what is priformis syndrome?
Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes buttock pain.
The piriformis muscle can also irritate the nearby sciatic nerve and cause pain, numbness and tingling along the back of the leg and into the foot (similar to sciatic pain).The piriformis muscle runs behind the hip joint and aids in external hip rotation, or turning your leg outward. The catch here is that the piriformis crosses over the sciatic nerve.
The piriformis muscle can become tight from, for example, too much sitting (a problem many working people can relate to).The muscle can also be strained by spasm or overuse.
In piriformis syndrome, this tightness or spasm causes the muscle to compress and irritate the sciatic nerve. This brings on lower-back and buttock pain, sometimes severe.
The diagnosis is tricky because piriformis syndrome can very easily be confused with sciatica.The difference between these diagnoses is that traditional sciatica is generally caused by some spinal issue, like a compressed lumbar disc.
Piriformis syndrome becomes the go-to diagnosis when sciatica is present with no discernible spinal cause.Runners, cyclists and rowers are the athletes most at risk for piriformis syndrome. They engage in pure forward movement, which can weaken hip adductors and abductors, the muscles that allow us to open and close our legs.Throw in some weak glutes, and all those poorly conditioned muscles put extra strain on the piriformis. And you’ve got a painful problem.
Another risk for runners: Overpronating (when your foot turns inward) can cause the knee to rotate on impact.
The piriformis fires to help prevent the knee from rotating too much, which can lead to overuse and tightening of the muscle.
Is there any treatment for piriformis syndrome?
Unfortunately, the treatment of piriformis syndrome is quite general, and often this is a difficult problem to recover from. Some treatment suggestions are:
Physical Therapy - Emphasis on stretching and strengthening the hip rotator muscles Rest - Avoid the activities that cause symptoms for at least a few weeks
Anti-Inflammatory Medication - To decrease inflammation around the tendon
Deep Massage - Advocated by some physicians
On some occasions, when these treatment fail, patients have surgery to release, or loosen, the piriformis muscle tendon.
This surgery is not a small procedure, and generally considered the last resort if a lengthy period of conservative treatment does not solve the problem.
Prevention of Piriformis Syndrome
If pain is caused by sitting or certain activities, try to avoid positions that trigger pain. Rest, ice, and heat may help relieve symptoms.A doctor or physical therapist can suggest a program of exercises and stretches to help reduce sciatic nerve compression.
Some health care providers may recommend anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, or injections with a corticosteroid or anesthetic.
Other therapies such as iontophoresis, which uses a mild electric current, and injection with botulinum toxin (botox) may be used.
Using the paralytic properties of the botulinum toxin, botox injections can relieve muscle tightness and sciatic nerve compression to minimize pain.Some studies have found Botox to be more effective than corticosteroids.
Piriformis syndrome is a condition in which the piriformis muscle, located in the buttock region, spasms and causes buttock pain.
The piriformis muscle can also irritate the nearby sciatic nerve and cause pain, numbness and tingling along the back of the leg and into the foot (similar to sciatic pain).The piriformis muscle runs behind the hip joint and aids in external hip rotation, or turning your leg outward. The catch here is that the piriformis crosses over the sciatic nerve.
The piriformis muscle can become tight from, for example, too much sitting (a problem many working people can relate to).The muscle can also be strained by spasm or overuse.
In piriformis syndrome, this tightness or spasm causes the muscle to compress and irritate the sciatic nerve. This brings on lower-back and buttock pain, sometimes severe.
The diagnosis is tricky because piriformis syndrome can very easily be confused with sciatica.The difference between these diagnoses is that traditional sciatica is generally caused by some spinal issue, like a compressed lumbar disc.
Piriformis syndrome becomes the go-to diagnosis when sciatica is present with no discernible spinal cause.Runners, cyclists and rowers are the athletes most at risk for piriformis syndrome. They engage in pure forward movement, which can weaken hip adductors and abductors, the muscles that allow us to open and close our legs.Throw in some weak glutes, and all those poorly conditioned muscles put extra strain on the piriformis. And you’ve got a painful problem.
Another risk for runners: Overpronating (when your foot turns inward) can cause the knee to rotate on impact.
The piriformis fires to help prevent the knee from rotating too much, which can lead to overuse and tightening of the muscle.
Is there any treatment for piriformis syndrome?
Unfortunately, the treatment of piriformis syndrome is quite general, and often this is a difficult problem to recover from. Some treatment suggestions are:
Physical Therapy - Emphasis on stretching and strengthening the hip rotator muscles Rest - Avoid the activities that cause symptoms for at least a few weeks
Anti-Inflammatory Medication - To decrease inflammation around the tendon
Deep Massage - Advocated by some physicians
On some occasions, when these treatment fail, patients have surgery to release, or loosen, the piriformis muscle tendon.
This surgery is not a small procedure, and generally considered the last resort if a lengthy period of conservative treatment does not solve the problem.
Prevention of Piriformis Syndrome
If pain is caused by sitting or certain activities, try to avoid positions that trigger pain. Rest, ice, and heat may help relieve symptoms.A doctor or physical therapist can suggest a program of exercises and stretches to help reduce sciatic nerve compression.
Some health care providers may recommend anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, or injections with a corticosteroid or anesthetic.
Other therapies such as iontophoresis, which uses a mild electric current, and injection with botulinum toxin (botox) may be used.
Using the paralytic properties of the botulinum toxin, botox injections can relieve muscle tightness and sciatic nerve compression to minimize pain.Some studies have found Botox to be more effective than corticosteroids.