Hip pain radiating down the leg can be treated

#WhatIsPiriformisSyndrome #ButtockPainIsNoSmallMatter Getting too absorbed in your work while sitting can cause hip pain radiating down the leg. If left untreated, it may become chronic and severe, leading to piriformis syndrome (a muscle trapping the nerve). Today let's learn about the symptoms of piriformis syndrome. 

Causes of piriformis syndrome

- Habitually sitting cross-legged, or sitting with your weight on one hip

- Sitting at work for long periods (while working from home, don't forget to move around and change position)

- Driving for long periods

- Exercising too hard, e.g. running

- Lifting heavy objects or lifting with poor technique

This leads to the following symptoms

- Buttock pain and hip pain

- Pain in the buttock cheek

- Pain with numbness radiating down the leg 

- A hot, burning sensation in the buttock

Initial treatment

- Muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory drugs work well at the start, when muscle pain and tightness are still mild. You can take medication to relieve muscle pain and tightness. 

So why do some people take medication for a long time without their pain improving?

Because the effect of medication only relieves symptoms temporarily. If the problematic piriformis muscle remains tight and continues to compress the nerve, the radiating pain will not go away.

Physical therapy with us is therefore an option for treating muscle pain and tightness, as Rehab Care Clinic uses physical therapy equipment imported from Europe with the latest pain-relief technology. 

- A focused shockwave device, with both point and linear shockwave energy, applied to the tight muscles 

- Deep-heat therapeutic ultrasound for pain relief 

- High-power laser therapy to energise cells and reduce nerve inflammation

- Together with an exercise programme and posture correction for a lasting recovery without re-injury

Now that you know this, don't get too absorbed in your work. Get up and stretch every now and then.