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What is Piriformis Syndrome, a painful neuromuscular condition that Andie MacDowell struggles with? Is it different from sciatica?
Hollywood star Andie MacDowell is battling Piriformis Syndrome, a painful neuromuscular condition that causes numbness in the buttocks and back of the legs and discomfort in the foot. According to experts, anything that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve to the piriformis leads to this syndrome, which includes inflammation, muscle spasms, and muscle sores. Read on to know about this condition in detail.
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Piriformis syndrome occurs when the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve (Picture: Instagram/iStock)
Andie MacDowell is battling a painful neuromuscular disorder. “I have piriformis syndrome“So it’s a muscle that pinches my sciatic nerve, and it was shooting down my leg,” McDowell shared on The Drew Barrymore Show. Okay,” he commented.
66 year old four weddings and a funeral The star said the condition causes numbness in the buttocks and the back of the legs, which is causing severe pain in her leg. “So, it’s a muscle that pinches my sciatic nerve, and it was impinging on my leg,” McDowell explained. “It’s not suitable for my body, and my knees and hips hurt. I felt like I was literally falling apart.”
According to the American Osteopathic Association, piriformis syndrome affects about 200,000 people in the US each year.
What is Piriformis Syndrome?
According to experts, piriformis syndrome occurs when The piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve And this results in swelling. This causes pain or numbness in the buttocks and back of the leg, on one or both sides of the body.
The piriformis is a flat, narrow muscle that runs from your lower spine through your buttocks to the tops of your thighs. Your piriformis muscle extends down each side of your body and assists in almost every movement of your lower body.
Doctors say the sciatic nerve normally runs beneath the piriformis – from your spine, through your buttocks, down the back of each leg, and down to your feet. It is the longest, largest nerve in your body.
How is piriformis different from sciatica?,
Even though the conditions are mostly related and affect the sciatic nerve, both piriformis and sciatica are different from each other. While herniated discs or spinal stenosis cause sciatica, the symptoms affect the lower back and can travel down through the buttocks and legs.
In piriformis syndrome only the piriformis muscle exerts pressure on an area of the sciatic nerve in the buttock. It can feel much like sciatica but in a more specific area.
Signs and Symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome
Some signs and symptoms feel like this:
- Pain
- Burn
- Numbness
- Pain
- tingling sensation
- shooting
According to experts, symptoms may worsen during certain activities, such as:
- sitting for too long
- walking or running
- climbing stairs
What causes piriformis syndrome?,
Doctors say that anything that puts pressure on the sciatic nerve to the piriformis causes this syndrome. The most common causes include:
- swelling and inflammation
- muscle cramps
- muscle injury
- All these problems can result in:
- An injury to the hip, butt, or leg, such as a fall or car accident.
- Stiffness in muscles due to lack of physical activity.
- Lifting something improperly can cause damage to the piriformis muscle.
- Not warming up before physical activity or not stretching properly afterward.
- Excessive exercise or performing repetitive tasks, such as running long distances.
- Sitting for long periods of time (for example, people who sit a lot at work).
However, sometimes abnormal anatomy also leads to the diagnosis.
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piriformis syndrome
The piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve
How is piriformis different from sciatica?
Signs and Symptoms of Piriformis Syndrome
What causes piriformis syndrome?