Is Piriformis Syndrome Causing Your Buttock Pain?
Is Piriformis Syndrome Causing Your Buttock Pain
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Piriformis syndrome is a condition involving nerves and muscles in the buttock area that's unfamiliar to most people. Piriformis syndrome causes a type of buttock pain experienced by individuals who have damaged or injured their piriformis muscle. This muscle can be found in the buttocks under the gluteus maximus.
The piriformis is one of the major muscles you use when you turn your hips.
Pain from this condition begins deep in the buttocks, but can travel all the way down to the feet. The pain can be minor, or it can be so severe it's debilitating. It can also cause numbness.
Any injury or inflammation of the piriformis can also affect the sciatic nerve, which starts in the lower back and extends down to the feet.
Normally, the piriformis is located just above the sciatic nerve. However, this is not universally true. There are people whose sciatic nerve passes right through the piriformis. Injury, overuse, bad posture, or a congenital abnormality may cause the muscle to exert pressure on the sciatic nerve. When this happens, you can get, literally, a "pain in the butt." The pain can also follow the nerve pathway down through the legs.
Symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome
Your doctor may have a difficult time determining if your buttock pain comes from piriformis syndrome or sciatica.
Typical indications of sciatica and piriformis resemble each other quite a bit. They include:
Pain starting in the buttocks and the back part of the thigh.
Pain may travel all the way down to the feet, but it may not
Streaks of pain may occur in the legs. Sometimes, numbness may occur in the buttocks and legs. In other cases, it won't.
Injury or compression of the sciatic nerve sometimes causes numbness in the foot.
Even sitting or standing in one place for short periods can cause buttock pain.
What To Do About Piriformis Syndrome
You can talk to a physical therapist who can recommend exercises. Many of these can be done in the convenience of your home or office. They don't require any special equipment. The purpose of these exercises is to reduce or eliminate pressure on the sciatic nerve.
Hydrotherapy, massage, and ultrasound may also be recommended.
Since piriformis syndrome is often the result of inflammation, your doctor may recommend over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
If you pain persists or gets worse, your doctor may suggest an injection. Usually this injection would consist of a combination of lidocaine and cortisone.
In certain instances, you doctor may suggest botox treatments.
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