Cheers to everyone who contributed to this thread, wish I'd found it 2 months ago.
I've just decided I don't trust you anymore.
Has anyone successfully dealt with this? Can't afford a physion but I've been rolling my backside on tennis balls till my eyes water! Been a problem for about 3 months now. Keen to hear of successful treatments.
Ice it lots, stretch it lots, then strengthen the abductors etc with lots of 1 leg squats - worked for me. I'd agree that it's hard to get rid of! Getting the piriformis stretch right can be tricky so make sure it's definitely hitting the spot!
This thread has all the tips Brock
http://forum.fellrunner.org.uk/showt...ght=Piriformis
All the best
Cheers Stagger and Beowolf - very helpful
I had this after a heavy fall on my hip on arocky descent. Couldn't sit down and went on for ages.
Eventually saw a remedial masseur (£20/hr) who identified it and sorted it out quickly in 1 session. If you can find someone at that sort of price could be worthwhile.
I had a piriformis sort of nasty niggle that just wouldn't shift, no matter how many tennis balls I sat on (that heady mix of pleasure and pain).
Turned out it was actually a lower back thing, and an assertive physio wrenched some sense into me.
Just a thought.
I'd like to know how physios differentiate between piriformis and disc-related sciatic pain, and between those and certain upper hamstring problems... still not entirely sure what I've got ....
My guy said that sciatica is the symptom and as mentioned root cause can be either lower back or piriformis. Can't remember how he tested but quickly ruled out lower back - both cause pain right down leg but I didn't have any lower back pain.
It was only after diagnosis that I linked it to my fall at Coniston Gullies.