The piriformis syndrome consists of contracture or spasm of this muscle in the area of the hip, usually on one side, although it can also be bilateral.
It is caused by the injury of the piriformis muscle, which can occur due to excessive use of the same, for example by sitting for prolonged periods, exercising too much, running, walking or doing other repetitive activities, playing sports, climbing stairs, lifting heavy objects, traffic accidents, falls, sudden turns of the hip and/or penetrating injuries.
The main symptom is sciatica (pain in the territory of the path of the sciatic nerve). Other symptoms include sensitivity or brief pain in the buttocks, numbness or tingling in the buttocks along the back of the leg, difficulty sitting down, pain when sitting that gets worse if you remain seated, pain that gets worse with activity and pain in the lower part of the body that is so intense that it leaves the person incapacitated.
The diagnosis is made through clinical questioning, physical examination and imaging tests such as MRI or CT scan to rule out other causes.
The treatment is based on the control of symptoms through postural control, anti-inflammatory drugs, muscle relaxants, electrotherapy and, as a last resort, surgical intervention.
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