Piriformis Injection
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If you have Piriformis Syndrome, a piriformis injection can help relieve your pain, when other treatments have failed.
The pain of Piriformis Syndrome can begin spontaneously or after an injury. It is commonly seen among those who sit for most of their work day, or for those who have other inflammatory conditions. The piriformis muscle can become contracted, making it tender and painful, eventually becoming a deep, aching sensation in the mid-buttock region, sometimes coupled with a radiating pain down the back of the leg or up to the lower back area.
It is estimated that as many as 8 percent of those who suffer low back pain associated with sciatica are actually suffering from Piriformis Syndrome. Often, the diagnosis of Piriformis Syndrome comes only after eliminating other potential causes of your pain, including lumbar facet joint arthritis, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, lumbar radiculopathy and lumbar stenosis. Once Piriformis Syndrome is diagnosed, if your pain is not relieved through physical therapy, gentle stretching exercises and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, you may be a good candidate for a piriformis injection.
Piriformis Injection Procedure
You will first lay on your stomach, and the injection site will be cleaned with an antiseptic. A local anesthetic will be used to numb the skin over the buttock area, then a needle will be guided into the piriformis muscle. A fluoroscope will be used in the piriformis injection procedure to ensure proper placement of the needle, and a contrast dye could be injected to further outline the muscle.
Corticosteroids will be injected into the piriformis muscle to decrease inflammation, then the needle will be removed and a dressing applied.
Risks Associated with a Piriformis Injection
While there are few risks associated with a piriformis injection, bleeding, infection, allergic reactions to the medication and prolonged increases in your pain are always possible following a piriformis injection.
The goal of a piriformis injection is to allow you to proceed with stretching exercises and physical therapy, so that when the injection effects wear off, your piriformis muscles will remain stretched and relaxed—and pain free.
At Seattle Pain, an experienced interventional pain management specialist will use traditional and non-traditional therapies to help reduce your pain. Following your piriformis injection, we may suggest massage therapy, ultrasound therapy, physical therapy and chiropractic manipulation to keep the piriformis muscles pain free.
Are you suffering from painful piriformis syndrome?
Contact Our Seattle Interventional Pain Management Specialists
At Seattle Pain, our primary goal is to relieve your pain and improve your quality of life. We believe in treating the whole patient – and not just the injury. You do not have to live in pain.
