What causes Lower Back and Hip Pain and its Homeopathic Remedies

Both lower back pain and hip pain can cause a lot of discomfort and in some cases, both can occur together. Pain can be unilateral (one-sided) or bilateral (on both sides) varying from case to case. The symptoms vary in intensity from mild to severe. Depending on the cause behind it, other symptoms may be felt. These include stiffness, numbness, tingling, pin needle sensation, weakness, reduced range of motion in the back and lower limb.

In severe cases, serious symptoms can arise like retention of urine, difficulty in passing urine, and involuntary passage of urine or stool that demands immediate medical help to prevent serious complications and permanent damage.

Lower back and hip pain may result from several causes. The first cause could be the pinching of a nerve in the lower back. It refers to irritation or compression of the nerve by muscles, bones or any other structure which lies near the nerve. Disc bulge, herniated disc, arthritis (inflammation of the joints), degenerative changes in the lumbar spine, bone spurs (extra outgrowths of the bones) or an injury are some of the important reasons behind nerve pinching. Disc bulge refers to the bulging out of the intervertebral disc i.e. cushions in between the two vertebrae that irritates/pinches the nerve in the spine. Herniated disc means there is oozing out of the inner gel-like matter from the disc via a tear in its outer layer resulting in the compression of the nerve.

The second reason is sciatica (compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve that causes pain in the lower back radiating downward to the hip, thigh, leg and feet). Other reasons include joint inflammation i.e. arthritis. Another important cause is ankylosing spondylitis and inappropriate functioning of sacroiliac joint (joint formed by the ilium bone of the pelvis and sacrum which is a triangular bone at the base of the spine). Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune joint disorder starting from the sacroiliac joint followed by its ascent up the spine causing inflammation and damage to the joints. Its major symptom is pain and stiffness in the lower back and the hips. Further reasons might include muscle strain, injury, piriformis syndrome and lumbar stenosis.

Piriformis syndrome refers to a condition arising from irritation/compression of the sciatic nerve from contraction of the piriformis muscle located in the buttock region. Lumbar stenosis refers to the narrowing of the spinal canal in the lumbar region of the back. In females, this pain could arise during menses or from health concerns like endometriosis (growth of tissue that lines the uterus at regions other than uterus like ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and rectum) and uterine fibroids (non-cancerous growths forming in the uterus).

Homeopathic Management

Homeopathic medicines prove very helpful in cases of lower back and hip pain. Sourced from natural substances, they ease the pain in the lower back and the hip in the most harmless way with zero side effects. Homeopathic medicines target the root cause behind pain to give long term relief in these cases. They can also relieve its attending symptoms like stiffness, numbness, tingling, pin-needle sensation along with pain. Homeopathic prescription for such cases varies from case to case based on the characteristic individual symptoms. So it is advised that one should take homeopathic medicine under supervision of a homeopathic doctor. Self-medication should be avoided. In case of serious symptoms like retention of urine, difficulty in passing urine, involuntary passage of urine or stool, one should take immediate help from the conventional mode of treatment as homeopathy has limitations in managing serious cases.

Homeopathic Medicines For Lower Back And Hip Pain

1. Aesculus – When Pain Increases From Walking And Stooping

Aesculus is a highly effective medicine to manage lower back and hip pain which gets worse from walking and stooping. The pain increases when rising up after sitting. Aching or tearing type of pain is felt where this medicine is required. The back feels as if it will break from pain. There is also marked stiffness in the back along with pain. The back is also sore to touch. Weakness in the back and legs can accompany. Aesculus is one of the best homeopathic medicines for managing cases of ankylosing spondylitis, sacroiliac joint problems and hip arthritis.

2. Colocynth – In Sciatica Cases

Colocynth is a leading homeopathic medicine to manage lower back and hip pain in cases of sciatica. Persons needing it have pain in the lower back that radiates to the hip and sometimes to the back side of the thighs. The pain makes every position painful, be it sitting or lying down. Pain is worse when lying on the back. Walking is also difficult and makes the person limp. The nature of pain can be tearing, burning type. The warmth of the bed worsens the pain. In hips, cramping pain can be felt. It gets better by lying down on the affected side.

3. Rhus Tox –  After an injury

This medicine is highly suitable when there is pain in the lower back and hips after an injury from falling. In cases needing it, there is much difficulty in walking, standing or sitting. Pain gets better while lying on something hard.  There is problem in putting weight on the limb because of the injury. The hip is tender to pressure. Due to these complaints, there is restless sleep at night. Stiffness is also felt in the back. The back feels as if broken. Rhus Tox is also the most important medicine for managing cases of back and hip pain due to overstraining of muscles.

4. Kali Carb – Along With Weakness In Lower Back And Lower Limbs

Kali Carb is of great use to manage cases of lower back and hip pain along with weakness in the back and lower limbs. In cases needing it, pain from the lower back radiates to the hips. The pain can be shooting or stitching type. Pain gets worse from walking and standing. The back feels as if broken. A very characteristic feature is the worsening of pain in early morning around 3 am. This medicine is also indicated when lower back pain occurs after a fall.

5. Lachesis – With Stiffness

Lachesis is indicated when there is drawing pain from the back to the hips along with stiffness. Drawing pain in the lower back prevents movement. It gets worse when rising up from the sitting position. Back pain is accompanied with excessive restlessness with stretching of arms and legs. The lower back feels weak and sprained.  Stiffness is marked in the sacral back that extends to the hip joints. Stiffness gets worse on bending, when lying down, and on beginning to move.

6. Ruta – When Pain From Back Goes Down To Hips And Thighs

This medicine is helpful when pain from the back radiates down to the hips and thighs. This pain gets worse while lying down at night. Ruta is also a useful medicine for back pain occurring after an injury. In such cases, pain worsens from pressure. The pain worsens in the morning before rising. Weakness is felt in the lower back.

7. Kali Bichrome – For Lower Back Pain Extending To Left-Side Hip

It is a very beneficial medicine to help cases of lower back pain extending to the left side hip. Pain in the lower back worsens from movement and stooping in cases needing it. Pain increases at rest and at night. Cutting type of pain is marked in the sacral back which means the lowest part of the back.