Sharp pain in right hip and lower back

Overview

Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve travels from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg.

Table of Contents Show

When to see a doctor
From Mayo Clinic to your inbox
Risk factors
Complications
Sharp Pain in the Lower Back and One Side of the Hip
Piriformis Syndrome
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Chronic Lower Back Pain
Lumbar Herniated Disc
Spinal Stenosis
Spondylolisthesis
How We Can Help
What causes sharp pain in lower back and hip?
What causes lower back and hip pain on one side?
Is lower back and hip pain serious?
What causes hip pain that radiates to the back?

Sciatica most often occurs when a herniated disk or an overgrowth of bone puts pressure on part of the nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.

Although the pain associated with sciatica can be severe, most cases clear up with treatment in a few weeks. People who have severe sciatica and serious leg weakness or bowel or bladder changes might need surgery.

Symptoms

Sciatica pain can be almost anywhere along the nerve pathway. It's especially likely to follow a path from the low back to the buttock and the back of a thigh and calf.

The pain can vary from a mild ache to a sharp, burning pain. Sometimes it can feel like a jolt or electric shock. It can be worse when coughing or sneezing or sitting a long time. Usually, sciatica affects only one side of the body.

Some people also have numbness, tingling or muscle weakness in the leg or foot. One part of the leg can be in pain, while another part can feel numb.

When to see a doctor

Mild sciatica usually goes away over time. Call your primary care provider if self-care measures don't ease symptoms. Also call if pain lasts longer than a week, is severe or gets worse. Get immediate medical care for:

Sudden, severe pain in the low back or a leg and numbness or muscle weakness in a leg
Pain after a violent injury, such as a traffic accident
Trouble controlling bowels or bladder

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Causes

Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes pinched. The cause is usually a herniated disk in the spine or an overgrowth of bone, sometimes called bone spurs, form on the spinal bones. More rarely, a tumor can put pressure on the nerve. Or a disease such as diabetes can damage the nerve.

Risk factors

Risk factors for sciatica include:

Age. Age-related changes in the spine, such as herniated disks and bone spurs, are the most common causes of sciatica.
Obesity. Being overweight increases stress on the spine.
Occupation. A job that requires twisting the back, carrying heavy loads or driving a motor vehicle for long periods might play a role in sciatica.
Prolonged sitting. People who sit a lot or don't move much are more likely to develop sciatica than active people are.
Diabetes. This condition, which affects the way the body uses blood sugar, increases the risk of nerve damage.

Complications

Most people recover fully from sciatica, often without treatment. But sciatica can damage nerves. Seek immediate medical attention for:

Loss of feeling in the affected leg
Weakness in the affected leg
Loss of bowel or bladder control

Prevention

It's not always possible to prevent sciatica, and the condition can come back. To protect your back:

Exercise regularly. To keep the back strong, work the core muscles — the muscles in the abdomen and lower back needed for good posture and alignment. A health care provider can recommend activities.
Keep good posture when sitting. Choose a seat with good lower back support, armrests and a swivel base. For better low back support, place a pillow or rolled towel in the small of the back to keep its normal curve. Keep knees and hips level.
Use your body correctly. When standing for long periods, rest one foot on a stool or small box from time to time. When lifting something heavy, let your legs do the work. Hold the load close to your body. Don't lift and twist at the same time. Find someone to help lift heavy or awkward things.

Sept. 13, 2022

Your lower back and hip are co-dependent on each other. They share many muscle groups, so it’s no wonder that disruption or pain in one tends to cause problems in the other. If you suffer from lower back pain or hip pain, you risk experiencing abnormalities in muscle function or movement.

Let’s take a look at 6 causes of lower back and hip pain:

Sharp Pain in the Lower Back and One Side of the Hip

It’s common to experience a sharp, shooting pain on one side of your lower back and hip. This pain can be caused by muscle spasms, joint dysfunction, or nerve compression. Conditions that can cause this are:

Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis syndrome causes a spasm of the piriformis muscle in the buttocks. It can cause moderate to severe pain in the lower back, hip, buttocks, and extend to the back of the thigh. This condition can make it hard to sit at times. You’ll find this pain typically on one side and movement of the hip can worsen it. Even getting out of bed can prove to be problematic.

