Piriformis Issues

[fishersofmen]

Has anyone here had to deal with piriformis problems? I have had pain for several weeks now. It feels like someone punched me in the a$$ as hard as they could. This is causing sciatic problems with pain down the back of my leg.

I have been to a doctor and a chiropractor and they both agree that this is the issue. They both obviously have a different approach. Taking pills is definitely something I do not like. I want to solve the problem and prevent it from reoccurring not mask the pain. Has anyone done deep tissue massage? I have been doing many different stretching techniques, foam roller, tennis ball ect....

[TR21HP]

You're only going to get relief from that with a good massage therapist. I have a deep tissue/sports massage once a week and it alleviates a lot of problems associated with muscle pain. The periformis is a very small muscle group that requires a skilled therapist to release so do your homework finding a qualified therapist.

[DrJuice1980]

Deep tissue massage will release tension but it most likely will only last for a short period. Whatever triggered this issue will not be addressed and the pain will return (read above post about TR2 needing a massage once a week, better than pills but not the answer, still treating symptoms not origin). Many sciatic issues also stem from a tight psoas. If your stretching has not relieved the pain then I would not stretch any more, you are most likely stretching tendons not lengthening muscles.

[fishersofmen]

I know some really good massage therapists at my gym. My biggest concern with massage is the cost. I guess if it really works it would be worth it but yea, I would like to keep this problem from reoccurring rather than constantly treating symptoms.

[DrJuice1980]

Well thats what you're going to get from the massage, only treating the symptom. If you just maxed out at the gym and needed to loosen up to assist in recovery great but to rely on a massage to take care of a medical/neurological issue, not so much the answer.

[TR21HP]

The massage is going to break up the scar tissue or adhesions, next is to change your biomechanics that caused the injury. There are specific stretching exercises that pertain to the piriformis that need to be followed and that should be addressed by your therapist and or chiro. Deep tissue massage is only one part of my wellness approach combined with chiro adjustments and stretching and are a preventative versus a reactive.

[DrJuice1980]

TR2 has somewhat of the right idea however correcting patterns is very difficult to achieve without assistance. Also there has most likely been compensatory actions created since, so you are going to have to deal with the "before and after" its going to be much more involved them simply working your piriformis.

Massage breaking down scar tissue is not an answer simply because you would need consistent massages to prevent that tissue from re-forming. A constant steady flow of blood is what its going to take and the neurological response of increased blood flow from a massage is rather short lived. You go back into homeostasis and the problem is there again, and again and again and again.

TR2, what is the need for ongoing chiro adjustments? You are missing out on something if they are required to stay on top of your health. If something is causing you to become out of balance then you should spend your time focusing on what that is rather than continuing adjustments.

Circle back around to these options simply treating your symptoms not what is creating them. You need to adapt back to how you were created to function as a human being, not the way you have trained yourself to function. You have adapted yourself to this current state, you can adapt back, but it will be difficult. Focus on movement patterns, that is the best advice I will give, something is sending force to an area that is not meant to absorb it. Muscles are not "firing" at appropriate times nor lengthening to the appropriate length. What you have is a neurological disconnect that needs to be reestablished. If your muscles do not know how to lengthen stretching is useless.

[leech~~]

Two years ago I went on a 500 mile ride on my Dual Sport bike starting from home all over the North shore for a weekend. About a day or two after the ride I had it really bad it took almost 2-3 weeks to go away. I went to the Doctor and of course got the pills, but the best thing was some stretching exercises he gave me to do where you lay on your back on the floor and bring your leg up and to the side. There are many videos of it on the tube. Now, before long rides I just stretch out those muscles before I go on a ride trip!

[delcecchi]

I did a little reading about Piriformis. Very interesting. There are different people with different anatomy with how this muscle and the sciatic nerve go together. That might make a difference when there is a problem.

If I understood what I read, some folks have the nerve go through the muscle, some have part of the nerve go through the muscle, and some have it go around and between the muscle and a bone. And there are appreciable numbers of each variation.

There are two articles in Wikipedia.