Piriformis Syndrome
Pain down the back of your leg can be a sign of resolvable sciatic nerve irritation.
Sharp shooting pains down the back of the leg and into the foot may indicate a problem up in the back of the hip. A tight piriformis muscle can severely irritate the sciatic nerve leading to sharp nerve pain (electric shock, burning, tingling, numbness) anywhere from the back of the hip and thigh into the foot. Left untreated muscle weakness and degeneration can occur.
What are Symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome?
Piriformis syndrome typically presents with sharp shooting pains down the back of the leg and even into the foot. It often starts in the middle of the buttock and the distance the pain travels down the back of the leg depends on the degree of irritation to the sciatic nerve.
What Causes Piriformis Syndome?
True Piriformis Syndrome is caused by a tight Piriformis muscle that pinches the sciatic nerve leading to irritation. Sciatic nerve irritation can present as tightness, burning, numbness, tingling or pain down the leg.
How do you treat Piriformis syndrome?
Getting rid of the symptoms takes stretching of the muscles around the sciatic nerve and other modalities to eliminate the inflammation. Careful examination leads to the causes behind your initial irritation and can help prevent flare-ups in the future.
Did you know?
Chronically “tight hamstrings” and pain down the back of your leg are both signs of resolvable sciatic nerve irritation.
The Sciatic nerve is the largest and longest nerve in the entire body!
