A Complete Guide to Managing Piriformis Syndrome

For individuals experiencing piriformis syndrome. Can knowing the causes and what it feels like help in diagnosis and treatment?

Managing Piriformis Syndrome

Piriformis syndrome is where spasms occur in the piriformis muscle located in the buttocks. These muscle spasms can cause pain and numbness in the buttocks and the back of the leg. (Cedars Sinai, 2022)

What Is It?

Piriformis syndrome is an irritation of the sciatic nerve from the piriformis muscle. Although the piriformis muscle is small compared to other muscles around the hip and thigh, it supports the hip joint’s external rotation or turning out. The sciatic nerve supplies the lower extremities with motor and sensory functions. The piriformis tendon and sciatic nerve cross each other behind the hip joint in the deep buttock. Both are about one centimeter in diameter. The piriformis muscle spasms can irritate the sciatic nerve, causing sciatica symptoms. (Cedars Sinai, 2022)

Triggers

A piriformis syndrome diagnosis means the piriformis tendon binds or spasms around the sciatic nerve, causing irritation and symptoms. Many doctors and specialists support the theory that when the piriformis muscle and its tendon tighten, this can cause compression and pinch the nerve. This can decrease blood circulation and irritate the nerve due to pressure. (Cass S. P. 2015) Many doctors also believe that piriformis syndrome occurs from anatomic variation of the muscle and tendon. It is thought this muscle-tendon variation irritates the nerve in some, leading to sciatica symptoms.

How It Feels

Common signs and symptoms experienced include (Cass S. P. 2015)

• Pain in the buttocks.
• Pain behind the hip.
• Electric shock pains traveling down the back of the lower extremity.
• Numbness in the lower extremity.
• Tenderness with pressure that often causes pain when sitting.
• Some develop symptoms abruptly, while others gradually increase in symptoms in the back of their thighs.

Most who are diagnosed with piriformis syndrome are generally active individuals who experience increasing difficulty with certain types of physical activity.

Testing

There are no specific tests that accurately diagnose piriformis syndrome. Doctors will order tests, including MRI and nerve conduction studies. Because it can be difficult to diagnose, there are likely many misdiagnosis cases. This means that some with the condition don’t have a piriformis diagnosis. In addition, some with vague hip pain may receive this diagnosis even if they don’t have the condition. (Cass S. P. 2015) An injection is often administered into the piriformis muscle when the diagnosis is uncertain. (Jankovic D. et al., 2013) Performing an injection can help determine the specific location of the discomfort. When an injection is given into the piriformis muscle or tendon, it is administered by ultrasound guidance to ensure the needle delivers medication to the correct location. (Bardowski E. A., and Byrd J. W. T. 2019)

Differential Diagnosis

Some other conditions with buttock pain can have similar symptoms. Other causes can include:

• Radiculopathy/Sciatica
• Herniated discs
• Hip bursitis
• Spinal stenosis

The diagnosis of piriformis syndrome is given when these diagnoses are eliminated as possible causes of pain.

Treatment

Managing piriformis syndrome is quite general, and it is often difficult to recover from. Common treatment and management suggestions include the following. (Jankovic D. et al., 2013)

Rest

• Avoiding activities that cause symptoms for at least a few weeks.

Physical Therapy

• Focuses on stretching and strengthening the hip rotator muscles.

Anti-inflammatory Medication

• To decrease inflammation around the tendon.

Deep Massage

• Used to relax the piriformis muscle and help release the compressed nerve.

Cortisone Injections

• It can help decrease inflammation and swelling.

Botulinum Toxin Injection

• It can paralyze the piriformis muscle to reduce pain and discomfort.

In severe cases, surgery can be performed to loosen the piriformis tendon, known as a piriformis release (Cass S. P. 2015). This surgical procedure is recommended when conservative treatments have been tried for at least six months and other causes of pain have been evaluated and ruled out. Recovery takes several months.

The goal of managing piriformis syndrome is to improve the range of motion and flexibility around the hip and diminish inflammation around the sciatic nerve. Working with a professional chiropractic team can help relieve pain, return individuals to normal function, and expedite healing. Injury Medical Chiropractic and Functional Medicine Clinic works with primary healthcare providers and specialists to develop a customized treatment program through an integrated approach to treating injuries and chronic pain syndromes, improving flexibility, mobility, and agility. If other treatments are needed, Dr. Jimenez has teamed up with top surgeons, clinical specialists, medical researchers, and rehabilitation providers to provide the most effective treatments.

Piriformis Syndrome Treatment Chiropractor

References

Cedars Sinai. Sinai, C. (2022). Piriformis syndrome. www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/p/piriformis-syndrome.html

Cass S. P. (2015). Piriformis syndrome: a cause of nondiscogenic sciatica. Current sports medicine reports, 14(1), 41–44. doi.org/10.1249/JSR.0000000000000110

Jankovic, D., Peng, P., & van Zundert, A. (2013). Brief review: piriformis syndrome: etiology, diagnosis, and management. Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d’anesthesie, 60(10), 1003–1012. doi.org/10.1007/s12630-013-0009-5

Bardowski, E. A., & Byrd, J. W. T. (2019). Piriformis Injection: An Ultrasound-Guided Technique. Arthroscopy techniques, 8(12), e1457–e1461. doi.org/10.1016/j.eats.2019.07.033