Pain when sitting can be caused by many conditions, including sciatica, arthritis, disc herniation, poor posture, myofascial pain syndrome, injuries from trauma, and even simply tired muscles. People who sit for long periods of time are particularly susceptible to pain when sitting; people who work at a desk all day, or people who are confined to wheelchairs are likely to experience pain when sitting at some point. The severity of the pain may be cause for a doctor's visit, though in most cases, changes to one's daily routines and sitting habits is enough to remedy the problem.
Myofascial pain syndrome is a condition in which certain areas of the body experience pain. The pain can be severe and it is usually traced back to a trigger point, or part of the body that leads to the pain. Knotted muscles are usually the cause of pain when sitting in this case, and a visit to the doctor can help a sufferer come up with a plan to combat the condition. This condition is still not understood very well, even by professionals, so treatment options will vary and will have mixed results, depending on the sufferer's reaction to the treatments.
Sciatica occurs when the sciatic nerve that runs from the lower back and down the back of each leg becomes compressed for any reason, often leading to aching, sharp pains, numbness, or tingling anywhere along the length of the legs, buttocks, hips, and lower back. This is a common cause of pain when sitting, and it can be caused by tight or inflamed muscles and tendons, or by a herniated disc in the spine. A herniated disc occurs when the spinal disc that sits between two vertebrae bulges, thereby pressing against the nerves that run near the spine. A spinal disc can compress the sciatic nerve, leading to pain when sitting.
Poor posture is a very common cause of pain when sitting, especially among office workers. When the lower back is not adequately supported by a chair, the muscles that support the back can become tired, which will lead to tension in those muscles. The tighter the muscles are, the more discomfort one will feel; those tight muscles can begin pulling on the spine, hips, and other bones and joints, thereby leading to unnatural movements in the body. Getting up from the chair periodically and stretching can help prevent pain and increase blood flow, and using an ergonomic chair can increase support of the lower back, neck, and shoulders.