Is this the cause of your back and hip pain? Let's talk about Psoas Syndrome!

Do you sometimes feel a strange pain in your lower back, waist, or groin? Perhaps this pain increases when you stand or walk. Many people think that this is a normal backache or a pinched nerve. But sometimes the cause of this can be a problem in a very important muscle in our body that we don't talk about much. If this condition is not diagnosed properly, it can bother you for a long time. That's what we're talking about today.

What exactly is Psoas Syndrome?

Simply put, Psoas Syndrome is a painful condition caused by injury or excessive pressure in one or both of the psoas muscles in our body. Sometimes doctors also call it ``Iliopsoas syndrome``.

Now you may be wondering what the psoas muscle is. Think of it like a long bridge connecting our lower back and the top of our hip bones. These two muscles are located on both sides of our spine. This muscle system helps us a lot when we stand, walk, run, lift our legs, and bend forward. So even a small injury to such an important muscle can cause a lot of pain and interfere with our daily activities.

But this is not a very common condition. It is somewhat rare. Often, people with this condition go undiagnosed because their symptoms subside before they see a doctor. Also, the symptoms are very similar to other conditions such as back pain and hernia, so it can sometimes be misdiagnosed. But the good news is that Psoas Syndrome can often be cured with the same treatments as other similar conditions.

What are the symptoms of this?

The main and most common symptom of Psoas Syndrome is pain. You can feel this pain in different places and in different ways. Let's take a look at what it is.

This pain can sometimes be aggravated by what you do. For example, the pain may be worse when you stand up after sitting for a long time , walk , run , or try to stand up straight . Some people may feel the pain travel down their leg. When the pain is severe, some people may limp a little when they walk, or their leg may drag along the ground because it is difficult to put their foot on it.

What causes Psoas Syndrome?

The main reason for this is excessive strain on the muscles in our hip area. This condition can occur especially commonly in those who play sports.

• Sports and exercise: Playing sports that involve repetitive movements is a major cause of this. Imagine if you were a runner or a dancer. During such times, the hip area is constantly under pressure.
• Dance
• Running
• Athletics (especially high jump, hurdles)
• Hockey

• Growing children: This risk is especially high for young children who play sports, as their bodies are growing rapidly, making them more susceptible to muscle damage.

• Surgery: This condition can occur as a temporary side effect in people who have recently undergone hip surgery (especially hip replacement surgery).

• Other causes: Sometimes this condition can occur for no apparent reason. Also, very rarely, Psoas Syndrome can be caused by an infection or cancer elsewhere in the body spreading to this muscle. But these are very rare cases.

How does a doctor find this?

When you go to see a doctor with these symptoms, the first thing he or she will do is examine you thoroughly. This is called a `physical exam`.

The doctor will examine your hips, legs, and back. He will ask you to hold yourself in different positions, move your body, bend your legs, and stretch them. He will carefully observe where and how you feel the pain at this time. He will also ask you questions, such as, "How long has this pain been going on?", "Does the pain get worse when you do something?", "Does it hurt more in the morning or at night?"

Next, the doctor will do what we call a 'Differential Diagnosis'. This means that he will first make sure that you do not have any other diseases that have similar symptoms to yours. Just as the police eliminate suspects one by one from a list to find the real culprit, the doctor will make sure that there are no other diseases before concluding that you have Psoas Syndrome.

Here are some other conditions that show similar symptoms to Psoas Syndrome.

To make sure there are no conditions like this, your doctor may ask you to do some tests.

• X-ray tests: An X-ray of the back or hip is taken to check for bone problems such as arthritis.
• Ultrasound Scan: An ultrasound scan can be performed to check the condition of the muscles and surrounding tissues.
• MRI Scan: If you need to get a clearer picture, a `(Magnetic resonance imaging - MRI)` scan may be recommended.
• Blood tests: A blood test may also be done to check for an infection in the body.

What are the treatments for this?

The best part is that this condition is usually treatable. Treatment depends on the cause of the condition.

1. Rest: The first thing to do is to take a short break from the activity that caused the pain, such as sports or exercise. You need to give your muscles time to heal.

2. Physical Therapy: This is the main and most effective treatment for Psoas Syndrome. A physical therapist will examine your condition and give you a specific set of exercises. These are also called 'psoas stretches' or 'psoas releases'. These exercises work by gradually stretching the tight, constricted psoas muscle and releasing it.

3. Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT): This is also a specialized treatment method. A trained practitioner uses their hands to move muscles and joints properly, restoring balance to the body.

4. Medication: Your doctor may prescribe painkillers or cortisone injections to reduce pain and inflammation.

What is Core Stabilization?

Your physical therapist may recommend a core stabilization program. This involves exercises that strengthen the core muscles, which are the muscles between your spine and pelvis. When these muscles are strengthened, unnecessary stress on the psoas muscle is reduced.

Usually, with this treatment, the pain will gradually subside within a month or two, and you can return to your normal life and sports activities. However, do not start strenuous exercise suddenly without consulting your doctor.

Questions you can ask the doctor

When you visit your doctor, don't hesitate to ask any questions you have. Here are some questions you can ask:

• "Doctor, do I really have Psoas Syndrome, or is this another problem?"
• "Will I need to have any scans (imaging tests)?"
• "What treatments do I need? Will I need physical therapy?"
• "How long should I avoid playing or practicing?"
• "What are the safest exercises I can do until this condition heals?"

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