Pain felt at the back of the thigh, referred hamstring pain, originates from the lower back, sacroiliac joint, or buttock muscles.
Medically reviewed by Dr Chaminda Goonetilleke, 21st Feb. 2022
What Does Referred Pain Mean?
Referred pain is the sensation you experience when you feel pain in one area of your body, yet the root cause is in another location. For instance, you could feel pain in the back of your thigh due to an injury in your lower back or pelvis. The pain then moves down into the leg via the sciatic nerve.
Symptoms include:
- Pain can either appear suddenly or gradually develop over time.
- Typically, referred pain is less severe than a hamstring strain, but it may still cause acute twinges.
- Clinicians use the slump test to measure tension in the sciatic nerve. A positive result from this test likely indicates referred pain, though not always.
What causes referred hamstring pain?
Prolapsed disc (slipped disc): The fluid-like substance from a prolapsed disc in the spine puts pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing pain radiating into the leg.
Torn muscles: A muscle strain in the lower back can lead to swelling or muscle spasms that impinge on the sciatic nerve, resulting in leg pain. Patients may have a history of lower back pain, particularly originating from the lumbar spine.
Piriformis syndrome: This occurs when the piriformis muscle or other lateral rotator muscles in the buttocks impinge on the sciatic nerve, causing referred hamstring pain.
Treatment
To treat referred hamstring pain, you need to identify and address the underlying cause. Apply a deep tissue massage to the lower back, buttocks, and hamstrings to help loosen the area and restore complete functionality.
Additionally, incorporating stretching exercises for the lower back and buttock muscles can provide further benefits.
