Many conditions can cause rear hip pain. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hip-related pain may not always be felt directly over the hip. In some cases, hip pain may be felt behind or in front of the hip. In other cases, hip pain may be felt in the thigh or groin. Some types of hip pain are caused by structures within the hip joint, while other types of hip pain are caused by structures in the lower back or pelvis.
SI Joint Dysfunction
Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction can cause rear hip pain. According to the Spine Health website, the pain caused by SI joint dysfunction may be similar to the pain caused by a lumbar or lower back disc herniation. SI joint dysfunction pain may be felt in the lower back, posterior hip and leg, and it's most commonly seen in young and middle-aged women. The SI joint is a small and strong joint that lies adjacent to the spine. The SI joint connects the triangular-shaped sacrum with the pelvic bones, and it acts as a shock-absorbing structure. The Sports Injury Clinic website states that common signs and symptoms associated with SI joint dysfunction include lower back pain or discomfort that radiates into the buttocks or the groin, difficulty turning over in bed, difficulty getting in and out of cars, lower back stiffness after periods of immobility and tenderness in the sacroiliac ligaments.
Hip Bursitis
Hip bursitis can cause rear or posterior hip pain. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) states that hip bursitis, including trochanteric bursitis, is an inflammation of a bursa--a small fluid-filled sac that helps decrease friction between tendons or ligaments and bone. The greater trochanter of the hip is a bony area in the lateral hip into which numerous muscle tendons insert. Inflammation of the bursa that lies between these tendons and the underlying bone can cause trochanteric bursitis. Common signs and symptoms associated with hip bursitis include sharp and intense pain at the point of the hip that may extend around the hip, pain in the affected area that's worse at night or when lying on the involved side and hip pain that's worse with long bouts of walking, stair climbing or squatting. According to the AAOS, certain risk factors can increase the likelihood of hip bursitis, such as overuse of the hip, hip injuries and certain spine diseases.
Piriformis Syndrome
Piriformis syndrome can cause rear hip pain. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), piriformis syndrome is a rare neuromuscular disorder in which a tight piriformis muscle--a pear-shaped muscle located in the gluteal region--compresses or inflames the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is the longest and thickest nerve in the body. A compressed or irritated sciatic nerve will cause pain, numbness or tingling in the buttocks and posterior hip and back of the leg, along the path of the sciatic nerve as it travels toward the foot. Certain activities may cause piriformis syndrome-related pain to worsen, such as sitting for prolonged periods, ascending stairs, walking or running. The NINDS reports the prognosis or outlook for a person with piriformis syndrome is good, which means once the condition has been treated appropriately, a person will experience a reduction in symptoms and will be able to resume normal activities of daily living.
