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Piriformis Syndrome Treatment in Westminster Denver Colorado

Overview

     Piriformis syndrome is pain and numbness in your buttocks and down the back of your leg. It occurs when the piriformis muscle in the buttocks presses on the sciatic nerve.

     The syndrome, which affects more women than men, is uncommon. But when it occurs, it can cause sciatica-type symptoms.

Causes

     The piriformis muscle is involved in nearly every movement you make with your lower body, from walking to shifting weight from one foot to the other. Beneath the muscle is the sciatic nerve. This nerve runs from your lower spine down the back of your leg to your foot.

     Injuring or irritating the piriformis muscle can cause muscle spasms. The muscle may also swell or tighten from the spasms. This puts pressure on the nerve beneath it, causing pain.

     Overuse can cause swelling or injure the muscle. Muscle spasms may come from:

       Sitting for long periods

       Over exercising

       Running, walking, or doing other repetitive activities

       Playing sports

       Climbing stairs

       Lifting heavy objects

     Trauma can also cause muscle irritation and damage. This may be caused by:

       Car accidents

       Falls

       Sudden twisting of the hip

       Penetrating wounds

 

Symptoms

      Sciatica is the main symptom of piriformis syndrome. Other symptoms include:

       Tenderness or a dull ache in the buttock

       Tingling or numbness in the buttock and along the back of the leg

       Difficulty sitting

       Pain from sitting that grows worse as you continue to sit

       Pain that gets worse with activity

       Lower body pain that is so severe it becomes disabling

     The pain usually affects just one side of the lower body. But it can also occur on both sides at the same time.

 

Exams and Tests

     Your health care provider will:

       Do a physical exam

       Ask about your symptoms and recent activities

       Take your medical history

     During the exam, your provider may put you through a range of movements. The point is to see if and where they cause pain.

     Other problems can cause sciatica. For instance, a slipped disk or arthritis of the spine can put pressure on the sciatic nerve. To rule out other possible causes, you may have an MRI or a CT scan.

 

Prevention

To prevent future pain:

      Get regular exercise.

      Avoid running or exercising on hills or uneven surfaces.

      Warm up and stretch before exercising. Then gradually increase the intensity of your activity.

      If something causes you pain, stop doing it. Don’t push through the pain. Rest until the pain passes.

      Don’t sit or lie down for long periods in positions that put extra pressure on your hips.

 

Our expert providers are experienced and skilled at treating Piriformis syndrome and are your source for expert treatment of piriformis syndrome in Westminster and Denver Colorado. Not only are we the premier treatment for spine injuries and chiropractic in Westminster and Denver Colorado, but we also specialize in many other advanced treatment techniques such as shockwave, cold laser, graston technique, KT Taping, activator, instrument aided spinal alignments, drop table, toggle, in house rehab services, and on site digital xrays. We are your Premier destination for piriformis syndrome treatment in Westminster Colorado and Denver Colorado Chiropractor.