Piriformis Syndrome of the Back

Proper stretching, warming up, and use is important to keep muscles healthy and functioning properly. In some cases, muscles are closely tied to major nerve endings, as is the case with piriformis syndrome. A spasm of seizure of the piriformis muscle is a pain most people never forget.

Identification

• The piriformis muscles are a pair of muscles located one each where the leg meets the hip. They are located in the buttocks, and they are the muscles responsible for the outward motion of the leg. They are attached directly to the base of the spine.
  The piriformis muscle is part of the path that the sciatic nerve takes as it travels from the spine to each of the legs. In many cases the sciatic nerve is embedded in the piriformis muscle as it goes through the thigh area.
  If the piriformis muscle becomes tense it can place significant pressure on the sciatic nerve, which causes pain in the lower back and down the affected leg. This is piriformis syndrome.

Types

• Piriformis syndrome happens primarily in the lower back, thigh and leg regions of the affected side of the body.
  Some of the symptoms of the condition are muscle tenderness in the thighs, a burning pain the buttock region and an inability to move the leg with a complete range of motion.

Misconceptions

• Because of the close proximity of the piriformis muscles to the lower back, and because the symptoms of piriformis syndrome closely resemble the symptoms of sciatica, which would indicate spinal issues, piriformis syndrome is often misdiagnosed as a disk herniation.

Effects

• Two of the main causes of piriformis syndrome are athletes who do not properly stretch before competing, and people who spend a great deal of time in a seated position during the course of the day.
  Improper stretching prior to athletic activity, or lack of stretching and warming up, can irritate the piriformis muscle and cause it to tighten up. This places pressure on the sciatic nerve and causes pain.
  People in a seated position for long periods of time are shortening their piriformis muscle to the point where it begins to spasm or contract. This can bring about piriformis syndrome.

Prevention/Solution

• The main treatment for piriformis syndrome is physical therapy that is designed to stretch and loosen the piriformis muscle. In some cases, a therapist may add a deep massage regimen to treatment to help progress.
  If the piriformis muscle is not responding to traditional physical therapy methods, then lidocaine may be directly injected into the piriformis muscle to help increase the effectiveness of therapy.