Understanding the Misdiagnosis Epidemic With REACH Rehab + Chiropractic
Many people who experience dull pain while sitting for extended periods or pain in their thigh, glute, and hip often receive a diagnosis of piriformis syndrome. This medical condition refers to the compression of the piriformis muscle which primarily affects your sciatic nerve. At REACH Rehab + Chiropractic, we see many patients come to us for help with this issue only to discover it’s a misdiagnosis.
Sciatica or other spinal conditions could be the root of your pain rather than the piriformis muscle. Overlapping symptoms often lead to this confusion.
Breaking Down Piriformis Syndrome Symptoms vs. Back Pain When Moving
If you believe your piriformis muscle is compressing your sciatic nerve, you might experience the following symptoms:
- Pain that shoots from your thigh to your foot
- Pain while climbing stairs or walking uphill
- Tingling sensation in your glute muscles
- Discomfort after sitting for extended periods
Muscle tension could extend to your sciatic nerve and increase the risk of spasms. These symptoms make it extremely difficult to go about your normal routine and call for urgent treatment.
Just because you’re experiencing these issues, don’t automatically assume that you have this rare condition. Spinal issues like herniated discs and sciatica can mimic piriformis syndrome symptoms. Turn to a chiropractic professional for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.
The Role of Comprehensive Assessments in Treatment
The piriformis muscle is located in your buttock though your efforts to treat the area might not do anything to dull the pain. This is because what many believe to be piriformis syndrome is actually a spinal issue. The only way to receive an accurate diagnosis is to undergo thorough chiropractic evaluations.
Experts will conduct a variety of physical tests to determine whether your pain originates from the spine or your piriformis muscle. Without a comprehensive assessment, you could waste time and money trying to treat a condition you don’t even have. Getting to the root of the problem allows you to be proactive with your treatment plan and find some much-needed pain relief.
Tailored Treatments for Targeted Relief
Medical professionals can prescribe certain medications to ease muscle pain, though patients often benefit the most from performing exercises for piriformis syndrome relief. We recommend at-home exercises like the cobra press-up and active pigeon stretch to minimize muscle and nerve tension.
Our REACH Reset method consists of three essential steps to address a false piriformis syndrome diagnosis:
- Reduce: With proven stretches like the cobra press-up, we’ll help you reduce pain in your spine, hip, and legs.
- Restore: Treating piriformis tension requires restoring key muscle groups prone to compression or inflammation. Stretching your hips helps with this.
- Reinforce: Prevent lower back pain from flaring up again by using a lumbar roll for added support whenever you’re sitting for extended periods.
Diagnosing the Real Problem
If you seek treatment for piriformis syndrome only to find that nothing is working, you may feel like relief isn’t possible. A more likely scenario is that you don’t have this condition but rather a spinal issue like a herniated disc or sciatica. We recently helped one patient overcome this exact problem through a series of tests and tailored exercises.
Professionals can reach a proper diagnosis by observing the patient’s pain level during a series of tests. Guiding the patient through various stretches and exercises will help lower their pain level, while subsequent tests prove the effectiveness of this treatment plan.
This holistic form of pain relief gets to the root of the problem and garners long-lasting results so patients like you can live pain-free.
Move Past Pain with REACH Rehab + Chiropractic
Whether you experience back pain when moving or hip pain after sitting for a while, it’s worth seeing a chiropractic professional. You could have piriformis syndrome—a spinal condition masking itself as piriformis muscle tension. At REACH Rehab + Chiropractic, we’ll uncover the cause of your pain and guide you through a personalized treatment plan.
Treating lower back pain doesn’t have to be an ongoing struggle. With our help, you’ll improve your flexibility and mobility. Call (734) 335-0212 to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward back pain relief.
