There are a variety of reasons why a person’s buttocks hurt. Minor scrapes and bruising are among the reasons, as are more serious disorders like sciatica and damaged disks.
Some people may spend a lot of time sitting. Thus their soreness in the buttocks while sitting might be a source of concern.
A bruise or minor injury might cause brief pain in this area, but it can also be the result of a more serious, long-term condition.
This article discusses the symptoms and causes of buttock pains, treatment alternatives, and when medical help should be sought.
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Related: How to Reduce Inflammation in the Body Fast
Is Pain in Your Buttocks A Cause For Concern?
Although your buttocks are primarily made up of fat and gluteal muscle, they are susceptible to injury and disease.
Given that your buttocks are behind you, you may not have given them much thought. If they begin to hurt, though, you will notice.
Various illnesses can cause pain in the buttocks, from modest muscle strains to infections. Most of these ailments aren’t life-threatening, but some necessitate a doctor’s trip.
Please contact your primary medical provider to schedule an appointment if the pain persists or worsens or if you have any of the following symptoms:
- Numbness or paralysis in your leg
- Difficulty managing your bowels or bladder
- A persistent sore strong or shooting pain that only occurs when you’re walking and restricts your mobility
Here are some of the conditions that might cause buttock discomfort, as well as some suggestions to help you figure out which one you have.
Hemorrhoids
Internal and external kinds of hemorrhoids exist, with external being the most common cause of hemorrhoid-related butt pain.
Hemorrhoids that are visible from the outside are called external hemorrhoids. On the outside of the anus, they are visible and felt. They normally hurt for a few days and then go away over a week or two.
Hemorrhoids normally go away on their own, but over-the-counter hemorrhoid medications can provide relief in the meantime. Sitting in a hot tub may also give you a sense of relief.
Internal hemorrhoids are most commonly caused by spending too much time on the toilet due to diarrhea or constipation. You can try out soft laxatives or fibers to help you ease your bowel movements.
If they’re bleeding, you should see a doctor right away. In reality, any rectal bleeding should be checked out by a doctor.
Bruising
Buttock pain is frequently caused by bruising. Blood from broken blood vessels pools under the skin, giving bruises their black-and-blue hue.
A bruise can occur if you are hurt in the buttocks, such as if you fall while skating, or are hit while playing a contact sport such as hockey or football.
What often happens is that you’ll notice a swollen lump and tenderness in the bruised area.
If you are looking to relieve your symptoms and speed along the healing process, you can try putting the following natural remedies:
- Ice therapy
- Compression
- Elevate bruise above the heart
- Apply arnica
- Comfrey cream
Muscle Tears/Strains
These are the type of muscles that make up your buttocks.
- The gluteus maximus
- Gluteus medius
- Gluteus minimus
If you extend one of these muscles to the point where it tears, you’ve strained it.
This can result in:
- Swelling and pain.
- Tightness in the afflicted muscle
- Difficulty moving it
Common causes of muscle strains are over exercising, not warming up properly before exercise, or moving suddenly or in an awkward way.
Piriformis syndrome
The piriformis muscle travels from the bottom of your back to the top of your thigh. However, you also have the sciatic nerve, which extends from your lower spine down your buttocks and into the back of your thigh.
The piriformis muscle can become inflamed and put pressure or strain on the sciatic nerve. This may be due to injuries or overuse.
Sciatica is a discomfort that extends from your buttocks down the back of your leg due to this pressure.
When you move upstairs, run, or sit, the pain may get worse.
Numbness or tingling may also be present. The piriformis stretch may be beneficial in alleviating these issues.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a symptom, not a disease. The pain radiates down your sciatic nerve, which runs from your lower back through your buttocks and down each leg.
Numbness or tingling in the affected leg is also possible. Some types of stretches have been proven that can help you relax.
Sciatica is more common in people in their 40s and 50s since the circumstances that cause it to become more common as they age.
A herniated disk or constriction of sections of the spine that push on the sciatic nerve are common causes of sciatica.
Related: Stretches for Sciatica Pain: Get Immediate Relief
Bursitis
Bursitis is a frequent illness in which the fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, known as bursae, become inflamed. The most commonly affected areas are the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee.
In your buttocks, you have a bursa called the ischial bursa. Ischial bursitis is a type of bursitis that affects the ischial bursa.
Symptoms include:
- Pain when you sit or lie down
- Pain that extends down the back of your leg
- Swelling and redness
If you hurt the ischial bursa or sit for lengthy periods of time on hard surfaces, you may develop bursitis.
Herniated Disk
Disks are small pads filled with a jelly-like material that separates and cushions each of your spine’s bones. If the outer layer of the disk rips, allowing some of the inside material to escape, the disk can become herniated.
A herniated disk can cause pain, numbness, and weakness by pressing on adjacent nerves.
