Piriformis Syndrome

Noviceman

Hi Folks,

Does anybody have experience of this injury? I got this about 4 weeks before Xmas, i was playing soccer about 3 times a week and it just suddenly appeared from nowhere, I'm 35. Gave it a few weeks of rest and some stretching then I did a few short jogging\running sessions and thought I was ok to play again. I then played soccer again for an hour just before Xmas, played the full hour with no problems, but i was back to square one again.

Has anyone any advice on best method to recover from this type of injury, I thought initially it wasn't that bad, but after my setback I realise this is going to take a bit of time and I can't rush back into playing again. I go to the gym, but i'm not sure what I can do that might aggrivate it or what I should do to help it.

Thanks...

Dragan

My advice would simply be to go to a good, recommended physio in your area.

smashey

It happened me a few years ago. Physio or chiropracter will sort it.

Rogueish

If you go to a physio or chiropractor make sure that they do some deep soft tissue work on you. Some chiropractors do very little soft tissue work.

Also in soccer there is a lot of side to side movement make sure that your therapist checks out your glute medius and maximus strength if it is insufficient then the piriformis has to take up the strain and spasms as it is a relatively small muscle.

ninjasurfer1

I suffered from it as well. I went to my physio, but following 11 sessions, it was as bad as ever.
Ended up looking up specific stretches for it which helped make it a bit better:
E.G. http://www.jaxmed.com/massage/pirformis_stretches.htm

I ended up injuring my ankle which stopped me from doing all sport, and following about 2 months of rest, it disappeared. From reading up on it, it appears that rest plays a very important part in it as the piriformis can be inflamed which can trigger the Sciatic nerve.

I'd give it a rest from sports for a while if i was you. Go to the gym and build it up and do the stretches above.

Hope it gets better.

Lil' Smiler

Rest, Ice, Stretching

No point going to a Chiropracter for Piri Syndrome.
Physical or Physiotherapist are best, Physical therapists are more hands on than anyone else.

Popsicle

I would recommend a good sports physio. I didn't have piriformis syndrome, but I managed to pick up a severe gluteal injury after a half marathon. I could barely walk for two weeks and kept telling myself it would go away! But I had to call in the help of a physio and it took me 5 five months to get back to running.

There are specific stretches for that are which your physio will be able to show you. Lots of flexing of the hips etc. It takes time though!

Best of luck with it.

Noviceman

Thanks guys for your responses, sick of going to physio to be honest for various injuries, it's bloody expensive and i'm not a serious athlete, just a casual one. Having said that, i've booked an appmt tomorrow morning. That exercises site is excellent. Haven't played in about 4 weeks now and have been going to the gym, i can still feel it, i have a bad feeling about this injury, i think it could linger, at least with a pulled muscle you know it's going to heal. I've had\have achilles tendonitis and now this, 2 nasty injuries to get rid of, i think it's my body trying to tell me to slow down. Problem is i still think i can play as much as i did when i was in my 20s and was a serious enough athlete.

Thks