Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptoms11 CausesSelf-CareMedical TreatmentPhysical TherapyStretchesWhat Makes It Worse?Managing PainWhen Not Improving
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
11 Causes
Self-Care
Medical Treatment
Physical Therapy
Stretches
What Makes It Worse?
Managing Pain
When Not Improving
Lower back pain and hip pain will often occur together. Different conditions or activities can lead to lower back and hip pain, including arthritis, overexertion, and injuries that affect the nerves of the back and hips.
Back pain is one of the most common reasons people see a healthcare provider and miss time from work.Back pain can range from a dull, constant ache to sudden sharp, shooting pains. It can affect your mobility and quality of life. It can also cause hip pain and discomfort.
Though these symptoms can be challenging, most people can successfully manage their underlying causes and in some cases even fully recover.
This article will cover what lower back and hip pain feels like, causes, self-care, medical treatment, and more.
Biserka Stojanovic / Getty Images
Describing Lower Back and Hip Pain
Back andhip paincan be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).Acute back paincan last a few days to a few weeks and may resolve without treatment or with self-care.
Additional symptoms linked to lower back pain and hip pain can include:
Hip Pain That Radiates Down Leg: What’s Happening?
Lower Back Pain vs. Hip Pain
Even though hip pain can occur with back pain, back pain can sometimes be mistaken for hip pain and vice versa.This is because the hip joint is located near thelumbar spine(lower part of the spine), and injuries to the hip can produce back pain. Back pain can also affect the hip and pelvis joints. Even so, it is still possible to tell the difference.
Hip pain can produce groin pain because of the joint’s closeness to the spine. A hip problem could also cause discomfort that comes and goes and worsens over time. You might also have pain with standing and activity (including walking) or a limp while walking.
Back pain, on its own, is generally limited to pain in the back and buttocks, but stress on the back can affect the hip joints. Back pain can also lead to pain that shoots down the leg. It might worsen with sitting or bending and improve with standing and walking.
Causes of Chest and Back Pain Based on Location
11 Causes of Back and Hip Pain
Lower back pain and hip pain have many different causes. These includemuscle sprains and strains,pinched nerves,herniated discs,sacroiliac joint dysfunction,arthritis, among others. Here are 11 such causes:
Is Lower Back and Hip Pain Ever Cancer?Cancer is rarely the cause of back or hip pain.Even so, it is possible to have lower back or hip pain linked to some cancers, including spinal, lung, colorectal, breast, and testicular cancers. A person with one of these cancers will often have additional symptoms, though—not just back or hip pain.
Is Lower Back and Hip Pain Ever Cancer?
Cancer is rarely the cause of back or hip pain.Even so, it is possible to have lower back or hip pain linked to some cancers, including spinal, lung, colorectal, breast, and testicular cancers. A person with one of these cancers will often have additional symptoms, though—not just back or hip pain.
Self-Care for Lower Back and Hip Pain
Back and hip pain are usually temporary, and most people recover within a few weeks or months. You can generally treat and manage back and hip symptoms with self-care at-home therapies.
Self-care for lower back and hip pain can include:
The Benefits of Sleeping With a Pillow Between Your Legs
Medical Treatment for Lower Back and Hip Pain
Most people who experience lower back and hip pain do not need extensive medical treatment. They can get relief from OTC pain relievers, OTC pain relief topicals (gels, patches, and creams), and self-care remedies.
But if you need further relief, your healthcare provider can prescribe medications or physical therapy. Complementary and alternative therapies might also help. Surgery is considered a last-resort option for treating back and hip pain.
Burning Back Pain: Causes and Relief
Prescription Medicines
If you experience severe symptoms, your healthcare provider can prescribe stronger treatments.
Prescribed medicines might include:
Common Medications for Lower Back Pain Relief
If back and hip pain persists for longer than a few weeks and starts interfering with normal activities, your healthcare provider might recommend you startphysical therapy. Physical therapy aims to reduce pain and improve mobility and function.
Aphysical therapistcan teach you exercises to manage symptoms, offer manual therapy, and advise you on better ways to move and engage in activities to reduce pain and prevent it from worsening.
