Do you experience a pinching pain in your hips? Do you find inconvenience while sitting for long hours? If you find that something is wrong with your hip, then do not overlook the same. Hip pain might not be as normal as it may appear. And if your experience hip pain in a continuous fashion, then it’s quite possible that the pinched nerve pain may be due to a sciatica problem.
So here in this guide, we are going to reveal everything that stands associated with sciatica pain so that you can judge well for yourself when to seek medical assistance:
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What is Sciatica?
Many people tend to confuse themselves by taking sciatica as an underlying health condition, but in reality, it is a symptom that has its association with the sciatica nerves. Sciatica nerves are present in the lower spine and are formed by the combination of five nerves. These nerves tend to be the longest in your body and pass deep in the buttock and down the back of the thigh all the way to the heel and foot.
So, if any of the nerve roots in the lower back face some sort of irritation, it results in pain along the sciatic nerves. Further, you can feel pain in your lower extremities, especially towards one side.
Is sciatic pain serious?
Sciatica is common, and as per studies, about 10% to 40% of people suffer from the same once in a lifetime. Sciatic pain usually causes inflammation, irritation, compression, or pinching pain in the hips or lower back. Sometimes the pain may also cause a sensation like burning or stabbing, which can worsen when you sit or stand continuously for extended periods.
Yes, a pinched nerve in the hips may not sound highly serious, but the pain can interfere with the normal working conditions and ability of a person. Thus, it is necessary to pay immediate attention to any such causes and get adequate treatment as soon as possible.
Symptoms of Sciatic pain
Here are a few symptoms that can make you realize that you have a pinched nerve in your hips
- Dull pain in buttocks, hips, and back
- Your legs tend to weaken
- The continuous searing pain that comes and goes back in your lower back.
- Tingling sensation and numbness in the nerves
- Pain that emerges along the hips and buttocks.
- Burning pain in thighs and groin
These are a few symptoms that a person can experience when they suffer from sciatic nerve symptoms, which get worse while they move. Movements can cause further irritation on the nerves and can result in aggravated nerves that causes the pinching sensation.
Causes of falling prey to a sciatic nerve condition
There are various reasons that can cause a pinched nerve in your hips. Here are a few of them:
- Continuous stress on the back, adjoining joints, and hips due to sitting, standing and walking for long periods.
- A car accident or fall
- Sports injury that can cause misalignment of the joints
- The sleeping posture that causes stress on your back and hips
- Wearing extremely tight hip flexors
Risk factors of sciatica
Here are a few factors that can expose you to the risks of acquiring sciatic pain:
Being overweight
The spine is no less than a vertical crane in which your muscles act like counterweights. Your spine carries the weight concentrated towards the front side of your body. So, the more your weight, the more will be the efforts required by your spine, which can cause your back muscles to work more, causing back pain and other interrelated issues.
Weak core
The core forms the muscles of your abdomen and back. So, the stronger your core is, the more will be the support that your lower back receives. The rib cage provides support to your chest area, but the lower back receives support only from the muscles. Thus, a weak core can result in pinched nerves.
Engagement in a Job that is highly physical
If you have a job that keeps you highly engaged in physical activities, such as lifting heavy weights, you are at more risk of acquiring sciatic pain. Such jobs can make you prone to suffer from lower back problems.
Unhealthy lifestyle
If you are someone who has a 9 to 5 sitting job and does not tend to get up frequently for short breaks, then you’re at a high risk of acquiring sciatic pain. Also, people who lead a sedentary lifestyle are more prone to the risk of sciatica.
Aging
We do not have any control over our age, but sciatic pain may occur due to aging. With aging comes the issue of natural degradation or wear and tear of bones, which can injure your bones and risk your ligaments and nerves.
Wearing Wrong Shoes
It is a fact that wearing the wrong pair of shoes can result in bad posture, back pain, and other foot issues. Apart from this, diabetes or a back injury can hike up the chances of nerve damage, making you prone to acquiring sciatica. So, if you think you have sciatica, consider replacing your walking shoes with hip pain shoes.
When to rush to a doctor
Sciatic pain is not something that can be taken lightly. Thus, you should seek medical assistance to be acquainted with the real reasons for the pain. If you feel a continuous pain in your hips that has lasted for a few days and is not curing even after taking counter medicines and rest, you should definitely seek medical assistance.
Sometimes the pain can be so worse that it can even injure the affected area and result in permanent damage if not attended to at the right time. Hence, do not take the pinched nerve pain in your hips lightly and visit a doctor to get a cure for the same. The doctor will prescribe you medicines, physical therapy, or steroid injections to control the pinched nerves.
Home Remedies
If you have a minor pinched nerve in your hip, you may not be required to see a doctor and can instead cure it at home only. Here are a few remedies that you can consider trying to relive the pain:
Anti-inflammatory tablets
Taking anti-inflammatory tablets can considerably reduce the pain and swelling, which results in low pressure on the sciatic nerve. Naproxen and ibuprofen can be taken to reduce the pain and inconvenience.
Ample Rest
Taking rest is essential to get relief from the pain. So, avoid any activities that can further alleviate the pain and cause stress on the sciatic nerve. Take enough rest and refrain yourself from doing stressful activities.
Physiotherapy &Exercising
There are various exercises, including walking can help you to get rid of pinched nerve pain. However, it is recommended to wear specially designed shoes for sciatica while walking. You can also have physiotherapy sessions for 10-15 days regularly or use heating and cooling pads alternatively to relieve the pinched nerve pain.
The bottom line
Sciatic pain may not haunt you in your nightmares initially, but it doesn’t mean that you should overlook it. So, consider curing yourself with home remedies or seek medical assistance whenever needed so that you can save yourself from suffering its adverse effects. So, keep exercising, lead a healthy lifestyle to keep sciatica pain at bay.
All the Best!
Also Read:
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Brandon R. Katz is a registered professional nurse who has been instrumental in providing us with an informed opinion on the medical aspects of footwear. He graduated from NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and currently provides his services at a non-federal long-term care hospital in Brooklyn, NY.
Brandon proves to be the champion in the group of expert writers with his in-depth knowledge in foot health, how to take care of it adequately, and what shoes, socks, or insoles will be supreme for you. He has previously worked with hospitals where he has foreseen both inpatient and outpatient departments and has been a practicing nurse since 2009.
Brandon hails from Jersey City, NY, and has a loving family of four with a small popper called Rozo. His decision to become a nurse arises from the desire to be in the position of helping and rehabilitating people.
