Buttock Pain Caused by Piriformis Syndrome
Piriformis syndrome is a condition that is new to most people who aren't medical professionals or physical therapists. Piriformis syndrome [http://www.buttockpain.info/buttock-pain-piriformis-syndrome.html] causes a type of buttock pain [http://www.buttockpain.info/] due to a problem with the piriformis muscle, which lies deep in the buttocks under the gluteus maximus.
The most important responsibility of the piriformis muscle is to help you turn your hips.
Pain from piriformis syndrome begins deep in the buttocks, but can travel all the way down to the feet. The pain can be slight, or it may be so severe it's debilitating. It can also cause numbness.
When the piriformis muscle becomes inflamed or injured, it can affect the sciatic nerve (the biggest and widest nerve in the human body), which starts in the back, passes through the buttocks and down through the legs to the feet.
In most people, the sciatic nerve passes under the piriformis muscle. However, this is not universally true. There are people whose sciatic nerve passes directly through the piriformis. Because of a variety of different factors, the piriformis will exert pressure on the sciatic. These factors might include a hereditary condition, bad posture, overuse of the muscle, or of course, injury or damage. When this happens, you can get, literally, a "pain in the butt." The pain can also follow the nerve pathway down through the legs.
Piriformis Syndrome Symptoms
It can be difficult for your doctor to distinguish buttock pain from piriformis syndrome and pain caused by sciatica [http://www.buttockpain.info/buttock-pain-from-sciatica.html].
Typical indications of sciatica and piriformis are very similar. They include:
*Pain which begins deep in the buttocks and the back part of the thigh.
*Pain may or may not travel down to toward the feet.
*There may be streaks of pain going down the legs. Sometimes, numbness may occur in the buttocks and legs. In other cases, it won't.
*Numbness in a foot may occur.
*Pain may result from sitting or standing in one place, even for a short period of time.
Treatment of Piriformis Syndrome
You can probably get a list of helpful exercises from a physical therapist. A lot of the exercises that help relieve piriformis syndrome don't require any special equipment. You can do them at home, or possiby even where you work. These exercises are designed to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve, which is often compressed or damaged in piriformis syndrome cases.
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.
In cases where the pain persists or becomes worse, an injection using a combination of lidocaine (an anesthetic) and cortisone (an anti-inflammatory drug) may be used.
In certain situations, you doctor may recommend botox treatments.
The most important responsibility of the piriformis muscle is to help you turn your hips.
Pain from piriformis syndrome begins deep in the buttocks, but can travel all the way down to the feet. The pain can be slight, or it may be so severe it's debilitating. It can also cause numbness.
When the piriformis muscle becomes inflamed or injured, it can affect the sciatic nerve (the biggest and widest nerve in the human body), which starts in the back, passes through the buttocks and down through the legs to the feet.
In most people, the sciatic nerve passes under the piriformis muscle. However, this is not universally true. There are people whose sciatic nerve passes directly through the piriformis. Because of a variety of different factors, the piriformis will exert pressure on the sciatic. These factors might include a hereditary condition, bad posture, overuse of the muscle, or of course, injury or damage. When this happens, you can get, literally, a "pain in the butt." The pain can also follow the nerve pathway down through the legs.
Piriformis Syndrome Symptoms
It can be difficult for your doctor to distinguish buttock pain from piriformis syndrome and pain caused by sciatica [http://www.buttockpain.info/buttock-pain-from-sciatica.html].
Typical indications of sciatica and piriformis are very similar. They include:
*Pain which begins deep in the buttocks and the back part of the thigh.
*Pain may or may not travel down to toward the feet.
*There may be streaks of pain going down the legs. Sometimes, numbness may occur in the buttocks and legs. In other cases, it won't.
*Numbness in a foot may occur.
*Pain may result from sitting or standing in one place, even for a short period of time.
Treatment of Piriformis Syndrome
You can probably get a list of helpful exercises from a physical therapist. A lot of the exercises that help relieve piriformis syndrome don't require any special equipment. You can do them at home, or possiby even where you work. These exercises are designed to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve, which is often compressed or damaged in piriformis syndrome cases.
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.
In cases where the pain persists or becomes worse, an injection using a combination of lidocaine (an anesthetic) and cortisone (an anti-inflammatory drug) may be used.
In certain situations, you doctor may recommend botox treatments.
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