Piriformis Injection

A minimally invasive procedure to relieve hip and thigh pain

The piriformis muscle is located in the buttock near the top of the hip. This muscle helps stabilize your hip joint and helps you move your hip and thigh. If this muscle becomes tight, it can compress the nearby sciatic nerve, causing sciatica, a type of pain that runs along the sciatic nerve from the hip down through the thigh. This condition is called piriformis syndrome.

We can diagnose piriformis syndrome with a physical examination if we have eliminated other possible causes of sciatica, such as a herniated spinal disc or spinal stenosis (a narrowing of the spinal column). If you have piriformis syndrome, a steroid injection can lead to several benefits, such as:

• Decreased muscle spasms
• Improved blood flow to the muscle
• Less pain

Pain Management Service, Newton-Wellesley Ambulatory Care Center
159 Wells Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
Phone: 617-243-6142

What to Expect From Your Piriformis Injection

When you arrive for your procedure, one of our nurses will speak with you about what your pain is like and how you manage daily activities. We’ll record the following vital health information:

• Allergies
• Blood pressure
• Brief health history
• Medications you’re currently taking
• Pulse
• Temperature
• Weight

It’s especially important to tell your nurse if you:

• Are allergic to contrast dye, Betadine (iodine), or latex
• Currently take blood thinners
• Have diabetes or could be pregnant

Next, you’ll discuss the procedure with your doctor, and we’ll help you onto a table. We’ll clean your skin with antiseptic, and your doctor will inject the medication into the piriformis muscle. The procedure will take less than a minute.

You should plan to stay with us for 15 to 20 minutes after your procedure. During this time, a nurse will go over any questions you may have and review your discharge instructions and required follow-up care.

When You Go Home After Your Piriformis Injection

After you return home from your procedure, try to rest and avoid activities that might aggravate your pain. You likely can return to work and exercise the next day.

Some patients experience more pain at first when the anesthetic wears off because the steroid can irritate the sciatic nerve. Place ice on your injection site and take over-the-counter pain medications to ease any pain.

Many patients experience pain relief after their first or second piriformis injection, while some patients will need three injections. Don’t be discouraged if your pain doesn’t go away immediately. You may need to follow up with your doctor or to have another injection.

Talk to your doctor for more information about receiving a referral for a piriformis injection, or call us at 617-243-6142 to request an appointment.