In the clinic, I often see patients who present with leg pain, usually in the back of the thigh, or sometimes in the butt and thigh, that turns out to be referred by structures in the lower back.

This is really a function of anatomy. You can see in this image how the nerve resides adjacent to the disc. And also in this image, you can see how a bulging disc can cause nerve root irritation.

Pain is a subjective thing for sure, but it is very real. That sense of tightness in the hamstring, or cramping in the gluteal muscles could very easily be caused by the pressure on the nerve root that innervates that area. Most lumbar disc herniations occur in the lower lumbar spine at L4/5 and L5/S1. These structures innervate the muscles of the butt and the posterior thigh. I can tell you so many stories about individuals who were active healthy people that believed that their leg pain was because of over training, and they spent time stretching to no avail eventually seeking my help.

The key to determining if that hamstring pain is originating in your back is to do a good assessment. Often, you will find that a straight leg raise will screen this issue. You can easily do a self check by sitting upright in a firm chair and stretching one leg straight out in front of you. If the act of straightening causes you to experience pain in your leg, you should probably go and get this checked out by your doctor.

Often, a nerve can be compressed as well as irritated which will usually involve reduced or elevated sensation,  weakness as well as pain. The point is that a good assessment by a medical practitioner is important in order to determine if there is motor weakness because this will often change the course of your treatment.