Same here! Just began PT today because the stretches aren't working. I'm pre-training for a fall marathon so if I'm in this much pain now with relatively low mileage, I'm gonna be toast come May when the real work begins. I hope I can get this resolved quickly. Has anyone else experienced piriformis syndrome and if so, how did you treat it?

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WendyCity
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I have the same issue. I went to the chiropractor the other day and gave me two different stretches to do. They are helping. The other thing that helps is to lie down and have someone place their elbow on the spot on your butt that hurts and push down...it hurts badly, but works. It helped the pain go away. The Chiropractor also did electrical muscle stimulation on the spot. I was able to run yesterday...I felt it for about 20 minutes before the muscle stretched out, but then it felt better. The pain isn't too bad now, he said to stretch it 3-4 times per day...especially before and after a run. Go have it looked at, I was sidlined for a while - during the holidays...but now I'm back.

I have had the same problem for a few weeks now. I had been stretching it, massaging it (use a tennis ball and your body weight to simulate the masseur's elbow) and applying heat. This was working but very slowly. I told a friend of mine about it and she had the following response:

YOU USED HEAT! STOP USING HEAT! You have to ice it to get the swelling down, that's what's causing the pain. The pressure on the nerve has to be relieved.

So now I've added icing to my stretch/massage repertoire and it's healing much faster.

I also recommend keeping your miles down and slow, and keep to the flat routes. I hope this helps, because I know how badly it hurts.

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-Todd
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There's plenty of time for rest when you're dead.

I've been diagnosed with piriformis syndrome and have been receiving physiotherapy for the last few weeks.

The physiotherapist has done some stretching and they do some kind of electronic stimulation on my butt.

I do these exercises every day:
1. Figure 4 - lie on my back. Bend knees. Place one ankle on other knee. Lift other leg off floor and pull everything towards chest (slowly). Hold for 30 seconds x 3 times.

2. Clam shell - lie on side. Bend knees slightly towards chest. Hold pelvis straight up and down and lift top leg about 4 inches then slowly bring back down with resistance. 15 reps x 3 times

3. Stretch - like the "puppy pose" in Yoga - but put one hand (the one on the side that is sore) ahead of the other and hold stretch for 30 seconds x 3 times.

This work is to strengthen my gluteus medius (sp?) which is very important in running and the piriformis muscle.

Seems to be working - PT said that these exercises need to be completed daily for 6-8 weeks for full recovery.

Hope this helps.