At some point, each person has experienced spasms or cramps in their buttocks. But the problem is that most people think it could be due to prolonged sitting on an uncomfortable seat. They are not aware that it could be due to a condition referred to as piriformis syndrome, which can worsen to the extent that you cannot participate in physical activities. In this case, you are supposed to seek medical care to help alleviate the symptoms of this condition, enabling you to resume your chores. Therefore, if you are experiencing the named symptoms and suspect that it might be piriformis syndrome, Newtown piriformis syndrome specialists provide a solution to your problem. The specialists offer individualized treatment plans to help alleviate pain among other symptoms using minimally invasive procedures. Learn about piriformis syndrome and its treatments below.
What is piriformis syndrome?
It refers to a condition affecting piriformis muscles located in your buttocks. Piriformis muscle can spasm, resulting in buttock pain that does not subside. The spasms can also irritate the sciatic nerve that passes through your back down to your legs. Any concern with the sciatic nerve can cause sciatica, characterized by tingling, pain, and numbness in your feet, hips, or legs. Typically, piriformis syndrome’s underlying cause is unknown, but muscle spasms can result in inflammation, injury, or bleeding.
What are the symptoms of piriformis syndrome?
Usually, persistent tenderness in your buttocks is the early warning sign of piriformis syndrome. In other cases, you also experience the symptoms of sciatica that include pain radiating from your back into your legs. Additional signs of piriformis syndrome include decreased range of motion of the hip joint, calf, and thigh pain, severe pain, especially after sitting for a while, and pain in your legs or back when climbing stairs. You can find relief from your pain when you lie supine.
How can you treat piriformis syndrome?
Your care providers begin by reviewing your medical history and symptoms to help in diagnosis. A physical examination helps examine your buttocks and lower back, noting any tenderness or swelling. And after coming up with a diagnosis, your caregiver creates a customized treatment plan for you. Your treatment may include any of the following:
-
Muscle relaxants
Your health care provider may recommend muscle relaxants to help your piriformis muscles relax, thus alleviating pain, among other discomforts.
-
Anti-inflammatory injections
Anti-inflammatory injections help alleviate inflammation and pain, especially if your pain prevents you from taking part in physical therapy.
-
Chiropractic and acupuncture treatment
The above treatments are usually recommended when your pain is caused by sciatica and piriformis syndrome. In other cases, they are also given to relax the affected muscles, thus improving blood circulation in the region.
-
Radiofrequency ablation
Typically, radiofrequency ablation is used when piriformis syndrome is causing chronic pain. The high-frequency energy is administered using a needle to damage a part of the nerve tissue, preventing pain signals from reaching your brain.
Piriformis syndrome can cause excess pain that can interrupt you from participating in your daily chores. Therefore, if you are experiencing piriformis syndrome symptoms and seek treatment, you can get started by calling Performance Pain and Sports Medicine today.
