It may have appeared to you as a youngster that you were never in pain. However, pains and aches may occur more frequently than you would expect as you age. You can even feel the pain you did not realize was conceivable. One of these could be severe pain where your buttocks join your hip joint. Are you having muscle spasms in addition to the pain? If so, you could be suffering from piriformis syndrome. At Performance Pain and Sports Medicine, with locations across Texas and New Jersey, the certified pain management experts provide extensive diagnosis and care for piriformis syndrome. Schedule a consultation with a Newtown piriformis syndrome specialist to discuss your symptoms and the best course of treatment.
What Exactly Is Piriformis Syndrome?
The piriformis muscle is a deep buttock muscle that goes from your lower spine to the apex of your thigh bone. The piriformis and five other muscles are involved in posterior hip rotation. With piriformis syndrome, the piriformis muscle pushes on the sciatic nerve, triggering numbness and discomfort in your lower body.
Piriformis syndrome is rare, with less than 200,000 Americans diagnosed annually. The numbness or tingling sensations in your buttocks could be the first sign of piriformis syndrome. The pain could then turn into an intense, one-sided radiating discomfort that runs down your leg and into your foot.
Additional symptoms of piriformis syndrome entail:
- Buttocks tingling, pain, or weakness
- Muscle spasms
- Sharp discomfort once you rotate your hip
- Problems exerting your body weight on one side or sitting
Though the reason is unclear, this problem is more prevalent in females.
What Are The Causes Of Piriformis Syndrome?
If you are struggling with piriformis syndrome, you could be wondering what triggers it. Typically, the problem results from pressure on your body’s biggest nerve, the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from your lower back down each leg, passing through your pelvis.
If the sciatic nerve is injured, the neighboring tissues could spasm and become swollen. Thus, you might experience sharp, severe pain in your piriformis muscle.
Some of the most prevalent reasons for piriformis syndrome include:
- Trauma
- Foot issues
- Pelvic misalignment
- Incorrect spine alignment
- Exercising vigorously
- Long hours of sitting
- A past hip surgery
Piriformis syndrome is sometimes mistaken for a hamstring strain or ruptured disc. The best approach to correctly assess your discomfort and initiate therapy is to meet with Performance Sports and Pain Medicine specialists.
When Should You Consult A Doctor?
Early management in the case of back pain minimizes the risk of further problems and restores function. Reach out to a specialist if you experience:
- Sudden, excruciating pain
- Persistent pain for several weeks
- Leg numbness or weakness
- Pain that develops as a result of an injury
There is no reason to put up with the discomfort of piriformis syndrome when therapy is available. Performance Sports and Pain Medicine experts offer an accurate diagnosis of your condition and develop a care plan that best suits your unique requirements. Care options available for piriformis syndrome include muscle relaxers, anti-inflammatory injections, radiofrequency ablation, acupuncture, and chiropractic care. Make an appointment online or by calling the office to determine the right treatment for you.