Do You Need a Referral to Physical Therapy?
According to the American Physical Therapy Association, all 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands allow direct access to physical therapy.This means you do not need a referral from a physician to seek out physical therapy services.
However, some states may restrict the length of physical therapy you can receive without your physician’s input.Additionally, there might be specific rules about physical therapy treatment plans.
For ahealth maintenance organization (HMO), you must choose a primary care provider who can refer you to in-network specialists who accept your plan, and you cannot see a physical therapist without your primary care provider’s referral.
Lastly, apoint-of-service (POS)plan offers coverage combining HMO and PPO plans. Like an HMO plan, you will need referrals to all specialists, including physical therapists. And like a PPO, you may go outside of the provider network for health care services.
If you take the direct access route to physical therapy, your physical therapist will perform a physical exam to determine the cause of your symptoms. When they have pinpointed a diagnosis, they can set up a treatment plan. However, if they cannot treat you, they will refer you to someone who specializes in the treatment you need or let you know you need to consult another medical provider.
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Some evidence shows that various complementary and alternative therapies might help manage lower back pain.Complementary therapies are those that are combined with traditional medicine approaches, while alternative medicines are taken instead of traditional medicine.
Such therapies include:
Talking to your healthcare provider before starting any complementary or alternative treatment is always a good idea. They can advise you on safety and whether a particular therapy might suit your unique situation.
Why Does My Lower Back Hurt When I Sit and How Can I Relieve the Pain?
Surgery
Surgery is reserved for people with structural problems that have not responded to nonsurgical treatment.It might also work for people with nerve compression that has led to muscle weakness, limits daily activities, and causes adverse effects on quality of life.
Lower Left Back Pain Causes and Treatments
Lower Back and Hip Stretches to Reduce Pain
Regular stretching can help reduce lower back and hip pain and manage symptoms like stiffness and tightness.
However, the stretches recommended in your case will depend on the condition causing the pain. For example, stretches that bend forward may not be recommended for a herniated disc or sciatica. Talk to your healthcare provider or physical therapist for the stretches recommended for your condition.
Some stretches that might help in managing some causes of lower back and hip pain are:
Always listen to your body and only stretch as comfortably as you can. If any stretch causes pain, stop stretching and contact your healthcare provider.
How Yoga for Back Pain Can Help You Find Relief
What Makes Lower Back and Hip Pain Worse?
To best manage lower back and hip pain, you must be mindful of what makes back pain worse.
Factors that can make your back and hip pain worse include:
Managing Chronic Lower Back and Hip Pain
Managing lower back and hip pain requires a comprehensive approach. It is a good idea to consult your healthcare provider or a physical therapist to assess you, diagnose your underlying conditions, and develop a treatment plan.
You may also want to consider some lifestyle modifications to manage symptoms. Lifestyle modifications include weight loss,low-impact exercise,improving sleep quality,practicinggood ergonomics, and avoiding activities that aggravate pain and worsen symptoms.
Improvement will take time and effort, so being patient and following your treatment plan is essential.
Lower Back and Hip Pain Not Improving
Generally, back and hip pain that lasts longer than a few weeks is not normal, and you should contact a healthcare provider. You should also contact a healthcare provider for back pain that is:
Summary
Lower back and hip pain can sometimes coexist and be a sign of an injury or an underlying condition. Hip and back pain can make daily activities harder, but getting treatment early can improve your outlook.
Lower back and hip pain treatments include rest, stretching, anti-inflammatory medicines, prescription medicines, physical therapy, alternative medicine, and as a last resort, surgery. Contact a healthcare provider for persistent pain or pain that lasts longer than three weeks, pain that is worse at night, or pain that seems inflammatory.
Treating lower back and hip pain is vital to keeping your mobility and function and improving your quality of life. You will also want to consider some lifestyle modifications to assist in your recovery. Lastly, understand that improvement takes time, so be patient and stay on top of your treatment plan.
