hi Dava

it is caused by the pira forma muscle in the butt area being weak.

the sciatica nerve after exiting the spine splits into tow parts - one to down each leg. When the nerve approaches each leg it passses over the pira forma muscle.

if the muscle is weak it irritates the sciatic nerve.

the pain from that is located primarily in the butt and down the back of the leg or legs being affected.

man-hug, Raoul

Hey

the main treatment for this syndrome is to slretch the muscle.

the stretch is called a pira forma stretch.

you can look it up on google as "stretch piraforma video"

it is not difficult and well worth the effort.

THANKS FOR THE INFO RAOULBY. I TRIED SOME
EXERCISES BUT I STILL HAVE THAT TIGHTNESS WHEN
AWAKENING IN THE MORNING.AFTER I'D SAY ABOUT
40 MINUTES IT WILL START LOOSENING UP WHEN I'AM MOVING AROUND. I'AM STILL WAITING APPROVAL
FOR AN MRI TO SEE IF ITS SOMETHING ELSE. I HAVE 2 HERNIATED DISCS ALREADY. I MIGHT TRY
ANOTHER PHYSICAL THERAPY PLACE AS WELL. WILL
ALSO TRY SOME MORE EXERCISES. I CANT DO ADVANCED STRETCHES ONLY LIGHT STRETCHES.THANKS
MUCH. MAN-HUG DAVA

okay - here are some helps that are intended for both sciatica in general and also to help piraforma syndrome - small pieces that add up:

1. Sleep on a memory foam topper. I use a 6 inch topper it helps. Sleep on your back with the rubberish pillow under your knees to take all stress off of the lower back. Sleep with a feather pillow under your head and shoulders - to reduce cervical spine stresses too. If you sleep on your side sleep with the rubber pillow between your knees to reduce stress on the lower back. Never sleep on your stomach According to the chiropractic association that is a no no.

2. You can ice the lower back 2 or 3 times a day 15 minutes on and 2 hours off. Should help reduce the pain.

3. You should try to get a shot of cortisone in the butt to help reduce the inflammation, That is called a depot shot of cortisone. This is true for most lumbar problems and maybe for some of the upper spine locations too. Limit cortisone injections to 4x per year.

4. definitely get some sort of meds for pain for when it gets really bad like right now for me. Ask your regular doctor

5. Getting up and walking around definitely will reduce the pain levels, but the first 10 to 20 steps could be a little more painful than some other times.

6. Use a cane to help you walk. It will increase your range, and help prevent falls. A fall now will make matter much worse. You can get a script form your doctor for the cane.

7. Sitting in a soft chair can feel good for a while but will put a lot of stress on the lower back. A desk chair, with a right angle between the back and the bottom is preferable.

8 Automobile travel is very bad for sciatica. It will definitely irritate your condition. If you must travel, stop the car and get out and walk for at least 15 minutes after every hour of travel in the car. That will help.

9. Stretches the following stretches will help you a lot-
a. lower back
b. IT Band
c. Piraforma !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
d. Iliopsoas
e. core strength

If you ever want your back /spine problem to improve you need to do stretches.

You can find good descriptions and videos, and pictures of the stretches on the internet by googling , for example exercise lower back video.

10. With as many problems as you and I have - a good physical therapy session is strongly recommended. They will help you to build up your core strength, and may even be able to help you to understand the nerve glide/slide stretches.

Hope these help .
Raoul

The piriformis muscle actually gets TRAPPED - that's what causes the syndrome. It's not because it's weak.

HI RAOUL , THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR
GENEROUS INFO. STILL WAITING FOR MY MRI APPROVAL. I DO SOME STRETCHES ON MY BED IN THE AM. I'LL PROBABLY GO FOR MORE PHYSIVAL THERAPY
SESSIONS BUT HAVE CONSIDERED A CHIROPRACTER
AND ACCUPUNCTURE AS WELL. I THOUGHT ABOUT GOING
TO SEE A NEUROLOGIST. I WAS SEEING A PYSIATRIST
WHICH IS A DR OF PHYSICAL MEDICINE.HE GAVE ME INJECTIONS SHOTS.THE LAST ONE WAS IN THE BUTT
PRIOR TO ME GETTING SCIATICA. THEN ABOUT 1 WK
LATER THE SCIATICA STARTED.HOPE IT WASNT RELATED. I WAS TOLD NOT RELATED.SORT OF AFRAID
TO GET ANOTHER INJECTION IN THE BUTT UNTIL I GET AN MRI.WE'LL SEE. LEEALL I ALSO AGREE WITH
WHAT YOU SAID THAT THE P.M.IS TRAPPED.

There is another thing you can do for the pira forma syndrome -

It is called a tussy tuck. (as opposed to t tummy tuck - which is to build core strength).

try it -

lie down on bed
tighten the stomach muscles
while still holding the stomach muscles tight, tighten the tussy butt muscles (gleuteus maximus)
hold for the count of 10
release

repeat 20 times

I have found this to be an excellent stretch for the pira forma muscles

hugs, Raoul

Lee - thank you for correcting me - i was not sure how the nerves and muscles interacted.

hugs

here are some other approaches to help this condition:

Hip flexor stretches:
http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-do-hip-flexor-stretch-254641/
piraformis stretches:
http://www.spine-health.com/video/sciatica-exercises-piriformis-syndrome-video
piraformis stretch of nerve:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFtUgS69rPk
piraformis release (classic):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACkVGLIVBVo&feature=related
piraformis stretch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfP0QssgdXs&NR=1

hugs