One might feel a weird feeling in buttocks sometimes it can feel like a tingle or numbness which lasts just a few minutes after sitting on a hard chair for a long period it’s not uncommon and mostly not a cause for concern. If this weird feeling in buttocks or this numbness is ongoing or is accompanied by other symptoms, like leg or back pain, a visit to the doctor is must . Sometimes this numbness in the buttocks can be caused by a certain medical condition, like piriformis syndrome or by a pinched nerve. Numbness which comes on suddenly or is accompanied by the loss of bladder control or bowel movement or difficulty breathing can indicate a serious medical problem. If you want to know all about causes treatment and everything related to weird feeling in buttocks in this article I have tried to explain it all
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What are the causes of weird feeling in buttocks?
There are number of conditions that can cause weird feeling in buttocks. These conditions can range from a pinched nerve or a fracture in the spine to more complex conditions like fibromyalgia or different types of arthritis or some other type of disease.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a type of pain which is present along the sciatic nerve path. It’s mostly caused by compression of the nerve root due to a herniated disk or bone spur , this nerve compression can take place within or outside the spinal canal and typically in the lumbar spine. The two common symptoms are numbness and pain in buttocks. However, sciatica pain can radiate to any part of the nerve, from the buttock down the back of the leg and sometimes even below the knee. The pain is typically described as a burning or stabbing type in nature . One may also experience following:
- Lower back pain
- Numbness or weakness in the leg too
- Pain that gets worse while coughing
Piriformis syndrome
Piriformis syndrome is very rare neuromuscular disorder, however some research suggests that it’s often overlooked because it causes similar symptoms like the ones other common conditions cause, like that of sciatica or a slipped disc. There are some people who are diagnosed with low back pain but actually have piriformis syndrome. It happens when the piriformis muscle which is a narrow muscle in the buttocks, gets irritated or compresses the sciatic nerve. Other symptoms include following:
- Pain which runs down one leg or both legs
- Feeling of numbness and tingling that extends down the leg.
- Pain in the buttocks which gets worse with activity or prolonged sitting
Cauda equina syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome is a very serious condition which occurs when a bundle of nerves in the lower part of the spinal cord called, cauda equina, get compressed. These bunch of nerves are responsible for the sending and receiving of information to and from the pelvis, legs, and feet. Cauda equina syndrome can lead to incontinence and sometimes permanent paralysis. It is mostly caused by a herniated disk that happens in the lumbar spine, however can also be caused by other spinal conditions which compress the nerves, like stenosis, spinal tumors, and some trauma or other complications from a spinal surgery.
Other symptoms of cauda equina include following:
- Numbness in the buttocks
- Numbness in the groin area or inner thighs
- Pain or weakness in one leg or in both legs
- Sudden bladder issues, like incontinence or inability to urinate
- Loss of bowel control
If in case one experiences any of these symptoms, he should seek emergency medical treatment that is urgent surgery is mostly required to reduce the risk of permanent damage as it’s a serious issue.
Ankylosing spondylitis
It’s an inflammatory disease which mainly affects the vertebrae, however can also affect other parts of the body, often eyes. As the disease progresses with time, some vertebrae might fuse leading to less flexibility in the spine . This disease can also affect the ribs and make breathing hard. The associated symptoms usually develop between the ages of 17 and 45, and not to mention it affects more men than women. Unfortunately there is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, however there are treatments available to help in slowing down the progression of the disease and manage the symptoms to some extent. Early symptoms may include following:
- Dull pain in the lower back
- Pain in the buttocks
- Pain and stiffness which gets worse in the morning and during the night
- Mild fever
- Loss of appetite
- With time pain progresses and becomes persistent and may spread to the ribs and up the spine to the neck
Fibromyalgia
This is a medical condition which is characterized by chronic muscle pain and this pain is widespread. The cause of this condition is still unknown till date , however it’s more common in women, and there are few risk factors too like rheumatic disease and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Other common symptoms of fibromyalgia include following:
- numbness and tingling
- joint stiffness
- extreme fatigue
- difficulty sleeping
- concentration issues
- headaches
- depression
- Numbness in buttocks area groin, and legs
Sitting
Sitting in the same position for prolonged period of time can sometimes cause a weird sensation or numbness in the buttocks. This feeling should only last a few minutes and the improve when a person gets up and moves around. However Piriformis syndrome may also cause pain or numbness which is worse during sitting.
Epidural
Receiving an epidural during delivery can cause weird feeling in buttocks sometimes even may lead to numbness which is rare and only affects less than 1 percent of women in the world. The specific cause of the numbness of buttock in this case is not known well , but some believe that it may be caused due to perforation of the cutaneous nerve in the pelvis during delivery, or due to lack of blood flow to the nerves which is caused by being immobile for an extended period after getting the epidural.
Spinal stenosis
This condition happens when the spinal canal gradually narrows, which puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots inside leading to numbness in buttock. A number of other conditions can cause spinal stenosis, but the most common one is osteoarthritis.
Herniated disk
A disk can becomes herniated if the outer layer tears, which lets some of the inner material slip out leading to disk. A herniated disk has capability that it can press on nearby nerves leading to pain, numbness, and weakness in buttock or lower back . If the affected disk is in the lower back area that is lumbar spine one will likely feel the pain in the buttocks only
What are the modes of treatment for different causes of weird feeling in buttocks?
- Treatment weird feeling or numbness in the buttocks can vary depending on the cause of the symptoms. Most of the time, if we talk about numbness it’s the result of a compressed nerve, though different conditions may cause pressure on a nerve like Piriformis syndrome, sciatica, herniated disk. The main goal of treatment for these conditions is to improve flow the blood and reduce inflammation around the trapped nerve in particular area . Treatment may include following:
- NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen
- applying cold and heat pads
- physical therapy
- oral or some epidural corticosteroids
- Surgery may be needed if conservative treatment options don’t relieve the pain and other symptoms or if the nerve compression leads to cauda equine syndrome
- Pain management medications and self care at home to reduce stress are the two main treatments for fibromyalgia. This can include following: over-the-counter and prescription pain medication like aregabalin and duloxetine, Some antidepressants , antianxiety medications and even exercise.
- Ankylosing spondylitis treatment specifically depends on the severity of the condition and other associated complications, and can change as the disease progresses . It includes following: NSAIDs, some biologic medications like secukinumab and adalimumab , physical therapy and sometimes surgery
When to see a doctor for weird feeling in buttocks?
Any weird feeling in buttock be it numbness or any other feeling which comes on suddenly or doesn’t resolve after getting up and moving around should be evaluated by the doctor. If any person experiences loss of bladder or bowel control or lose feeling in the face, arms, or legs, emergency team should be called as it is very serious could be cauda equina syndrome which is irreversible
Takeaway
A short brief period of tingling or any numbness in the buttocks after sitting for a prolonged time which resolves after one gets up and moves around is probably not a cause for concern. However numbness which can’t be explained and isn’t relieved by changing positions can be caused by a compressed nerve in the spine or another underlying serious medical condition which needs intervention .