Referred pain is a term given to pain that is felt in one region of your body although it originates from another. This is commonly seen in clinical practice.
The nerves that run down the buttock and legs come out of the spine through small holes in between each vertebra and track through the muscles to supply the leg with sensation, power and reflexes. If the nerve is compressed at any point it can give you radiating pain in the buttock and down the leg in to the thigh (front, side or back).
Prolapsed or bulged discs in the lower back are the most common cause of this, however joint degeneration, inflammation, muscle tightness ligament sprain or joint stiffness can also cause it.
Patients often (but not always) have associated pins and needles, numbness, shooting pains, and can have muscle weakness.
Treatment for Nerve Pain
Physiotherapy treatment for patients with this condition is vital to hasten the healing process, ensure an optimal outcome and decrease the likelihood of injury recurrence. Treatment may comprise:
- Joint mobilisation
- Joint manipulation
- Spinal and pelvic realignment
- Dry needling /acupuncture
- Deep tissue massage/myofascial release
- Ultrasound/electrotherapy
- Exercise programs to stretch, self treat and improve proprioception, balance, strength and core stability
- Biomechanical Assessment
- Neural mobilisation
- Education / training advise/ phased return to exercise
- Activity modification advice
- Orthotic/Insole advice
- Ice or heat treatment
- Taping
- Clinical Pilates
- Injection advice
