Piriformis Syndrome Information

Piriformis Syndrome Information

Piriformis syndrome, also called pseudosciatic, is a rarely diagnosed neuromuscular disorder occurring when the sciatic nerve is compressed or otherwise irritated by the piriformis muscle. It’s one of many causes of lower back pain and is often superficially difficult to distinguish from other causes of lower back pain, which may account for why it’s so diagnostically rare.


 

Piriformis Syndrome

Anatomy As It Relates To Piriformis Syndrome

The piriformis muscle, a pear-shaped muscle in the gluteal region of the leg, functions to abduct and externally rotate the thigh. In most bodies, the sciatic nerve passes inferior to (underneath) this muscle as it exit’s the posterior pelvis. In a few people, the nerve will pass through the piriformis, which further places them at risk for pirformis syndrome, or above, which has no impact on pirformis syndrome. When the piriformis muscle becomes tightened or inflamed, it can compress, irritate, or entrap the sciatic nerve where it emerges from the piriformis to pass over hip rotator muscles, thereby causing pain in the posterior thigh and leg, gluteal region, and lateral portion of the foot.

What Causes Piriformis Syndrome

Most often, this entrapment, irritation, or compression of the sciatic nerve is a secondary result of trauma to the gluteal region, such as a fall or being struck. When a trauma occurs, the gluteal region responds by releasing chemicals spurring an inflammatory response and/or a hematoma forms. Trauma accounts for about 50% of piriformis syndrome cases. Other causative factors might include any of the following:

* local tumor or cyst
* Morton's toe
*overpronation of the foot
* anatomic variations where the sciatic nerve passes through instead of under the pirformis muscle
* hyperlordosis
* overuse or strain of the piriformis muscle (common in runners, rowers, and bicyclers)
* pseudoaneurysms of the inferior gluteal artery that’s aside the piriformis syndrome
* prolonged sitting
* cerebral palsy
* hip arthroplasty
* myositis ossificans

Symptoms Of Piriformis Syndrome

The pain associated with piriformis syndrome is most often described as a numbness or tingling sensation in the buttocks. The pain may or may not travel down the leg and into the foot, a set of symptoms called sciatica. Pain may also worsen after climbing, squatting, walking, running, or prolonged sitting. Other symptoms include the following:

* chronic pain or nagging ache in the buttocks
* pain upon bowel movement
* pain in the scrotum or labia majora
* pain when rising from a sitting or laying position
* dyspareunia or painful sex (women only)
* increased pain with internal rotation of the hip and hip adduction
* being unable to tolerate sitting
* pain that may subside when resting on the back.
* pain that may be relieved by walking with the foot on the affected side pointed outward

 

Strengthening Exercises

These Piriformis Syndrome Exercises are ideal to build strength and flexibility.

Massage Treatment

These Piriformis Syndrome Massage Techniques are of great value in pain relief; circulation stimulation; dispersing blood and fluid accumulations; swelling reduction; and relaxing muscle spasms, especially when used alongside the Sinew Therapeutics liniments, soaks and massage oil.

 

ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

 

This stage is characterized by swelling, redness, pain, and possibly a local sensation of heat, indicating inflammation. If coolness makes your pain feel better, then the Acute Stage Treatment is recommended.

 

ACUTE STAGE SYMPTOMS:

 

The acute stage starts the moment an injury occurs and lasts until the swelling and inflammation are gone. The swelling is the result of the blockage of blood, tissue fluids and circulation in the buttock because their normal movement has been disrupted by the force of the injury. Just like cars buttock up behind a traffic jam, causing congestion, exhaust and overheating; blood and fluids buttock up behind the injured buttock, causing pain, inflammation, lumps and swelling.

The sensation of heat is due to the warming action of the blood and fluids overheating in the injured buttock as they buttock up and accumulate. Stiffness and decreased mobility are due to spasms in tendons and ligaments that have contracted reflexively beyond their normal range from the impact of the injury.

As ligaments and tendons stretch and tear, blood from ruptured blood vessels becomes trapped in the local tissues. As the trapped blood clots up, it sticks the tissues together creating adhesions. Adhesions cause pain, inflammation and restricted movement because the layers of tissue that used to slide smoothly across one another now adhere and snap which interferes with normal functioning. It is essential to break up clotted blood as quickly as possible to prevent adhesions and scar tissue from forming.

During the acute stage it is very important to restore normal circulation to the buttock, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, reduce swelling, and reduce the redness and heat associated with inflammation. By restoring the flow of blood, fluids, and circulation in the buttock, then pain is relieved, damaged tissues can regenerate with healthy functional tissue, and the buttock can strengthen and regain it's mobility.

 

ACUTE STAGE TREATMENT:

 

1. Massage your buttock with Acute Sinew Liniment to relieve pain, reduce swelling and inflammation, break up clotted blood and stagnant fluids, and stimulate circulation of blood and fluids to help cells quickly repair damaged tissues. Sinew Herbal Ice can be used in-between applications.

2. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.

3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.

 

 

CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

 

This stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel pain, stiffness, weakness, and/or sensitivity in cold and damp weather. If heat makes your pain feel better, then the Chronic Stage Treatment is recommended.


CHRONIC STAGE SYMPTOMS:

 

The chronic stage begins once the swelling and inflammation are gone, but you still feel aching pain and stiffness. This is because there are still accumulations of stagnant blood and fluids in your buttock that are blocking circulation and blood supply to damaged tissues, creating residual pain, stiffness and weakness. You may actually feel hard nodules like sand in the tissue, indicating accumulation, calcification, and adhesions, which all cause pain, stiffness, and joint instability.

Your buttock may feel more sensitive to the cold and ache in cold and damp weather due to impaired circulation. When you move your buttock you may hear a clicking or popping sound from the tendons and ligaments slipping very slightly in and out of their natural alignment indicating weakness and joint instability, causing chronic pain and a cycle of reinjury. These symptoms are often the result of failure to treat the injury properly from the outset and overicing.

Increasing circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues is very important in treating chronic injuries because tendons and ligaments do not have an extensive direct supply of blood. That is why chronic injuries can be slow to heal. Increasing local circulation also prevents cold and dampness from penetrating the injured area, preventing pain and stiffness.

During the chronic stage it is very important to break up remaining accumulations of blood and fluids, and increase circulation and blood supply to the damaged tissues. By increasing circulation and blood flow in the buttock, then pain and stiffness is relieved, and the tendons and ligaments can strengthen to restore stability.


CHRONIC STAGE TREATMENT:

 

1. Massage your buttock with Chronic Sinew Liniment to relieve pain and stiffness, strongly stimulate circulation and blood flow to damaged tissues, and promote the healing of overstretched tendons and ligaments. The Sinew Relaxing Soak can be used in-between applications.

2. Soak your buttock with the Sinew Relaxing Soak to relax muscles and tendons that are in spasm, ease joint pain and stiffness, and improve range of motion. The Sinew Relaxing Soak is particularly useful if you feel restricted mobility in your buttock. The soak can be used by saturating a towel in the liquid and applying it to your buttock. Chronic Sinew Liniment can be used in-between applications.

3. The Sinew Sports Massage Oil is recommended for use before and after exercise, sports and strenuous activity. It warms and stimulates your muscles, increases circulation and relieves tightness, hence improving your performance and helping to prevent injury.