Butt-to-toe tendonopathy is generally considered to be sciatica, which can be caused by a variety of conditions such as herniated discs, lumbosacral hyperplastic spondylitis, sacralization of the lumbar spine, and lesions of the lumbosacral plexus.
The sciatic nerve is the main nerve trunk innervating the lower limbs, and sciatica refers to pain within the sciatic nerve pathway and its distribution area.
Sciatica is divided into two categories: primary and secondary. Primary sciatica is of unknown cause and is relatively rare in clinical practice.
Secondary sciatica includes radicular sciatica or dry sciatica. Common causes of radicular sciatica include lumbar disc herniation, lumbosacral proliferative spondylitis, lumbar sacralization, occult spina bifida combined with 5th lumbar spinous process hypertrophy, congenital spinal stenosis, arachnoiditis of various causes and intradural tumors.
Dry sciatica is caused by adjacent lesions and lumbosacral plexus lesions, such as sacroiliac joint and hip arthritis, pelvic inflammatory disease and tumors, diabetes, trauma, arterial endarteritis of the lower extremities, and inappropriate injection site of the buttocks, etc. Dry sciatica can also be caused.
Treatment of sciatica should be based on a clear diagnosis. Most of the patients are from the lumbar spine, and doctors may first recommend conservative treatment, including rest, lumbar exercises, medication, and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). For emergencies or if conservative treatment does not work doctors may recommend surgery.
When pain occurs in the tendons from the buttocks to the feet, it is recommended to seek prompt medical attention to clarify the specific cause of the problem and then treat it.