If you've ever been on a long car ride, then you know that sitting for hours at a time can be a pain in the buttocks – literally. That's because sitting for long periods of time can compress the sciatic nerve and cause what is known as piriformis syndrome.
Piriformis syndrome usually starts with pain, tingling, or numbness in the buttocks. Pain can be severe and extend down the length of the sciatic nerve (called sciatica). The pain is due to the piriformis muscle compressing the sciatic nerve, such as while sitting on a car seat or running.
Buttock pain can result from a variety of different causes, including osteoarthritis, sciatica, piriformis syndrome, sacroiliac joint dysfunction, hamstring tendonitis, trochanteric bursitis, coccydynia, and hemorrhoids.
Driving puts the body in a rigid posture that can irritate the sciatic nerve and cause sciatica. When you sit in the seat of your car, your spinal column becomes curved and compressed. This can have an effect on the vertebrae in your spine and cause significant pain or discomfort.
Drive for short periods
The team at Sciatic Pain Relief Cushion advise: “If you have to take a long drive, plan your breaks and stops beforehand to give yourself a chance to get out, move around and stretch the legs.
The pain gets worse during activities that cause the piriformis muscle to press against the sciatic nerve, such as sitting, climbing stairs, or running.
Try not to sit for long periods. This puts pressure on your piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve. You may also want to avoid seated exercises such as biking, which could aggravate your condition. If you sit at work, Dr. Catanese recommends standing up briefly every half hour to ease the pressure on your piriformis.
Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve travels from the lower back through the hips and buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica most often occurs when a herniated disk or an overgrowth of bone puts pressure on part of the nerve.
Take over-the-counter pain medications, and use a hot pack or a cold pack. Or alternate heat and ice on the area, 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day. Try gentle daily stretches for your legs, hips and buttocks. To relieve pressure, use a cushion when you're sitting.
The most significant complication of piriformis syndrome is a failure to recognize, diagnose, and treat this painful condition. If left untreated, a patient may undergo unsuccessful back surgery for a disk herniation; however, a coexisting occult piriformis syndrome can result in a failed back syndrome.
A dull ache in the buttock. Pain down the back of the thigh, calf and foot (sciatica) Pain when walking up stairs or inclines. Increased pain after prolonged sitting.
The primary diagnostic method is having the patient move the hips and legs to identify where the pain occurs. If it is in the lower back and buttocks only, it may be piriformis syndrome. If the pain is in the lower extremity, it is likely sciatica.
How Long Does it Take for Piriformis Syndrome to Heal? Typically, piriformis syndrome does not require treatment. Usually, rest will suffice. Within a few weeks to six weeks and with the proper care, you should not longer be experiencing pain caused by a spastic piriformis.
The most common leg pain while driving is a condition called sciatica. It occurs when the sciatic nerve that runs through the lower back and thigh is pinched or obstructed for a certain time period. Sciatica leg pain while driving will result in a persistent throbbing pain that shoots through both legs and lower back.
As a general rule, you should avoid squatting, twisting, running, jumping, or any high-impact activity if you have sciatica. You should also avoid bending forward with straight legs or any seated or lying exercise that requires you to lift both legs off the ground at the same time.
In addition to providing hydration, drinking water has the potential to alleviate sciatica, a common source of lower back and leg pain. Drinking water can slow the progression of symptoms and ease discomfort.
Sciatic nerve pain is caused by compression, irritation, inflammation, and pinching of a nerve in the lumbar spine. The most common cause of a sciatica flare-up is a herniated or slipped disc in the lower back.