31 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pain.Sleep Foundation.How to sleep with lower back pain.UPMC HealthBeat.My hip hurts: Or is it back pain?American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pinched nerve.MedlinePlus.Sciatic nerve.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.Newman DP, Soto AT.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(3):239-245.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Inflammatory arthritis of the hip.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar spinal stenosis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Piriformis syndrome.Maatallah K, Ben Nessib D, Labbène E, et al.Paget’s disease of bone in patients under 40 years: two case reports and review of the literature.Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2021;21(1):e127-e131. doi:10.18295/squmj.2021.21.01.019Beaumont Health.Pelvic floor dysfunction.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibroids.Maddern J, Grundy L, Castro J, Brierley SM.Pain in endometriosis.Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:590823. doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.590823Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomysosis.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Back pain and cancer: how are they related?Green BN, Johnson CD, Snodgrass J, et al.Association between smoking and back pain in a cross-section of adult Americans.Cureus. 2016;8(9):e806. doi:10.7759/cureus.806Beery R.Physical therapy: 4 benefits that go beyond better mobility.American Physical Therapy Association.Direct access in practice.Hon S, Ritter R, Allen DD.Cost-effectiveness and outcomes of direct access to physical therapy for musculoskeletal disorders compared to physician-first access in the United States: systematic review and meta-analysis.Phys Ther. 2021;101(1):pzaa201. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzaa201Health Insurance Marketplace.Health insurance plan & network types: HMOs, PPOs, and more.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary health approaches for chronic pain: what the science says.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Low back pain.Arthritis Foundation.Lower body stretches.Arthritis Foundation.Relieve tension and stiffness with stretching.Hospital for Special Surgery.Stretches and exercises to ease sciatica pain, from a PT.University of Maryland Medical System.8 signs it’s time to call a doctor for your back pain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Radiculopathy.New York Pain Care.Should you get lower back pain around your kidney checked?Spondylitis Association of America.Inflammatory vs. mechanical back pain.
31 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pain.Sleep Foundation.How to sleep with lower back pain.UPMC HealthBeat.My hip hurts: Or is it back pain?American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pinched nerve.MedlinePlus.Sciatic nerve.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.Newman DP, Soto AT.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(3):239-245.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Inflammatory arthritis of the hip.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar spinal stenosis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Piriformis syndrome.Maatallah K, Ben Nessib D, Labbène E, et al.Paget’s disease of bone in patients under 40 years: two case reports and review of the literature.Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2021;21(1):e127-e131. doi:10.18295/squmj.2021.21.01.019Beaumont Health.Pelvic floor dysfunction.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibroids.Maddern J, Grundy L, Castro J, Brierley SM.Pain in endometriosis.Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:590823. doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.590823Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomysosis.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Back pain and cancer: how are they related?Green BN, Johnson CD, Snodgrass J, et al.Association between smoking and back pain in a cross-section of adult Americans.Cureus. 2016;8(9):e806. doi:10.7759/cureus.806Beery R.Physical therapy: 4 benefits that go beyond better mobility.American Physical Therapy Association.Direct access in practice.Hon S, Ritter R, Allen DD.Cost-effectiveness and outcomes of direct access to physical therapy for musculoskeletal disorders compared to physician-first access in the United States: systematic review and meta-analysis.Phys Ther. 2021;101(1):pzaa201. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzaa201Health Insurance Marketplace.Health insurance plan & network types: HMOs, PPOs, and more.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary health approaches for chronic pain: what the science says.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Low back pain.Arthritis Foundation.Lower body stretches.Arthritis Foundation.Relieve tension and stiffness with stretching.Hospital for Special Surgery.Stretches and exercises to ease sciatica pain, from a PT.University of Maryland Medical System.8 signs it’s time to call a doctor for your back pain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Radiculopathy.New York Pain Care.Should you get lower back pain around your kidney checked?Spondylitis Association of America.Inflammatory vs. mechanical back pain.