How do you know if you have piriformis syndrome or sciatica?
Both diagnoses involve the sciatica nerve but where the compression occurs differs. With sciatica, the nerve is compressed exiting the lumbar spine. With piriformis syndrome, the piriformis- a muscle extending from the sacrum to the femur- compresses the sciatic nerve in the buttocks.
*photo from spineuniverse.com
Pain usually begins in the buttocks with tingling, or numbness and in some cases can refer into the leg. Prolonged sitting, running, stair climbing, and other similar movements often trigger pain when the piriformis is tight and irritated.
Specific exercises and mobility drills can help decrease the compression on the sciatic nerve and ultimately alleviate symptoms. Then gradually loading the tissue will allow someone to get back to whatever activity they were limited by due to their pain.
If you've been dealing with hip or leg pain, contact us so we can learn more about your situation. Email: info@powerfulpt.com or fill out the form below: