Your piriformis (say: “peer-ee-form-us”) muscle runs from your lower spine to the top of your thigh bone. Piriformis syndrome occurs when this muscle presses on your sciatic nerve (the nerve that goes from your spinal cord to your buttocks and down the back of each leg). This can cause pain and numbness in your lower body.
The most common symptom of piriformis syndrome is sciatica. This term describes pain, tingling or numbness that starts in your buttocks and runs down the back of your leg. Sciatica may start as an intense, burning pain deep in the buttocks. The pain gets worse during activities that cause the piriformis muscle to press against the sciatic nerve, such as sitting, walking up stairs or running.
Talk to your doctor if any of the following are true:
You can develop piriformis syndrome from everyday activities, such as sitting for long periods of time, climbing stairs, walking or running. You can also develop it after a traumatic event, such as a car accident or a fall.
Your doctor will perform a physical exam. He or she will move the affected leg into several different positions to check your pain level.
If your doctor thinks something other than piriformis syndrome is causing your sciatica, he or she may order additional tests. Computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans cannot diagnose piriformis syndrome, but they may show your doctor if something else is pressing on your sciatic nerve.
Most people who have piriformis syndrome get better with treatment and lifestyle changes. Failure to treat this condition can lead to permanent nerve damage, so be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Self-care tips for piriformis syndrome include the following:
If your pain doesn’t get better with self-treatment, your doctor may inject a steroid medicine where the piriformis muscle and the sciatic nerve meet. This may help reduce your pain.
If you have severe piriformis syndrome, you may need surgery to relieve the pressure on your sciatic nerve.
Once your symptoms improve, you may need to change your activities to avoid developing piriformis syndrome again. The following are some tips to help prevent piriformis syndrome:
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff