, as Rehab Care Clinic uses physical therapy equipment imported from Europe with the latest pain-relief technology.

- Focused shockwave therapy with both point and linear shockwave energy applied to the tight muscles
- Deep-heat ultrasound for pain relief 
- High-power laser therapy to energise the cells and reduce nerve inflammation
- Together with an exercise programme and posture correction for a lasting recovery without re-injury

If you are in pain, come and talk to a physical therapist so we can plan your treatment together. 

You can contact Rehab Care Clinic for advice on your health problems from our rehabilitation physicians and specialist physical therapists.

For more information, contact "Rehab Care Clinic"

Address: 423 Phetkasem Road, Bang Wa, Phasi Charoen, Bangkok (inside Kanari Sports Center, before Seacon Bang Khae) ? 061-801-2482 Line ID : @rehabcare