You’ll probably feel discomfort in your buttocks if the afflicted disk is in your lower back (lumbar spine). The discomfort may also spread down your leg. Other signs and symptoms include:
- numbness
- tingling
- weakness
Because disks degrade with age, you’re more prone to develop a herniated disk as you get older.
Arthritis
Arthritis is a condition that causes pain and stiffness in the joints.
Some forms of arthritis are caused by the gradual wear and tear of the joints as people get older and more active.
Pain in the buttocks might be caused by arthritis in the hip joint. The pain and stiffness may worsen in the morning and improve when you exercise the joint.
There are certain ways you can manage your joint problem better. For example, you can try:
- Medications
- Topicals
- Injections
- Physical therapy
- Home care
- Alternative supplements
Pilonidal Cyst
A cyst is a hollow sac that can appear anywhere on your body. Although most cysts contain fluid, a pilonidal cyst contains microscopic hair and skin fragments.
The crevice between the buttocks is where these cysts originate. If a hair develops into your skin, you may develop one of these cysts. They can also be obtained from friction, such as while riding a bicycle.
If you develop pilonidal cyst, you may notice, along with the pain that:
- Your skin becomes red
- Blood or pus comes out
- A bad or faulty smell is in the air
Pilonidal cysts are more prevalent in men than in women and are more common in those who sit for extended periods.
Perirectal Abscess
A perirectal abscess (also known as a perianal abscess) is a pus-filled hollow that arises in a gland near the anus, the exit point for stool. A bacterial infection causes the abscess.
Adults with diarrhea, constipation or another bowel movement disorder are more prone to contracting an infection. However, babies are also prone to this sort of abscess.
Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
The sacrum — the triangular bone at the base of your spine — and the pelvic bone are connected by the sacroiliac joint. When this joint becomes inflamed, it can produce pain in your lower back that spreads down your buttocks and into your upper thigh.
Walking, running, and climbing stairs might worsen the discomfort, but there are ways to alleviate it. Physical therapy can help the joint maintain its strength and flexibility.
The discomfort in the sacroiliac joint is sometimes mistaken as another sort of low back pain. The sacroiliac joint is an issue for 10% to 25% of patients with low back discomfort.
Related: Runner’s Knee: What It Is & How To Fix It
Vascular Disease
The aorta is the heart’s primary blood vessel. It divides into two smaller channels known as the iliac arteries, which continue to narrow as they deliver blood to the legs.
A blockage might cause buttock pain in these blood arteries caused by atherosclerosis.
Walking causes pain, which can be achy in character. It may cause you to stop walking, and the pain will go away. In the lower legs, there may be weakness and hair loss.
Hamstring/Pelvic avulsion fracture
A pelvic avulsion fracture occurs when the tendon separates from the bone, often displacing a fragment of bone in the process. The ischial tuberosity, where the hamstrings attach, is the most typical site.
Symptoms include:
- Sudden pain, generally during a forceful, explosive movement
- Pain in the crease of your buttocks near the rear of your pelvis
- Certain motions, such as sprinting, squatting, or jumping, will cause you to feel weak and discomfort
- Swelling and bruising
What Treatment Options are Available?
You should consult your primary care provider, a rheumatologist, or an orthopedic specialist if you have discomfort in your buttocks. Your treatment will be tailored to the source of your pain.
Your doctor may recommend:
- Corticosteroid injections to reduce inflammation.
- Physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the injury and increase the range of motion in the affected area.
- A procedure to empty a cyst or abscess.
- Surgery to replace a worn-out joint or repair a damaged disk.
Until you have a treatment plan, home remedies can assist relieve your symptoms.
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Other things you can consider doing are:
- Try applying heat or ice. Hold the hot or cold pack to the affected area for about 15 minutes. This will help relieve the swelling and pain.
- Gentle stretches of your buttocks, hips, and legs can bring down the discomfort.
- Over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen or naproxen can help if you need faster results.
Related: Nerve Pain: Causes & Natural Treatments Guide
When To Seek Medical Help
See your doctor if the pain hasn’t improved in a few days or is worsening. They’ll do a physical examination and, if necessary, imaging tests such as X-rays to determine the source of the pain.
Once your doctor has figured out what’s causing your buttock discomfort, they’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.
In Conclusion
Often buttock pain is related to or as a result of an injury elsewhere, such as the lower back.
The pain usually develops gradually over time but can also occur suddenly in the case of muscle strains or sciatic nerve-related injuries.
Here is a recap of the common causes that may be the reason for your pain in your buttocks:
- Hemorrhoids
- Bruising
- Muscle strain
- Piriformis syndrome
- Sciatica
- Bursitis
- Herniated disk
- Arthritis
- Pilonidal Cyst
- Perirectal Abscess
- Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
- Vascular disease
- Hamstring/Pelvic avulsion fracture
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