Buttock Pain

The buttocks mainly consist of fat and gluteal muscle located in the posterior part of your pelvis. The unpleasant sensation arising in these structures as a result of infection, muscle strain, orthopedic injury, or neurological disorders may be characterized as buttock pain.

What are the Symptoms Associated with Buttock Pain?

Some of the symptoms associated with buttock pain include:

Weakness or numbness in the leg
Swelling and tenderness
Stiffness and inability to move the affected muscle
Radiating pain from the buttocks to the leg
Tingling sensation
Reddened skin and bruises
Sore or abscess formation

What are the Causes of Buttock Pain?

Some of the conditions that may cause buttock pain include:

Muscle strain
Bruising
Bursitis
Sciatica
Degenerative disc disease
Herniated disc
Piriformis syndrome
Perirectal abscess
Pilonidal cyst
Sacroiliac joint impairment
Vascular disease
Arthritis

How is Buttock Pain Diagnosed?

Your doctor will review your symptoms and medical history of trauma to the buttocks, perform a physical examination to elicit pain in the affected area, and may order certain diagnostic tests such as MRI to rule out disc impairment or sciatic nerve compression as the source of the buttock pain.

What are the Treatment Options for Buttock Pain?

Some of the treatment options that your doctor may employ to treat buttock pain include:

Draining of abscess or cyst in the buttocks area
Corticosteroid injections to mitigate inflammation in the buttocks
Physiotherapy to improve range of motion and strengthen muscles in the affected area
Surgery to replace a worn-out joint or repair an impaired disc
Application of heat or ice to mitigate swelling and relieve pain
Ample rest to heal the injury
Medications such as pain relievers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

How Can Buttock Pain be Prevented?

Some of the preventive measures that can be employed to prevent buttock pain include:

Avoiding walking or running on uneven surfaces
Warming up adequately before exercise or any activity and gradually increasing intensity thereafter
Avoiding repetitive movement that can stress the buttock muscles
Maintaining proper posture while sitting or doing other activities
Avoiding sitting for long periods of time
Avoiding activities that aggravate symptoms
Maintaining ideal body weight