Your sciatic nerve, which runs from your spine down through your buttocks and into your legs, can cause several pain problems.
One commonly known sciatic nerve problem is sciatica, caused by a herniated disc or other spinal problem. But you can also suffer from symptoms of pain or numbness related to piriformis syndrome, occurring when your piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve.
At Total Spine Institute, Dr. Andrew Fox, Dr. Ryan Mattie, and our team of interventional spine and pain management experts can diagnose and effectively treat your piriformis syndrome, as well as other conditions related to the sciatic and other spinal nerves.
When you seek treatment at our Sherman Oaks and Calabasas, California, offices, here’s the information we want you to have.
Your piriformis is a narrow, flat muscle that connects your lower spine to the top of your legs, running down both sides of your body, typically above your sciatic nerve. You rely on this muscle for most of your lower body movements! But, if something goes wrong, you might look at additional nerve-related symptoms in the form of piriformis syndrome.
You can develop piriformis syndrome due to an injury, scar tissue, muscle spasms, or swelling in your piriformis muscle. Maybe your piriformis isn’t strong, and you’ve been increasing the amount of walking, running, or climbing you’ve been doing, resulting in stress. You can also suffer from piriformis syndrome as a result of muscle tightness due to inactivity.
If the piriformis muscle presses abnormally on the sciatic nerve, causing inflammation, you may be troubled by persistent symptoms of numbness or pain in your hip, posterior, or upper leg. Some people also describe aching, tingling, and burning sensations.
You might feel symptoms on one or both sides of your body. And, your symptoms might worsen after long periods of sitting or walking, running, or climbing stairs.
The good news is, piriformis syndrome is often a temporary condition. Once the issue with your muscle resolves, so will your symptoms. Many cases resolve after just a few days and weeks of conservative care, mainly rest. You may also benefit from treatment options, including:
Surgical treatment is rarely necessary for piriformis syndrome.
You might need to look at your physical routines to prevent recurrence. Maybe you need to warm up more thoroughly before getting active. Or, perhaps you need to work with your provider at Total Spine Institute to put together a strength training program for your piriformis. You might also need to make changes at work, especially if you sit for long periods.
It can be a challenge to diagnose piriformis syndrome. That’s why you want to work with knowledgeable spinal experts like the team at Total Spine Institute, who can rule out other potential causes of your symptoms using diagnostic testing and thorough physical examination.
If you have pain, numbness, or tingling in your lower body, contact the Total Spine Institute online or over the phone today to schedule your initial consultation appointment.