This condition is caused by the overactivity of the hip rotator muscles or sitting on hard surfaces for long periods.

Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is brought on by inflammation with the joint that connects your lower spine to your pelvis. This condition will cause you to feel a sharp, stabbing pain over the lower part of your back, hip and buttocks. That pain could extend down the back of your thigh. Constant movement, like standing, sitting, or climbing stairs, may cause the pain to worsen.

The sacroiliac joint can become common in pregnant women or with someone who suffers from arthritis, trauma, or constant stress within the joint. Pain can affect both sides of the lower back and hip, but most often it’s only problematic on one side.

Chronic Lower Back Pain

Pain that lasts for more than a few months is considered chronic. Chronic pain in the lower back usually involves a disc problem, a joint problem, or an irritated nerve root. Some common causes for this type of pain are:

Lumbar Herniated Disc

Our lumbar spine is made up of about 17 bones stacked on top of one another, that consist of the vertebrae. A disk lies between each set of vertebrae to absorb pressure placed on the bones. Each disk is made up of an outer ring and an inner gel. When the inner gel of one of the disks in your lumbar spine slips or squishes beyond the outer ring, the inner gel presses on surrounding nerves. This causes pain known as a herniated disk. As for the slippage, that can be due to trauma or gradual, age-related wear and tear.

Spinal Stenosis

Lumbar spinal stenosis occurs when the spinal canal in your lower back narrows and places pressure on nearby nerve roots. This condition is associated with degenerative changes that occur as a result of aging, being more common in individuals over 60 years old. Initially, symptoms include pain or cramping in the legs. Over time it can become more constant or severe. Additional symptoms such as numbness and weakness may occur.

Scoliosis

The spine area is naturally curved. The upper back curves backward; the lower back curves forward. A side view will show this perfect curvature of the bone structure. If your spine curves sideways when viewed from behind, that’s not perfect. It’s called scoliosis, and it’s a deformity that can lead to back pain.

Although the majority of scoliosis cases don’t require treatment, severe curvature can place significant stress on the lower back and lead to more pain.

Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolisthesis, often caused by Spondylolysis, occurs when one vertebra slips forward over the one below it. This condition typically causes pain in the low back and leg due to the disks irritating the nerves closest to them.

How We Can Help

Back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor and emergency room visits in the U.S. It’s a leading cause of lost workdays and long-term disability. Not seeking medical attention and allowing the pain to persist will only cause the condition to worsen.

Atlantic Spine Specialists are board-certified and specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of back pain. We are dedicated to relieving and restoring function to help our patients have the best quality of life. No matter what the cause of your pain, receiving an extensive spinal examination and accurate diagnosis are the first steps to resolving the issue. At Atlantic Spine Specialists our doctors will prescribe the best treatment plan for you.

To learn more about diagnosis and treatment, request a consultation at Atlantic Spine Specialists in Morristown, New Jersey. Or call us at (973) 971-3500 to schedule your appointment.

What causes sharp pain in lower back and hip?

Share on Pinterest Possible causes of lower back and hip pain include sprains, strains, and a herniated disk. It is easy to overwork the lower back and hips because they are responsible for lifting, twisting, and moving the legs and trunk. Pains due to overuse and minor injury are common in these areas of the body.

What causes lower back and hip pain on one side?

A shooting and sharp pain felt on one side on your lower back and hip may be caused by muscle spasm, joint dysfunction, and/or nerve compression in the region.

Is lower back and hip pain serious?

Outlook. Back and hip pain are common ailments. They may, however, also be symptoms of more serious medical conditions. If your pain worsens or is accompanied by irregular symptoms, schedule a visit with your doctor.

What causes hip pain that radiates to the back?

A Pinched Nerve A pinched nerve in the hip or back can cause radiating lower back and hip pain. If you wonder what does nerve pain feel like – it often involves severe pain and numbness that may be referred from other areas of the body. For example, a pinched nerve in the upper back can cause numbness in the fingers.