By: Samantha Crisafulli, PT, DPT, Cert. DN
Has a doctor ever diagnosed you with Piriformis Syndrome? Are you struggling to know the difference between Piriformis Syndrome and Sciatica? Here are your questions answered:
Piriformis syndrome occurs when your piriformis muscle compresses your sciatic nerve and results in inflammation. It only involves the piriformis muscle pressing on an area of the sciatic nerve in the buttock region. It can cause numbness and pain down the back of your leg, and it can happen on just one side or both. Piriformis syndrome causes only 0.3% to 6% of lower back pain.
Sciatica is typically caused by a herniated disc or spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal). Symptoms tend to affect the lower back and can travel down through the buttocks and legs.
The sciatic nerve is the longest, largest nerve in the body. It travels from the spinal cord, through the buttocks, underneath the piriformis muscle.
The most common piriformis syndrome symptoms are:
- Aching
- Burning
- Numbness
- Pain
- Tingling
- Shooting
These symptoms can result from activities such as:
- Climbing stairs, walking or running without a strong enough piriformis muscle
- Injuring the hip, butt, or leg
- Having tight muscles from lack of physical activity
- Lifting improperly
- Not warming up before activity or stretching properly afterward
- Overexercising
- Sitting for long periods of time
With a referral from your MD, physical therapists will perform a mechanical and musculoskeletal examination of your lower back, hips, and lower extremities. Treatment would consist of soft tissue mobilization, passive stretching and therapeutic exercises, all with the goal of improving mobility, flexibility, and strength to allow you to return to daily activities with decreased compensation and pain.
At Professional Rehabilitation Services, we treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions using the latest in evidence-based therapies provided by highly credentialed physical therapists. Professional Rehabilitation Services has eight convenient locations in Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet, Surfside Beach, Market Common, Myrtle Beach, Carolina Forest, Conway, and Little River. For further information on this or other related topics you can contact Richard DeFalco, DPT, OCS, CSCS, CWcHP at Professional Rehabilitation Services (Myrtle Beach) (843) 839-1300, Brian P. Kinmartin PT, DPT, MTC, STC, OCS, CWcHP (Pawleys Island) (843) 235-0200, Richard A. Owens, MPT, OCS, Cert. SMT, CWcHP (Surfside) (843) 831-0163, Jill P. Phelan, PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Conway) (843) 773-3031, Lisa O'Brien, PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Murrells Inlet) (843) 314-3224, Brandon Stanley, PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Little River) (843) 281-4222, Samantha Crisafulli PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Carolina Forest) (843) 282-0440, Zach Daniels PT, DPT, Cert. DN (Market Commons) (843) 213-6338, and our longs office (843) 491-0388 or visit our website at www.prsrehabservices.com where you can learn more about the company and even download a referral form for your physician to fill out. You can also call and schedule a free 15-minute consultation.
