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What Causes Pain In Buttocks Radiating Down The Leg To Knee?
I have RA,have had it for 8 years now,the last couple of months I have had a pain across the top of my leg,through to my butt and down the side of my leg to my knee and then across the top of my knee.I can t think of anything I did to cause this.When I try to lift my leg forward to walk it hurts in my groin,could I have pulled a muscle?
Wed, 3 May 2023
Hi,
The pain you are experiencing, which starts in your buttocks and radiates down the leg to your knee, is commonly known as sciatica. Sciatica is not a condition in and of itself, but a symptom of an underlying condition that is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.
In your case, the pain may be due to a pulled muscle, particularly if you have been engaging in physical activity that requires a lot of hip or leg movement. However, given that you also have RA, the pain may be related to your condition. RA is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and damage to the joints, which can lead to nerve irritation and compression.
Other possible causes of sciatica include a herniated disk, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), or piriformis syndrome (compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle in the buttocks). Your provider may perform a physical exam, imaging tests (such as an X-ray or MRI), or nerve conduction studies to determine the cause of your symptoms. Treatment may include pain medication, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or in some cases, surgery.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
The pain you are experiencing, which starts in your buttocks and radiates down the leg to your knee, is commonly known as sciatica. Sciatica is not a condition in and of itself, but a symptom of an underlying condition that is putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.
In your case, the pain may be due to a pulled muscle, particularly if you have been engaging in physical activity that requires a lot of hip or leg movement. However, given that you also have RA, the pain may be related to your condition. RA is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation and damage to the joints, which can lead to nerve irritation and compression.
Other possible causes of sciatica include a herniated disk, spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), or piriformis syndrome (compression of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle in the buttocks). Your provider may perform a physical exam, imaging tests (such as an X-ray or MRI), or nerve conduction studies to determine the cause of your symptoms. Treatment may include pain medication, physical therapy, corticosteroid injections, or in some cases, surgery.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Priyanka, General & Family Physician
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