Treating And Preventing Piriformis Syndrome
Anti-Inflammatory Medication

Individuals who have significant pain caused by piriformis syndrome are often advised to take over the counter anti-inflammatory medications and are sometimes prescribed more potent varieties. Anti-inflammatory medicines work by stopping the process of an enzyme called cyclooxygenase from producing substances called prostaglandins. An affected individual's immune system summons a response to the area of the sciatic nerve because it is being compressed and damaged. Prostaglandin is produced and sensitizes the endings of the nerve, increases the sensation of pain, and causes tissues to swell. Anti-inflammatory medications vary in their duration of action and how strong they are. Ibuprofen and naproxen are common over the counter anti-inflammatory drugs that are effective in relieving pain and reducing inflammation around the sciatic nerve in piriformis syndrome patients. Anti-inflammatory medication is a way to offer substantial pain relief without the harsh side effects and risks of addiction characteristic of prescription narcotic pain-relieving medications.
Botox Injection

When an individual's piriformis muscle has trapped or compressed their sciatic nerve, a Botox injection may be recommended to help ease their pain. Botox is a medical treatment agent produced from the botulinum toxin in a laboratory. Botulinum toxin, which is neurotoxic in nature to humans, is a protein the Clostridium botulinum bacterium produces. Botox works by stopping the nerve terminals from releasing a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, which is responsible for the transmission of a signal from the nerve to the muscle that tells it to contract. When Botox is injected into the piriformis muscle in the buttocks, the muscle becomes paralyzed so it is no longer able to contract. This mechanism causes the muscle to release its pressure on the entrapped sciatic nerve causing the affected individual to feel pain. Without the contracted muscle pressing on the sciatic nerve, the patient's symptoms will be considerably reduced until the new nerve terminals form at the site. Botox injections usually last from between two and three months.