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pain.Sleep Foundation.How to sleep with lower back pain.UPMC HealthBeat.My hip hurts: Or is it back pain?American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pinched nerve.MedlinePlus.Sciatic nerve.American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.Newman DP, Soto AT.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(3):239-245.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Inflammatory arthritis of the hip.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar spinal stenosis.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Piriformis syndrome.Maatallah K, Ben Nessib D, Labbène E, et al.Paget’s disease of bone in patients under 40 years: two case reports and review of the literature.Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2021;21(1):e127-e131. doi:10.18295/squmj.2021.21.01.019Beaumont Health.Pelvic floor dysfunction.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibroids.Maddern J, Grundy L, Castro J, Brierley SM.Pain in endometriosis.Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:590823. doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.590823Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomysosis.Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Back pain and cancer: how are they related?Green BN, Johnson CD, Snodgrass J, et al.Association between smoking and back pain in a cross-section of adult Americans.Cureus. 2016;8(9):e806. doi:10.7759/cureus.806Beery R.Physical therapy: 4 benefits that go beyond better mobility.American Physical Therapy Association.Direct access in practice.Hon S, Ritter R, Allen DD.Cost-effectiveness and outcomes of direct access to physical therapy for musculoskeletal disorders compared to physician-first access in the United States: systematic review and meta-analysis.Phys Ther. 2021;101(1):pzaa201. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzaa201Health Insurance Marketplace.Health insurance plan & network types: HMOs, PPOs, and more.National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary health approaches for chronic pain: what the science says.American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Low back pain.Arthritis Foundation.Lower body stretches.Arthritis Foundation.Relieve tension and stiffness with stretching.Hospital for Special Surgery.Stretches and exercises to ease sciatica pain, from a PT.University of Maryland Medical System.8 signs it’s time to call a doctor for your back pain.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Radiculopathy.New York Pain Care.Should you get lower back pain around your kidney checked?Spondylitis Association of America.Inflammatory vs. mechanical back pain.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pain.
Sleep Foundation.How to sleep with lower back pain.
UPMC HealthBeat.My hip hurts: Or is it back pain?
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Low back strain and sprain.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Pinched nerve.
MedlinePlus.Sciatic nerve.
American Association of Neurological Surgeons.Herniated disc.
Newman DP, Soto AT.Sacroiliac joint dysfunction: diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician. 2022;105(3):239-245.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Inflammatory arthritis of the hip.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lumbar spinal stenosis.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Piriformis syndrome.
Maatallah K, Ben Nessib D, Labbène E, et al.Paget’s disease of bone in patients under 40 years: two case reports and review of the literature.Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J. 2021;21(1):e127-e131. doi:10.18295/squmj.2021.21.01.019
Beaumont Health.Pelvic floor dysfunction.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibroids.
Maddern J, Grundy L, Castro J, Brierley SM.Pain in endometriosis.Front Cell Neurosci. 2020;14:590823. doi:10.3389/fncel.2020.590823
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Adenomysosis.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.Back pain and cancer: how are they related?
Green BN, Johnson CD, Snodgrass J, et al.Association between smoking and back pain in a cross-section of adult Americans.Cureus. 2016;8(9):e806. doi:10.7759/cureus.806
Beery R.Physical therapy: 4 benefits that go beyond better mobility.
American Physical Therapy Association.Direct access in practice.
Hon S, Ritter R, Allen DD.Cost-effectiveness and outcomes of direct access to physical therapy for musculoskeletal disorders compared to physician-first access in the United States: systematic review and meta-analysis.Phys Ther. 2021;101(1):pzaa201. doi:10.1093/ptj/pzaa201
Health Insurance Marketplace.Health insurance plan & network types: HMOs, PPOs, and more.
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.Complementary health approaches for chronic pain: what the science says.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Low back pain.
Arthritis Foundation.Lower body stretches.
Arthritis Foundation.Relieve tension and stiffness with stretching.
Hospital for Special Surgery.Stretches and exercises to ease sciatica pain, from a PT.
University of Maryland Medical System.8 signs it’s time to call a doctor for your back pain.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Radiculopathy.
New York Pain Care.Should you get lower back pain around your kidney checked?
Spondylitis Association of America.Inflammatory vs. mechanical back pain.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
