Lumbar stenosis can cause hip pain.
The lower back, also known as the lumbar region, comprises five vertebral bodies. According to Medicine Net, "nerves coming off the spinal cord travel through the spinal canal and exit the canal through small openings on the sides of the vertebral called foramen." When the spinal canal becomes narrowed, it causes pain in that lumbar region.
According to E Medicine Health, "the hip joint attaches the leg to the torso of the body. In the hip joint, the head of the thigh bone (femur) swivels in a socket made up of pelvic bones."
Hip pain may sometimes stem from issues in surrounding areas, such as the lumbar region.
Definitions
Lumbar spinal stenosis is defined as "a narrowing of the spinal canal in the lower back. This narrowing occurs when the growth of bone or tissue or both reduces the size of the openings in the spinal bones. This narrowing can squeeze and irritate the nerves that branch out from the spinal cord," according to Web MD.
Hip pain is defined as any pain or discomfort in the hip joint or area. While trauma is typically the cause of hip pain, according to Web MD, "any source of inflammation may cause pain in the hip area."
Symptoms
Symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis include numbness, weakness, cramping, stiffness in the legs and thighs, low back pain, loss of sensation in the legs and sometimes the loss of bladder or bowel control.
Hip pain symptoms include swelling, warmth at the site, redness and inflammation.
Lumbar Stenosis & Hip Pain
Another symptom of lumbar stenosis is hip pain. Because the lumbar area is located at the lower back, the pain felt from the stenosis can radiate to the hip.
Causes
Lumbar spinal stenosis may be caused by degenerative arthritis, tumors, infection and various metabolic bone disorders, like Paget's Disease. Paget's Disease, as defined by Medicine Net, is a "chronic bone condition characterized by disorder of the normal bone remodeling process." In this disease, when new bone is formed, it is abnormal, enlarged and not as dense and prone to breaking.
Some causes of hip pain include lumbar spinal stenosis, hip fracture, arthritis, osteonecrosis (bone death), tendonitis, strain or sprain, low back pain (i.e. sciatica) or infection.
Exams and Tests
To diagnose lumbar spinal stenosis and hip pain, your doctor will take a complete medical history and perform a physical exam. The doctor may use different tests, including X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging, CT (computed tomography) scan, a bone scan and myelogram. A myelogram is done by injecting a liquid dye into the spinal column. The dye appears white on an X-ray and helps identify pressure on either the spinal cord or the spinal column.
Treatment
Treatment for lumbar spinal stenosis includes over-the-counter pain medications, exercise, weight loss and physical therapy. Additionally, your doctor may also treat it with a corticosteroid injection, which will help reduce inflammation. In some cases, surgery may be needed.
Hip pain treatment includes over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In severe cases, surgery may be required.
Prevention
Web MD suggests the following to help prevent spinal stenosis: regular exercise, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, removing obstacles in your home that may cause you to fall and taking medications as prescribed.
As per Medline Plus, the following is a list of things you can do to prevent hip pain: running on an even surface like a treadmill to keep your hips level, warm up before exercising, avoid falls and wear protective padding when taking part in sports.
Tags: spinal stenosis, back pain, cause pain, lower back, lumbar region, lumbar spinal, lumbar spinal stenosis
