HomeAnswersCritical care physicianirritable bowel syndromeWhy is there pain in buttock and thigh in an IBS patient?

Why is there pain in buttock and thigh in an IBS patient?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

iCliniq medical review team

Published At July 31, 2018
Reviewed AtDecember 1, 2023

Patient's Query

Hello doctor,

This case of suspected IBS is related to my wife who is 34 years old. Symptoms mentioned below in sequence since seven months back are:

  1. Stabbing pain in lower part of left buttocks only which radiated down to the knee. The timing of pain occurrence is not specific, sometimes during the day, suddenly while getting down from the car, while walking along the road and then would go off suddenly.
  2. At times, the pain was severe that made her stay awake at midnight and she could not walk properly. This happened for one week, this would not be eased with Voveran gel or other oil massages.
  3. No morning stiffness observed.
  4. Abdominal pain and bloating followed in the morning.
  5. Often all the above symptoms would lessen after passing stool or gas and would worsen with a treadmill exercise (pain would start).
  6. She was taken to a GP who treated her for gastritis but symptoms of stabbing pain were not relievedwhich also occurred in the daytime but did not happen night but the abdominal pain was there with bloating.
  7. She also visited a gastro, who suspected IBS. Gave medicine for nerve pain (no NSAIDs), symptoms of gas, etc., reduced. Stabbing pain relived mostly, no abdominal pain.
  8. X-ray of SI and spine were fine.
  9. ANA was fine.
  10. Only ESR was high 74 but three months later it was 54.

Currently, she is taking Levosulpiride, Esomeprazole Domsta, and Lactifiber NP.

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Her symptoms suggest either meralgia paresthesia or nerve compression of L4 L5. Yes, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) or gastritis may be associated.In such case, my recommendations would get her an MRI LS spine. Most of the time X-rays do not show nerve compression. I would recommend only the following medications:

  1. A combination of Pantoprazole and Levosulpride once a day.
  2. A combination of Pregabalin and Nortryptilline once daily at night.

Get her MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and write back to me with reports.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

As suggested, she is taking Levosulpiride (75 mg) and Esomeprazole (40 mg), is it fine for now? After the current strip exhausts, I shall switch over to Pantoprazole and Levosulpride as you had advised. As for Pregabalin and Nortryptyline, she is taking the same under the brand name Neurotrat NP. Some query:

  1. My doctor (gastro) told me that she would require a colonoscopy as her USG suggested a mild mural thickness of 7 mm of terminal ileum and caecum. How serious is this? Can this be cured using the drug? Is it a gastric ulcer or pointing to something serious?
  2. She is a thyroid patient taking Thyroxin 25 mg and under control. But her triglycerides are 167. Should she be taking medicine?
  3. Now her IBS and pain systems have gone for the last 20 days or so and the pain as described earlier has subsided. Do we need to worry?
  4. Any other concerns? Her urine flow is fine, with no diarrhea, and no visible blood in the stool, the color of the stool is fine, and nature is semi-solid.
  5. Her ESR is also reducing (from 74 to 54).

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Following are your answers:

  1. Get a repeat ultrasound, and if mucosal thickening is there, get a colonoscopy. A lot many times, this is a normal finding.
  2. Yes, she should continue with the same dosage.
  3. It is a good sign. So, continue the medicine.
  4. Not a problem.
  5. ESR is a non-specific marker and carries not much significance in relation to IBS.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

As you said before, advising repeat USG, a lot many times, is a normal finding. It is true. No thickening of the terminal ileum was observed. Following the USG, our doctor advised us to stop the above medicine and consult an ortho (for pain in the buttock or inner thigh, or calf only left side). He suggested Esomeprazole with Domperidone with Paracetamol (700 mg SR and 300 mg IR) and also told me to continue Pregabalin and Nortriptyline. She said that this pain happens in women and is nothing serious. But it is over a week since her pain is increasing with walking and reducing with rest. Could not follow your advice as MRI with a good doctor is difficult to access in this part of the world. Moreover, her menstrual cycle got delayed by 10 days, and my query:

  1. Is it fine to go for MRI and test for serum RA and anti-CCP and ESR blood tests suggested by Orthopedic?
  2. She is taking Betamethasone (0.5 mg) two times daily (Betnalan 0.5 mg) for the last few days and her pain frequency has reduced by 90 %.
  3. Will nerve compression respond to steroids?
  4. What is the disease prognosis?
  5. Should we visit the Rheumatologist or neurologist (medicine) for an MRI of LS and SI?
  6. Will the blood tests be fine with her menstrual cycle?

Please advise.

Hi,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

My high recommendation for you would be to try treatment without using oral steroids. Steroids can be used for the treatment but only for a short course. I would also recommend getting MRI. Once you show me the MRI report, I would then be able to guide you that you need a neurologist or an orthopedic doctor. Yes, nerve compression does respond well to steroids. Moreover, the treatment prognosis is overall good.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Anshul Varshney
Dr. Anshul Varshney

Internal Medicine

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