Piriformis syndrome

Piriformis syndrome happens when the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttock, becomes tight or goes into spasm and puts pressure on the sciatic nerve running beneath it. It can cause pain, numbness, and tingling that runs from the buttock down the leg, similar to sciatica. An MRI may show changes in the piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve consistent with compression. Identifying piriformis syndrome early may allow for targeted physiotherapy and treatment that could help relieve nerve compression before chronic pain develops.