The number one reason Americans see their doctor is colds and flu. The number two reason is lower back pain. Hip and back pains are often interrelated, which can contribute to a number of symptoms that are sometimes quite difficult to accurately diagnose. Feeling pain in your thigh or groin can be an indication of a hip related pain, similarly, lower back pain is not always a problem with your back. Often, injuries in the hip or buttock can tend to cascade from lower-back strain or injury. If you have ever suffered from back pain, you know what an uncomfortable and painful experience that can be. Imagine coupling that pain with additional hip and joint pain, and you can start to understand how these types of pain can seriously jeopardize an individual’s mobility.
The sciatic nerve, stretching from the length of your spine all the way down to your feet, is the longest nerve in your body. Sometimes when the sciatic nerve gets pinched, it can feel as though the pain is coming from the hip area. It is very painful, and difficult to pinpoint exactly where the pain is originating from. Sometimes the pinched sciatic nerve came become so stressed that you are able to feel pain in your lower back as well, and no matter how you walk, stretch, sit or lay down, there seems to be no relief.
Some people believe that hip problems are isolated to the weak and feeble. This is not true as many younger people have had to have hip replacement surgery, sometimes due to repetitive motions used while playing sports. Hip pain that is associated with lower back pain can result from injuries in which the muscles, tendons and ligaments become inflamed, even while performing routine daily activities that can cause stress on the hip joint. All it takes is one arduous event without proper care to protect the lower back, to also inflict severe pain in the hip area as well.
Unfortunately for many older people who have developed hip problems, even though they are able to undergo a hip replacement surgery, most never regain the mobility they once enjoyed prior to having had any hip problems. There are a lucky few who may feel equal to their prior flexibility, and many participate in hours of rehabilitation and physical therapy to achieve it. Younger patients do have a better chance of resuming their normal activities after a hip replacement. This success rate is sometimes dependent on younger, healthier muscles, ligaments and tendons.
If you are feeling pain either in your hip area or in your lower back, it is always smart to make an appointment to see your doctor. The pain will never go away completely if you are not diagnosed properly and correctly. Taking care to protect your lower back while lifting or bending will in turn protect the hips from injury. It’s never too late to start taking proper care of your most valuable body part, your back.
